Multi Rating question

USAFplt

USAFplt

Well-Known Member
Hey guys,
I was sitting around having lunch with some pilot buddies after class and we were talking about ratings and what not and my buddy was talking about ME time. Well I fly at the aero club we have a c310 that goes for 70 bucks an hour dry..incredible deal. Well he mentioned that I should get my multi after my PPL since it is so cheap and would be about a 10 hour checkout. I was always under the impression that one needed to have an IFR rating before flying multi aircraft ( shows how much I know /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif ). Im curious if there are many non IFR multi rated pilots out there and if it would be a smart idea to go ahead and get my multi done next after my PPL checkride? any comments appreciated. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
I got my multi-engine private before I was instrument rated.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hey guys,
I was sitting around having lunch with some pilot buddies after class and we were talking about ratings and what not and my buddy was talking about ME time. Well I fly at the aero club we have a c310 that goes for 70 bucks an hour dry..incredible deal. Well he mentioned that I should get my multi after my PPL since it is so cheap and would be about a 10 hour checkout. I was always under the impression that one needed to have an IFR rating before flying multi aircraft ( shows how much I know /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif ). Im curious if there are many non IFR multi rated pilots out there and if it would be a smart idea to go ahead and get my multi done next after my PPL checkride? any comments appreciated. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

To answer your question, you do not need to have your instrument ticket prior to getting your multi. When you do get your instrument, if it was in a single engine airplane, you will have to go up again and shoot an instrument approach in a multi with an examiner. If you do not, you'll be limited to VFR only on your PPL multi. It doesn't really matter in which order you do it...

A couple of things though... I have a hard time believing that a low time multi private could ever be insured on a C310. Make sure and look into that yourself... and read through ALL of the insurance thorougly! I can hardly rent a seminole, which is essentially an archer with an extra engine, and I've got my MEI and over 100 hours multi time... let alone renting a C310, which is definitely a lot more airplane. The other thing... 10 hours to learn multi is a little light... plan on doing 20 hours, and if you get it in less, good for you!
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
A couple of things though... I have a hard time believing that a low time multi private could ever be insured on a C310. Make sure and look into that yourself... and read through ALL of the insurance thorougly! I can hardly rent a seminole, which is essentially an archer with an extra engine, and I've got my MEI and over 100 hours multi time... let alone renting a C310, which is definitely a lot more airplane. The other thing... 10 hours to learn multi is a little light... plan on doing 20 hours, and if you get it in less, good for you!

[/ QUOTE ]

I second that on both accounts. While some may do it in 10 hours, most I knew did not. Also, we had a 310 in my club. It was not available for training and only a rated ME pilot could rent it with a minimum of 25hrs ME time already. Check out those insurance requirements!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Im curious if there are many non IFR multi rated pilots out there

[/ QUOTE ]
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bandit.gif- yur lookin' at one
[ QUOTE ]
and if it would be a smart idea to go ahead and get my multi done next after my PPL checkride?

[/ QUOTE ]
Useful if you are doing your instrument work in a multi. Then you can log the time as PIC.
 
[ QUOTE ]
10 hours to learn multi is a little light... plan on doing 20 hours, and if you get it in less, good for you!


[/ QUOTE ]
I concur. Took me 21 hrs to get my PPMEL/IA. One of the "super pilots" at my FBO got his done in 7....but this kid's been flying since he was just out of diapers. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I got mine in 9, and every one of my students has gotten their's in less than 12. It can be done. Nearly all of our students do it before their instrument, as well. Having said that, they do all of their commercial cross countries and have about five to six hours complex in our Arrow before they start the multi private.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I got mine in 9, and every one of my students has gotten their's in less than 12. It can be done. Nearly all of our students do it before their instrument, as well. Having said that, they do all of their commercial cross countries and have about five to six hours complex in our Arrow before they start the multi private.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like everybody there does well! Cool! I think I got me in around 20 hours... the thing that screwed me up most was single engine instrument approaches. It was a combination of just not getting the Garmin to work for me (my first experience with Garmin 430's... and I did use the downloadable simulator... but I just couldn't get it), and just plain ol' struggling with the single-engine approaches. I've definitely got 'em down now though! The maneuvers themselves aren't all that difficult, but there are enough new things to learn where I'd definitely budget for at least 20 hours. Getting your multi is worthwhile though... it's nice flying at a reasonable speed for once!
 
FlightSafety and a lot of other schools have students earn their ME prior to the IA. That way you can earn lots more ME time while doing your IA in a twin.

ME is like gold. Get it while you can.

Just remember that you need PIC XC time for the IA. If the school doesn't allow you solo the twin (some have very high requirements), you might either end up paying for a CFI to ride XC with you or going back to a SE for XC experience.
 
Are you stationed at Eglin? I know they have a C310 in their aero club, but I have heard that it is hard to schedule.

[ QUOTE ]
Just remember that you need PIC XC time for the IA. If the school doesn't allow you solo the twin (some have very high requirements), you might either end up paying for a CFI to ride XC with you or going back to a SE for XC experience.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is true, so I would just get enough single engine PIC for the instrument rating, then get the private multi-engine rating. Just rent the cheapest single you can find and go on solo cross countries. I like to get the Jepp Airport guides. It makes it easy to find all the airports with a resturaunt, and comes in handy if you need a hotel at 2300 when the FBO is closed and you are stuck for Mx or Wx. After that you can get your instrument rating in the twin. For that price, you would be a fool not to do this, assuming the aircraft is available for instruction and scheduling wise. Just be careful where you buy gas. That thing can probably eat close to 28 gallons an hour. However, most local training flights will use considerably less.
 
Hi!

I can give you the advice that I'm following, and the rationale behind it:

1) PPL
2) Hi-perf / complex checkout
3) IR (where I am, currently-finishing the rating)
4) Commercial
5) Multi

The rationale here is that you are building in a stepwise and logical manner. For example, by the time you start your commercial, you already have some complex time, so you won't need to transition. When you start your multi, you will have even more complex time, so all you will be learning is OEI and "two of everything" in the systems.

I seriously doubt you would be a good multi pilot in ten hours, with just the PPL (unless you had several hi-perf/complex hours). At that stage, I'd plan on 20 hours to feel comfortable in the multi.

OTOH, if you took on the multi when you had your comm, you might feel comfortable after 12 hours.

That's what they tell me, anyway. . . .
 
Get that rating as soon as you can. If it is cheap, get it---if you can get it and build some multi time, do it. At some universities they do their private-commercial ratings in a twin, then at the end of college you can get your Comm. ASEL if you choose to do so.

I wish my school did it that way---you have an opportunity to fly a 310 for what it costs to fly a 150 at my school!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I seriously doubt you would be a good multi pilot in ten hours, with just the PPL (unless you had several hi-perf/complex hours). At that stage, I'd plan on 20 hours to feel comfortable in the multi.


[/ QUOTE ]

This is true, and is another reason to do the instrument rating in the multi. By the time you are done with the IR and get your Multi Commercial, you will be very comfortable in the twin. You can then get your Commercial Single in a Cherokee or 172, since you have already finished your initial Commercial rating in a complex airplane.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top