Buidling Multi-Engine Time

Coney

New Member
Okay. So, I just added a ME/Instrument to my commmercial ticket. The next objective is now to accrue a hundred multi-engine hours. The flight school where I work doesn't have a twin, nor does it appear that we will be acquiring one in the near future. Apart from paying a huge mount of money to rent twins elsewhere, what are ways that you all build ME time?

Even if I hop an occasional ride with people who own twins, both pilots logging time as PIC isn't right. How did you all do it? -- JJC
 
I'm sure a lot of them did it the way you think isn't right...hehe...

I had a friend with an old Apache who wasn't the sharpest pilot in the world and knew it. He liked it when I came along and helped him with the gas. I was also in a position to fly along on dead legs on some charter flights and log the trip back as dual received.
 
Most people in your shoes do a time building program. Another way is to go to another school, get your MEI, and instruct for them. Getting that 100ME time has got to be by far the biggest obstacle for the average joe to make it to the regionals (aside from the ATP and Ari-ben guys).
 
I was thinking of the same thing... getting the CFII is gunna be $$$$ after all the money I spend on getting everything else :(
 
I was thinking of the same thing... getting the CFII is gunna be $$$$ after all the money I spend on getting everything else :(

If you know your instrument material its just a matter of doing a checkride from the right seat. Should not be any problem. Just follow the PTS and practice up a little bit.
 
If you know your instrument material its just a matter of doing a checkride from the right seat. Should not be any problem. Just follow the PTS and practice up a little bit.

BAH I meant to say MEI rating, not CFII lol

edit: hmm quickly looking at the ATP's website, the MEI is a pretty easy thing to get it seems?
 
I have seen lots of people bust that checkride (MEI) because they thought it would be "easy". What most new pilots don't understand is that teaching in a Multi is perhaps some of the most dangerous instructing there is because an inexperienced student and an inattentive instructor are the makings for a loss of control accident.
 
a lot of times schools like ATP will do time building in which the left seat flies under the hood and the right seat acts as a safety pilot-- both get to log the twin time. IF you can find someone to split time with you I would recommend going out and shooting multiple approaches, splitting the hood time-- you'll be killing two birds w/ one stone- twin time and keeping your instrument skills sharp. A lot of the interviews (to my knowledge) have sim rides w/ a twin profile.

I think the best way to build time is to get your MEI and become more proficient at flying the twin as you instruct. You can save a lot of money. I agree being a MEI can be dangerous, but I've heard it is a lot of fun to work w/ fairly skilled pilots on the multi rating.

Like the other posts--If you can find a school w/ a twin and get in as a MEI w/them, you'd be in good shape-- after a few students, you'll see the twin time jump up there.

Hopefully you have built some time as a CFI, too. That is a great learning experience, teaching primary.

Congratulations!
 
I was invited to training at airnet and I have 22 hours of multi time. I plan on getting several hundred hours of multi time working there. I really dont have the money to pay for the time building programs and the school I instructed out of didnt have any multis on line or on the field.
 
flying aroudn the world would actually be pretty cool, but I don't know if I have 26 grand for it lol
 
I think that a good way to build multi time would be to go the part 135 route. You will build quality multi time this way. Once you reach the part 135 mins (FAR 135.243c), you can apply to companies like Flight Express or Ram Air. You will start out in a single and then upgrade to the twin. The good thing is that it is mult time you don't have to pay for, and you will get more out of it than trying to catch rides with someone who owns a twin.
 
Ohh........oh JESUS!!!!!! THAT'S ONE OF THOSE FREAKING TRAVEL AIR'S THAT KEPT TRYING TO KILL ME! CHANGE YOUR AVATAR!


(I was an instructor at Skymates)
 
Apart from paying a huge mount of money to rent twins elsewhere, what are ways that you all build ME time?

I moved 2400 miles and went to work for a school with a dedicated student base and lots and lots of multi time. I ended up with 250+ hours logged in 12 months. If I had to do it again, I would've stayed working for the previous school and went to a 135 company for the multi time when I hit 135 mins. I'd suggest you do that.
 
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