$20,000

slushie

slushie

Still here.
I'm commercial/instrument,
310tt zero multi time.
20k is how much I need to get to the 500/50 point.
That includes an airplane that is available to me very cheap.

It's not gunna happen loading bags and pumping gas.
So, for all you youngsters thinking that "working in the industry" will help, I would like to throw up the B.S. flag on that one. Part time, maybe. But "the industry" doesn't do much for those that it will be relying on in the coming years. You can make more bussing tables than you can caring for multi-million dollar airplanes and driving around with 12000 pounds of explosive liquid behind you.

rant over.
 
slushie said:
I'm commercial/instrument,
310tt zero multi time.
20k is how much I need to get to the 500/50 point.
That includes an airplane that is available to me very cheap.

It's not gunna happen loading bags and pumping gas.
So, for all you youngsters thinking that "working in the industry" will help, I would like to throw up the B.S. flag on that one. Part time, maybe. But "the industry" doesn't do much for those that it will be relying on in the coming years. You can make more bussing tables than you can caring for multi-million dollar airplanes and driving around with 12000 pounds of explosive liquid behind you.

rant over.
Click to expand...

I have to ask, why are you buying you time up to that point? You could spend $3k on the CFI and in a few months have 500TT. Instruct a little longer, get 135 PIC mins, spend $2k on the multi, and work a 135 gig with a transition to a twin. 'Nuff said.

Pumping gas could lead you to a CFI job, a 135 job, or a corporate job. I know a few people that did that and it worked for 'em.
 
wheelsup said:
You could spend $3k on the CFI.
Click to expand...

...and have even less money to meet expenses.
I don't know, I had a lot of time to think flying across the country at 70 knots. I'm applying for all the casino bellman jobs.
 
I agree. I thought working line service at a typical small airport FBO would be a sure foot-in-the-door for the next open CFI position, especially since I was already certificated. Instead, I was a pilot of convienience for them, doing a handful of intro flights that no one else wanted or was able to do. I sold a couple of those intro flights on taking lessons, but of course they were assigned to other instructors. They even hired a new CFI off the street in the time I was there. Over a July, August & September, I logged a whopping 22 flight hours.

I ended up saying some not-so-nice things about the boss to the wrong people and was fired :buck:. Oh well, I've logged a few hundred flight hours and washed zero airplanes since! I now know that the way things work at places like those aren't the way it has to be. I work for an awesome owner and cheif flight instructor and my experience in aviation has been extremely positive since I left that place.


Mike
 
slushie said:
...and have even less money to meet expenses.
I don't know, I had a lot of time to think flying across the country at 70 knots. I'm applying for all the casino bellman jobs.
Click to expand...

you'd take out $20k to rent airplanes but not $3k to get the CFI???
 
your situation sounds exactly like mine 2-3 years ago.. 300total, 0 multi, and pumping gas. it sounds like you already have your solution: a airplane that is available very cheap. that means you'll be able to get your cfi very cheap, especially considering the cfi is mostly ground and little flying. why would you pay $20,000 to get to 500/50 when you can have someone pay you to fly? and why the 500/50, who's hiring with that? yes the pay sucks instructing.. along with most other 1st year flying jobs. get your cfi and worry about the rest later, chances are you can talk an employer into picking up the cfii/multi on their dime.
 
or you could work at the FBO and flight instruct......I made coffee from 5am to noon four days a week and was at the airport 6 to 7 days a week for at least 8 hours.
 
wheelsup said:
you'd take out $20k to rent airplanes but not $3k to get the CFI???
Click to expand...
Not taking out anything...paying for.

and I'm concerned that the CFI paycheck will look like I worked at America West again.
 
wombat said:
and why the 500/50, who's hiring with that?
Click to expand...
King Airelines, who I have an interesting relationship with.
Scenic, who I work for now, is 600/50
Most Skydiving, glider/banner tow, traffic watch positions want 500tt for insurance.
 
I fail to see the logic that earning 20K then dropping it on flight time is better than spending 3k and flying and getting paid for it while working another job.
 
Texasspilot said:
I fail to see the logic that earning 20K then dropping it on flight time is better than spending 3k and flying and getting paid for it while working another job.
Click to expand...
Because continuing to have a 30k+ job helps...just a little... like...a car, job security, insurance...
 
slushie said:
Because continuing to have a 30k+ job helps...just a little... like...a car, job security, insurance...
Click to expand...

you could get the multi now, and buy the twin time now, while you have a better paying job and extra money

you're talking $6000 or so if you can split the 50 hour block with someone for the multi rating and 40 more hours or so of twin time.

How long would it take you to save up around $9k-$10k? That should get your thru the multi/time building and CFI.
 
slushie said:
Because continuing to have a 30k+ job helps...just a little... like...a car, job security, insurance...
Click to expand...

so...your gonna take years to save and get to 500/50 in hopes that you can get a job then?

if your determined to buy the time i've seen 150's for 80 an hour. Split that and you can surely get out for less than 20K

by the way just saw this in the job posting on this sight.

Fort Lauderdale, FL
Sanford, FL
Jacksonville, FL
New Bedford, MA
Dayton, OH
Houston, TX

Must have CFI/CFII
1 year commitment
Full time with benifits
Up to $24,960 per year based on experience
 
wheelsup said:
you'd take out $20k to rent airplanes but not $3k to get the CFI???
Click to expand...

What I find interessting is how "everyone" on J.C. feels as if being a C.F.I. is the end all be all answer to filling in the gap for flight time. What if someone is not cut out to teach, or doesnt have the patience to teach, or cannot make that little of money and "survive", if even for just 6 months. Flight Instucting is not for everyone and I wish someone would have told the first two flight instructors that I had that very same thing!
 
bwade210 said:
What I find interessting is how "everyone" on J.C. feels as if being a C.F.I. is the end all be all answer to filling in the gap for flight time. What if someone is not cut out to teach, or doesnt have the patience to teach, or cannot make that little of money and "survive", if even for just 6 months. Flight Instucting is not for everyone and I wish someone would have told the first two flight instructors that I had that very same thing!
Click to expand...

no one is saying that CFI'ing is the end all beat all, but it is a surefire way to get it done...but saving 20K on a 30K a year job is gonna take a couple of years and even then hes not really gonna be eligible for much.
 
slushie said:
I'm commercial/instrument,
310tt zero multi time.
20k is how much I need to get to the 500/50 point.
That includes an airplane that is available to me very cheap.

It's not gunna happen loading bags and pumping gas.
So, for all you youngsters thinking that "working in the industry" will help, I would like to throw up the B.S. flag on that one. Part time, maybe. But "the industry" doesn't do much for those that it will be relying on in the coming years. You can make more bussing tables than you can caring for multi-million dollar airplanes and driving around with 12000 pounds of explosive liquid behind you.

rant over.
Click to expand...

I'm in a similar situation. I'm at 420TT/ 42 M.E. and am trying to figure out what to do next. The local flight school here wants 5K for a C.F.I. and 3K for C.F.II Thats 7K ecluding my M.E.I which believe is around 4K. It's rough for sure! If you lived in Texas I would fly with you!
 
Texasspilot said:
no one is saying that CFI'ing is the end all beat all, but it is a surefire way to get it done...but saving 20K on a 30K a year job is gonna take a couple of years and even then hes not really gonna be eligible for much.
Click to expand...

It's said everyday! I'm not bashing those who legislate for it, I'm simply saying that for "some" it's not that easy to do and continue to live with the comfort of 4 walls and a roof!
 
I hear ya Slushie, but I think you should take the money from whatever job you get and get your CFI and then just instruct part time. This way you can have someone else pay for your flight time and maybe even still have enough money to rent on your own. I got screwed out at Long Beach and resigned. Now I've pretty much run out of options and money. Tried to get an instructor job, but they wanted some current flight time, which I can understand. But I don't have any money to get that current flight time. So it's the typical catch 22, need the time to get the job, but need a job to get the time. So I'm planning on going back to VA to get back into law enforcement. Already scheduled for testing in a couple weeks. I know this, I'll be making almost $50K a year, full benefits, retirement plan, don't have to worry about getting furloughed or the county going out of business, and I'll be able to make my loan payments and still have money to live on. Not exactly where I was palnning on being right now, but you gotta do what you gotta do. Surprisingly I'm actaully looking forward to going back to VA.

Anyway, good luck whatever you decide to do. Having spent a lot of money on aviation I'd say do what you can to save as much money as possible.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top