Flight Training

Nick1301

Nick1301

New Member
Hey everyone. I know this is not a flight training forum but this is the place I thought would be best to ask this question. I have my PPL already and want to pursue a career as a corporate pilot. I am in Iraq now and will be home in a year and getting out of the service. I will be going to a 141 flight school in florida/st. pete area. I want to know if I should get my multi eng first and then do my flight training for inst/comm all in the multi so that way I am learning in a twin and building twin time the whole time in training? If not the best route can anyone give me a better way? I am just trying to get the most multi time as i can while I am using my GI bill anyways for 60 % of the cost. Any help would be great.


Thanks

Nick
 
probably depends on what corporate department you're targeting.

IE alphaflying flies Pilatus, Linearair Caravans...

Guess if you want to spend the $$ on multi, you can.
 
hell, just get your instrument/commercial in a single and then get a multi. from what i hear, the airlines (some) are hiring folks with as little as 'commercial/multi' - i.e. they haven't listed a minimum required, just having the tickets. hard to believe, but i think others here more in this particular can verify. may be actually a little harder to get directly into a corporate gig. i think they'll probably wanna see more hours now than the regionals. fly the regionals a while, then transition. you could find worse advice..
 
So just getting the mins for the regionals and hope to get picked up then build hours with them. After that try to move into corporate? Sounds good. I was looking at flying for Airnet. I know alot of guys/gals on here fly for them and all I hear is good things. It sounds like a good place to work for.
 
If you still want Airnet, getting really proficient with instruments is the most important thing. Multi time is valuable, but I think our training department would argue instrument proficiency is rivals multi time.

However, since you probably don't want to come to Airnet and SIC forever, you'd want to build up some valuable experience first. If you become an MEI, you'll get your multi time and experience.
 
Thanks Ian J. I think the only thing with the MEI is finding a flight school that gets enough Multi students to build that time fast. I herd that was hard to get. So thats why i was figuring doing the training for the rest of my ratings in a multi. I was just looking on American Eagle and their mins are low.. I think I could have the mins in a really short time. Maybe that would be a route so i could build 135 mins huh?
 
Nick1301 said:
Thanks Ian J. I think the only thing with the MEI is finding a flight school that gets enough Multi students to build that time fast. I herd that was hard to get. So thats why i was figuring doing the training for the rest of my ratings in a multi. I was just looking on American Eagle and their mins are low.. I think I could have the mins in a really short time. Maybe that would be a route so i could build 135 mins huh?
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I suppose you could...

Most don't, though. If a person gets on with a regional with low time it is pretty unlikely they'll quit to fly a Baron when they have 135 mins. I've known just a few who have done it - but not many.

Nick, you've got to decide on what kind of aviator you really want to be. Times are changing, without a doubt. I couldn't really tell you what will turn out to be best: "Low timers" getting on flying jets or the more traditional route of building PIC experience and working your way up to the big iron. I know my opinion - but that isn't really worth that much.

If people actually end up flying as 121 FOs in order to build experience to fly part 135 freight - well - that'd be pretty interesting.

I really don't begrudge any route you take - just please do your research. And when you get back to the states I'll happily fly out to wherever you are and buy you a beer and talk it over with you.
 
Making decisions now for what the industry will look like a year from now won't mean much.

Get your ratings as cheap as humanly possible, then start thinking about what kind of job you want to get. Don't be in a rush to get into one specific job, because by the time you get there the job might be not be.

Building up the broadest base of experience and qualifications, and networking your guts out is what will get you the job you really want.
 
Thanks guys for the input and Ian J. I'll be more than happy to take that beer! no doubt. Yea I see that going from a jet to a baron would hard . Thanks again guys


Nick
 
nick, fwiw, if i had it to do all over again, rather than having spent seven years in part 135 flying freight/charter/air ambo in old learjets..i would have gone the part 121, scheduled passenger airline gig. that way 'you have a life'. reality is that i worked sometimes 2-3 weeks straight for years, on a pager where you gotta be at the airport in 15 minutes, wheels up in 45 minutes..dealing with maintenance issues, fatigue, etc. sure, you can get to better money 'faster'..but you may burn out as i did. it's a principle reason i returned to general aviation and a fraction of what i earned as a lear captain..stress and fatigue and just got plain sick of flying. i even took a couple years off from it and didn't fly AT ALL until returning to doing freelance instruction a year ago. i'd simply lost my love for it. go 121 if you can..you get a schedule and a life. balance is very important. i was a very focused work/flyaholic, perfectionist..i think it 'backfired' on me, personally. i need balance in my work life. don't make the mistake of letting 'being a pilot' define who you are in other words. at 42, i have no plans togo back and do things differently..that time has passed, but i see aviation as a whole with a much wider field of vision now..
 
Nick1301 said:
Thanks Ian J. I think the only thing with the MEI is finding a flight school that gets enough Multi students to build that time fast. I herd that was hard to get.
Click to expand...

Well, consitering we're a 61 school and only have a fleet of 13, one is a multi; to bill over 30 hours a month isn't too shabby.
 
Good post exlear!

I appreciate your input and value your opinion.

I am real torn with what to do with the "next step".

But yeah, having a schedule is nice, and a life.
 
Crockrocket94 said:
Good post exlear!

I appreciate your input and value your opinion.

I am real torn with what to do with the "next step".

But yeah, having a schedule is nice, and a life.
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:) thank you, craig, i appreciate the nice feedback. happy to offer any insight into the world of 'part one dirty-five' that i'm able.. :panic:
 
Hey, we could all use some insight :)

Here is my situation, I am a CFI/II down in FL right now, and will more than likely get my MEI within the next 3 or 4 months.

The problem is the lease on my place ends in June and my GF of 3 years is going to grad school in Virginia, Michigan or Boston. I have been away from here (living wise) for 2 years now. We still see eachother at lease 1 week a month, however its not easy.

If anyone ever wants some advice on long distances, I can help a bit, but for the most part both people just have to be willing to comprimise and put forth ALOT of effort.

At any rate, I just don't know what to do, I really do want to move in with her when she is going to school for her MA. I just don't know how the job situation is going to work out. I still enjoy CFIing, so I am def. contemplating that. However, we all know how the winters are north of Virginia and I was wondering if it was possible that people CFI'd year round, or they picked up a second job in the winters.

I have a BA in history and alot of work ethic so I don't mind working copious amounts.

I have contemplated the 121 but who knows where I would be domiciled at. Commuting is always an option, but one that doesnt seem to fun.

So, should I keep instructing for a few years or find some 121 gig and commute?

I am def. taking QOL over pay in my decision. I am not "in a hurry" to fly jets, I mean, heck, if I could be a FO for a King Air I would do it in a heartbeat too, provided I could live somewhat close to her.

I know people will say don't make career decisions based on relationships, but I am just wondering what DIRECTION should I go?


THanks Everyone!
 
Crockrocket94 said:
However, we all know how the winters are north of Virginia and I was wondering if it was possible that people CFI'd year round, or they picked up a second job in the winters.
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I was a CFI in Virginia for 3 yrs. Winter has its advantages and people who live there want to learn to fly year round, not just in the summer. Winter weather brings it's own challenges, but you don't have to roll up the hangar on Labor Day and wait until Memorial Day to open again.

Even ATP has a school in Manassas!
 
Well for what its worth I am kinda in the same boat but we already live together. Once I get back from Iraq we will be out of the service and living in st.petersburg, fl I will go to finish my flight training and she will be in dental school. She will about a years worth of school to complete it and in that time I will complete all the ratings needed for a job flying. She was willing to find a school near a place where my family is and where I could fly using my Gi bill. After we both done with school and my flight training its up in the wind on where we move based on where I can get a job flying.
 
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