Advice wanted:

[Rick DeWalt]

Hey guys Im a new member, this is my first post. Here is some background information about me: Im 26, 8 years military service as a F16/H60 mechanic. I got my PPL in July of 09, in a taildragger. In fact up until recently taildragging has all I've ever known. I got my lic in a 1950 CE 170. I recently started flying a 52 Bonanza Vtail, and am currently working on a high perf/complex rating, I have 5 hours in the 'boner'. Its definitely a different feel than the 170, call me crazy but I wish it was a taildragger!

I have about 225TT (and over 500 landings!) and slowly building. I'm a Flight simulator operator at Lemoore NAS CA for the navy's F18 training program - so i get a lot of sim time - i dont log though, doubt it would be legit haha. I currently have access to the bonanza for basically all the hours I can afford in fuel. Unfortunately, its not well equipped for instrument flying, so ill need something else to start flying for an instrument rating. This summer I hope to finish the endorsement and be well on my way to finishing a CPL.

I'm just looking for some advice - what would you do if you were me? My end goal is to fly for money. Im not super picky and for the first job ill take anything, but I have to get there. Im not dead set on an airline job - I think there is a whole lot of flying between private and commercial airline that looks exciting and i dont want to miss out on it! At the end of the year when I have my CPL Im guessing I'll have around 75-100 more hours TT which will put me at 300-325TT, where should I go from there? should I go CFI? should I find something I can do an instrument rating in? should I head north and look into tour flying? mail?....?

If I went the CFI route, I was thinking about buying a CE120/140, and be the only one around offering tail-wheel training. the local FBO used to offer it in a supercup but the FBO has closed down here at HJO.

Here is the 170 i used to fly, me in the left seat giving my old man a ride!

here is the youtube vid of my first solo landings!


and the boner:

 

[Rick DeWalt]

also, Is it easier to find jobs out of the country? I mean Im married now, but I still dont have any kids. im not as flexible as i used to be, but i am determined! a year abroad would be doable.

 

[thehobbit]

also, Is it easier to find jobs out of the country? I mean Im married now, but I still dont have any kids. im not as flexible as i used to be, but i am determined! a year abroad would be doable.

If you still have your gibill left? If you do you can get both rotorcraft and fixed wing ratings payed for if you go to college that offers a flight program as part of a degree.

 

[Rick DeWalt]

The GI bill i have hardly covers anything, its not the good one that everyone is using to pay for crazy $90,000 flight training and not spend a dime out of pocket. mine covers about 30% which still leaves me in huge debt.

 

[DE727UPS]

I think entry level overseas jobs would be working as a CFI. It would be a lot easier to that in the US though you'll make a lot less. There used to be a guy on JC who was a recruiter for a flight school in China but haven't seen him post about it in ages. I've flown in China and you'd have to pay me UPS Capts wages to instruct there. Beyond that, to fly overseas you usually have to have significant time in type to do airline flying. There are agencies in the US that hire contract pilots for this as well. Google is your friend.