How did u build time?

cuy said:
I have a question to all those who have experience doing all sorts of things to build time. How did u guys build time for your commercial pilot's license? How did u guys build time after your CPL in order to be hireable as a CFI or something? I want to hear different accounts on what people did just to give me an idea beforehand on what my options are once i get my commercial.

Also, what are your opinions on fractionally owning a twin and sharing expenses? Are there any things i should be careful about? Any special considerations?

I would greatly appreciate any advice.:)
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Once I got my commercial, I got a job flying parts for the company I worked for, all of it Part 91 to support their helicopter operation. Basically, it was a brilliant case of "right place at the right time," rather than anything I particularly planned. So far all of my experience in aviation has been "right place right time", and very little of it has been grand extrapolation from the initial plan. I'd say get the CFI, but do everything within your power not to use it to build time. I don't have it now, and regret it, that being said, I'm not a very firm believer in the CFI so you can learn then go get a real job. If you can find a job towing banners, or flying right seat in a caravan or towing gliders or dropping meat missiles, I'd recommend it over CFIing.
 
I paid for all my flight time until after I got my instrument rating. By the time I took my commercial checkride I had about 300 hours. Once I got done with that and my CFI I instructed for a while. I also flew forestry patrol and some flying in a westwind to build some time. Between the three of those I had my part 135 times in about a year. Then it was off to the regionals.
 
Cessna414JJB said:
Contrary to our mindset here, flying is a pretty selfresponsible activity there, but nobody constantly looks to sue each other all the time, either. Rental checkouts are common though, but not regulatory and usually by far less complicated than here. Just gotta spare the big bucks for the plane, userfees, landing fees and the Euro 1.90/ minute it costs to talk to a weather briefer :D. I think at my old field Avgas sells for Euro 2.85/ liter today.
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:panic::panic::panic::panic::panic:
 
I flight instructed for quite a while and then built time as a Part 135 cargo pilot.
 
Before you get your commercial, and if you are just trying to get time in, have uncle sam pay for some of it by volunteering through Angel Flight, Pilots n Paws, etc.
 
PGT said:
Safety Pilot
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Sucks when it seems like there's NOBODY wanting/needing one at your airport. I'm flying a 150 to save some money. It's helping but I can't say I enjoy it. It's fun to fly around in circles but I'm starting to hate it as a cross country machine. And there's nothing like having the radios constantly squealing in your ear on a 2.2 hour flight. And having panel trim fall off into your lap.
 
Cessna414JJB said:
Haha! This is a real problem. The highly elusive, paying SP is hard to find.
:D There are some nice 150's out there - with fresh, clean noncollapsing panels.
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Not within a 2000 mile radius of me. And yeah, I've gotten a lot of people trying to use me for free PIC time. Yeah, no thanks. :rolleyes:
 
JordanD said:
Not within a 2000 mile radius of me. And yeah, I've gotten a lot of people trying to use me for free PIC time. Yeah, no thanks. :rolleyes:
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I've never asked a SP to pay for me getting to practice something.
But I never had to build time. Thats why I can understand the issue.
Hard to find the right person, who can put a value on sitting there staring out a window...
 
JordanD said:
Not within a 2000 mile radius of me. And yeah, I've gotten a lot of people trying to use me for free PIC time. Yeah, no thanks. :rolleyes:
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I'm not 2000 miles, but I'm not too close either. 150's are fun, but you're right it does get pretty boring.
 
I was all Part 61. After earning my Instructor ratings, I ............. instructed... and in the mean time, built up students....made contacts....ended up flying for one of my students companies as their "corporate pilot" in a Saratoga. Also flew a Skymaster for a local doctor......just about anything that came my way.

Got hired by Eagle in 2006. Still here.
 
cuy said:
I have a question to all those who have experience doing all sorts of things to build time. How did u guys build time for your commercial pilot's license? How did u guys build time after your CPL in order to be hireable as a CFI or something?
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I had about 100 hours total when I bought a Cessna 152. I kept it for a few years, got the instrument in it, and built enough time for the commercial. At the time I owned it I was not planning to fly professionally.

Ironically I had to sell the plane in order to survive as a professional pilot. In some ways I felt like I was a cowboy selling his horse.

Flight instructing now.
 
matt152 said:
I had about 100 hours total when I bought a Cessna 152. I kept it for a few years, got the instrument in it, and built enough time for the commercial. At the time I owned it I was not planning to fly professionally.

Ironically I had to sell the plane in order to survive as a professional pilot. In some ways I felt like I was a cowboy selling his horse.

Flight instructing now.
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Thats what I hope to do someday. First step is for me to atleast get my ppl then try to find around 20-30k for a decent 150-2.
 
Got my private, instrument, then commercial single, multi and CFI, II, and MEI. I rode around in a cargo 310 and then a caravan for a couple hundred hours, instructed a ton, then flew cargo in the caravan mentioned above. After that I got lucky and started a right seat job in 500 series citations for a 135 operator. That's how I built time. Good luck.
 
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:crazy:
 
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