How did you guys do it?

B

b17

Well-Known Member
I have been banner towing and doing the CFI thing which I like, but so far it has mainly netted me lots of total time but not much anything else. I would not trade the experiences I have had doing this type of flying for anything but, I feel like it may not be much "quality" time. I have 1050TT, and 1000 PIC, but only 205 XC, 30 night, and 50 Instrument, as well as a whopping 8.7 multi. As a CFI, since I have a lot of tailwheel time, I am mostly doing endorsements, so all of the time I'm putting in my logbook is SE, day, VFR, and its staying local. Its also very spotty schedule. So my question is, how did some of the guys that have moved up in the ranks build up their cross country and night flight times? The 50-100 multi PIC seems like it will always be tricky to get and I have no idea how to do that either. Does anyone have any advice and/or ideas? Thanks a million
 
I feel like the vast majority of us sold our souls and worked at big "Academy" flight schools teaching foreigners or a place like all ATPs. It's not the most fun place to work, but you build time quickly and usually have a shot at multi time if you stick around for a year or two.
 
Look at some of the bigger flight academies in FL, AZ, CA, and TX. I instructed in AZ teaching Europeans and they had a lot of time building flights when they finished the equivalent of their private. With the right one, based on your times, you could have the 1500 within 6 months. The cross country might take a bit longer depending on what program you instruct in.
 
I second that. I'm right at 1050 myself, and over half of it I've built since Feb working at international student flight school. It can get a little old over time, but it's still a pretty decent job. Nothing like leaving on a 4 hr multi x-country with a commercial student first thing in the morning, then beating up the pattern all afternoon with a private student. It's also kind of a challenge to play the "does my student understand" game as well.
 
Taught at a place that did initial commercial in twins. Taught at a place that had a few old guys who never wanted to do the night cross countries with their students, so I nabbed every one of those I could.
 
b17 said:
I have been banner towing and doing the CFI thing which I like, but so far it has mainly netted me lots of total time but not much anything else. I would not trade the experiences I have had doing this type of flying for anything but, I feel like it may not be much "quality" time. I have 1050TT, and 1000 PIC, but only 205 XC, 30 night, and 50 Instrument, as well as a whopping 8.7 multi. As a CFI, since I have a lot of tailwheel time, I am mostly doing endorsements, so all of the time I'm putting in my logbook is SE, day, VFR, and its staying local. Its also very spotty schedule. So my question is, how did some of the guys that have moved up in the ranks build up their cross country and night flight times? The 50-100 multi PIC seems like it will always be tricky to get and I have no idea how to do that either. Does anyone have any advice and/or ideas? Thanks a million
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Where do you live? There's a survey company out of Jax that is hiring. you can get those times there.
 
b17 said:
Thats what I have been looking at. Do they even have SIC at airnet? Either that or i need to get my 135 mins..
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pretty sure they operate their caravans, navajos and acquired 210s (from FLX if I'm not mistaken, @UAL747400 ??) all single pilot.

so yeah... 135 mins...
 
b17 said:
Thats what I have been looking at. Do they even have SIC at airnet? Either that or i need to get my 135 mins..
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I think they are doing their SIC program. The website says no flight time minimums. When I was there 2 years ago there was a guy in my class that did SIC for a few months and flew the empty legs to get up to 135 mins. Give it a shot and apply if you're interested.
 
flymike said:
I think they are doing their SIC program. The website says no flight time minimums. When I was there 2 years ago there was a guy in my class that did SIC for a few months and flew the empty legs to get up to 135 mins. Give it a shot and apply if you're interested.
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Thats a pretty good deal for someone in OPs position

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b17 said:
Thats what I have been looking at. Do they even have SIC at airnet? Either that or i need to get my 135 mins..
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You ought want to check if flight express has the 135 VFR program.


(b) Except as provided in paragraph (a) of this section, no certificate holder may use a person, nor may any person serve, as pilot in command of an aircraft under VFR unless that person—

(1) Holds at least a commercial pilot certificate with appropriate category and class ratings and, if required, an appropriate type rating for that aircraft; and

(2) Has had at least 500 hours time as a pilot, including at least 100 hours of cross-country flight time, at least 25 hours of which were at night; and

(3) For an airplane, holds an instrument rating or an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane category rating; or
 
I live in NC, but I am willing to go anywhere. Ill send some info to airnet. I would be willing to do survey as well. Any info on them?
I do not oppose going to a pilot mill either, but most of the ones I have looked at want an MEI, and I would still need to get 15 PIC multi to qualify for that. I havent done that yet due to the fact that the seneca around here literally never moves.
 
b17 said:
I live in NC, but I am willing to go anywhere. Ill send some info to airnet. I would be willing to do survey as well. Any info on them?
I do not oppose going to a pilot mill either, but most of the ones I have looked at want an MEI, and I would still need to get 15 PIC multi to qualify for that. I havent done that yet due to the fact that the seneca around here literally never moves.
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@chrisreedrules works there. They were hiring as of like... 2 days ago. Hit him up yesterday!

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I got ahold of a twin and (with my MEI) did dual given for many folks looking to get the MEI and needed the 15 multi pic. It wasn't too long into that process that I had offers to fly twins for an aircraft broker who needed a guy with twin pic to meet insurance (navajo's mainly). The big piece is networking, so hang out where the twins live... In a non-dirty way... When pilots find out that you are an eager pilot trying to get twin time, it's amazing how they can help. If I was hitting the "reset" button to today, it would be a mission to hit whatever numbers you need for an ATP (restricted if applicable) to get on with a regional. If you have a corporate path, I'd jump at any chance there (even today -post 7.5 years 121) like a fat kid on a Twinkie (yes, they are back!).
 
I did the MEI thing not too terribly long after getting my CFI and CFII. Ended up getting about 100 multi teaching which landed me a job with a 135 flying BE40s and a couple king airs. My biggest advise, albeit I have in no sense "made it" is to stay persistent and continually put your face in front of the hiring/firing types at a place you would like to work. The worst thing they can say is Thanks but no thanks and it will definitely make you stand out in a stack of faceless resumes.
 
I instructed and flew an owner operated Baron VERY part time just to build some multi hours until I had around 700ish TT, then went and did a season of flying with Pictometry (Aerial survey). I built enough hours to get me close to 135 mins. Instructed some more and finally got picked up to fly for my current operator.

You do have quality time, even if you don't think you do. That 1000hrs PIC is pretty important. I've flown with people who have thousands of hours of TT, but have less than 1000 PIC. If I were you, I'd apply with some 135 operators.
 
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You're close to 135 IFR mins. Otherwise you could try a 135 VFR operator, there are a few out there, but look out west and WAY north mostly.
 
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