Question about building multi time in an old bird.

crazyjeep

crazyjeep

Well-Known Member
First off. I love the flight school I work for. We have great people and provide a great product. I am a CFI, CFI-I and ME-I. Most of my students are working on single engine ratings.

For the past two months I have worked here, we have not had a multi engine aircraft availible to us due to MX. We have two, a Seneca and a Geronimo. There is no firm ETA on when the Seneca will be back, and we just got the Geronimo back from MX. It has had a "lively" history. Most recently a gear collapse due to a faulty pin. It is twice as old as me, and is sitting at 60 years old. It is not a looker inside or out. The owner just put alot of money in it to fix the landing gear issue and get it back into service. I understand the business side, he wants us to fly it to recoup the repair investement. So I am torn.

I have 140 hours of multi currently, 450 TT and it would cost me roughly 1000$ to get checked out in for insurance requirements. We have several students wanting to get their multi licenses. But I don't entirely trust the airplane. I know alot of you will tell me I already have my answer. But my question is, What would you do?
 
I don't see the problem from a mechanical standpoint. It broke, and they fixed it. That's what happens with old aircraft.

I wouldn't fly it because I wouldn't want to pay $1000 to get checked out. There's no point to paying $1000 to build multi time you don't need.

If they're serious about using it on the line, they need competent MEIs to teach in it. They should be covering the cost of your checkout, maybe in exchange for you agreeing to continue teaching for them for a certain period of time.
 
There is nothing wrong with 60 yr old airplanes. Since training, I've yet to fly an airplane without 20,000 hours on it, and built after 1975.

That said, at this point you don't need any more multi. Instruct to get to whatever next job you're looking for. 100 multi should be enough for it.
 
Yeah, with that kind of multi time, all you need is TT. And I wouldn't hesitate to fly something that "old". Heck, I fly various aircraft that were built in the 1990's that have anywhere from 10,000 hours to 26,000 hours on them.
 
Its not the age issue that would put me off, rather I'd probably be more excited to do it. However, the money issue is frankly BS. If they need you that bad, the costs are on them.
 
Tell them that if they want you to instruct in it, and use it, they are going to need to get you checked out in it. I have never had a good feeling about a company that isn't willing to pay to get you checked out in their own aircraft/make you pay for training when you are an employee.


In other words, check me out in it, or let your airplane sit and generate zero revenue.
 
Yeah, I wouldn't worry about flying a 60 year old airplane. The whole paying to get checked out in it thing is bogus though, if they have students that want to fly it they should pay for you to get checked out to teach them.
 
Just curious, what are your aviation goals?

And I agree on you not paying for a checkout. Offer them a 3 month contract then let them negotiate you up to 6 months, but absolutely no more than that.
 
z987k said:
There is nothing wrong with 60 yr old airplanes. Since training, I've yet to fly an airplane without 20,000 hours on it, and built after 1975.

That said, at this point you don't need any more multi. Instruct to get to whatever next job you're looking for. 100 multi should be enough for it.
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The place I'm teaching out of now has an insurance requirement for MEI's to instruct in their 1958 Beech Travel Air: 1000 TT, 250 Multi. and 25 make & model. I'm a MEI, and I can't even rent it for personal use, because that requires 500 TT (which I have) 100 Multi (I only have 50), and 10 make & model.

But that's not the case with crazyjeep and the twin his employer wants him to teach in- he's got plenty of multi time for that. I agree with the rest of the posters- if his boss wants him to instruct in that airplane, check him out in it at no cost to him.
 
KSCessnaDriver said:
Yeah, with that kind of multi time, all you need is TT. And I wouldn't hesitate to fly something that "old". Heck, I fly various aircraft that were built in the 1990's that have anywhere from 10,000 hours to 26,000 hours on them.
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That's old?:ooh:
 
MikeD said:
If it isn't brand new and is not equipped with a G1000, it isn't safe and needs to be permanently grounded and it's airworthiness certificate revoked. Simple as that.



:D
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Don't forget the T-handle activated rocket propelled parachute.
 
dasleben said:
3 month contract in lieu of a $1,000 checkout? I know who's making out like a bandit on that one. :)
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That depends on ones perspective. The OP has already mentioned that he likes his job, and at 450 TT is at least 3-6 months away from being competitive for the regionals or whatever else he wants to do. If he can get his free checkout by giving his employer some amount of peace of mind about the return on his investment then who is loosing?
 
TallFlyer said:
That depends on ones perspective. The OP has already mentioned that he likes his job, and at 450 TT is at least 3-6 months away from being competitive for the regionals or whatever else he wants to do. If he can get his free checkout by giving his employer some amount of peace of mind about the return on his investment then who is loosing?
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The return on investment is measured by additional student revenue, not by tying yourself to a job to pay for a "checkout" that should never be paid for by the employee in the first place.
 
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