Twin Rates
- Thread starter Gajre539
- Start date
Back in Feb 2009 I conducted a survey regarding multi-engine flying on this forum. The results showed the majority of people (out of 37 total) wanted to build multi time, had their MEI, would travel out of state, and preferred safety pilot cost sharing.
I am still curious if most pilots want multi-engine safety pilot time or 'all PIC' (no safety pilot time). I know that a safety pilot can log PIC when properly rated.
With the economy the way it is, I imagine that people don't have the funds to build multi time they way they used to. But for those who have the cash or financing, how much time are you planning to fly- realistically?
I am still curious if most pilots want multi-engine safety pilot time or 'all PIC' (no safety pilot time). I know that a safety pilot can log PIC when properly rated.
With the economy the way it is, I imagine that people don't have the funds to build multi time they way they used to. But for those who have the cash or financing, how much time are you planning to fly- realistically?
SE seaplane or ME seaplane?
This is interesting information. Realistically, 10-20 hours a month would be good for me. I did pick up a local multi-commercial initial student yesterday, which helps.
Douglas
Old School KSUX
Dang! That is about half price on what I did mine. C-180 Amphibian.
No offense, but that is horrible idea and a horrible thing. I'm sure you know why without me rambling on and on and on and on
I understand this too.. but with the aircraft rate being fixed, I didn't have another option to keep the total cost under $2000. If I don't get any new multi students in a few weeks, I'll go back to the original CFI rate of $40/hour which adds $180 to the $1991 special rate.
Inverted25
Well-Known Member
Tom does his in a SuperCub he owns. Its a fun airplane to fly.
Douglas
Old School KSUX
Someday I'm going to lasso a cub.
Last night I dreamt our 402 was on floats and I was using it to avoid the Omaha police on the Missouri River. Float pilots just have better dreams.
JOEFRIDAY2
Well-Known Member
I think you guys have hit the nail on the head here. In all reality there is simply no hurry to get a twin rating. It can be done in just a few hours so there isn't a lot of money in it for the instructor. In my opinion it was the easiest rating to obtain.
What generally happens if that you obtain a twin rating and are not able to fly twins until you are hired by someone because most places don't rent twins and if they do they tend to be expensive. So it's a catch 22.
I agree the market for twins is in time building, but I don't know how effective time building is these days.
Joe
What generally happens if that you obtain a twin rating and are not able to fly twins until you are hired by someone because most places don't rent twins and if they do they tend to be expensive. So it's a catch 22.
I agree the market for twins is in time building, but I don't know how effective time building is these days.
Joe
ryan1234
Desensitized Member
I got an MES out with Skip in FL at Flagler Airport in a UC-1 Twinbee. I was a pretty cool rating to get as not many people have it.... not very practical, but fun flying and usually it's a talking point for interviewers. While not helping thaaat much, it makes your application pretty unique.... he knows the Seaborne people pretty well also.
It ends up being about $395/hr for around 5-6hrs if you're proficient in twins and tailwheels. The examiner still charges $300/hr, and if you have to fly down to another airport do the checkride, he won't charge you for the plane... only the amount during the actual checkride.
Blackhawk
Well-Known Member
Personally I refuse to do "quicky" MEL ratings and if I sent a "quicky" to the local examiners they would probably pull me behind the hanger and give me some wall to wall counseling. My view is that when you walk out the door with a ticket you are legal to take my kids or someone elses kids up in a twin and I want to know that you can do this safely. Yeah, some may go on to sitting in a right seat, but there is no stamp that I can have put on a MEL pilot certificate that says "can only sit in the right seat with a baby sitter". So I tell pilots to plan at least 10 hours in a 310. If they are proficient in maneuvers the first time, great. We move on and they finish faster. If they take more time getting the maneuvers down then it takes more time. There are just too many smoking holes around made by MEL pilots who were not proficient.
Also I've got a good deal of MEL time, don't need more, so if you want me to fly it will be at my rates or I won't fly. I already had one government agency try to pull the "you should fly our pilots for free" routine. Told them I'd do this as long as their pilots were not payed during training. They went elsewhere and I spent the time flying with other clients.
Also I've got a good deal of MEL time, don't need more, so if you want me to fly it will be at my rates or I won't fly. I already had one government agency try to pull the "you should fly our pilots for free" routine. Told them I'd do this as long as their pilots were not payed during training. They went elsewhere and I spent the time flying with other clients.
jrh
Well-Known Member
:clap: :clap: :clap:
I was going to stay out of this thread, but I wanted to applaud you on an excellent post.
This whole thread reminds me of the classic "race to the bottom."
DE727UPS
Well-Known Member
"Personally I refuse to do "quicky" MEL ratings"
In 2006, I bought a nice Apache with the idea of setting up a multi training program. After flying it a little, I came to the same conclusion you did, that a quicky MEL rating is a bad idea. Also, I had very little time in light twins (except the 757, inside UPS joke) and I just couldn't see signing a guy off with less than 10 hours for an IFR multi...and it could easily be more. So I just couldn't see being competitive with how most other places operate. Plus, I just didn't need the liability exposure.
Anybody interested in a nice Apache?
In 2006, I bought a nice Apache with the idea of setting up a multi training program. After flying it a little, I came to the same conclusion you did, that a quicky MEL rating is a bad idea. Also, I had very little time in light twins (except the 757, inside UPS joke) and I just couldn't see signing a guy off with less than 10 hours for an IFR multi...and it could easily be more. So I just couldn't see being competitive with how most other places operate. Plus, I just didn't need the liability exposure.
Anybody interested in a nice Apache?
SFCC/UND
Well-Known Member
:hiya: I still owe you dinner at Hooters, plus if I buy u another round will that cover the cost of the airplane?
splash
your social justice comic center
Not to make you feel bad again but I did my SES in a c-150 for $1100 in March of 07. Had to set it just to the right pitch to get it off the water.As for the Multi... I got that just to graduate college. The Multi ratting was much cheaper than the CFI course and both were 1 tiny lab credit hour. Had I known what I know now about how federal grants work and I may have to go back to college someday then I could have saved some money then and now.
Kids, when you finish college with a BA= no more federal grants for you. If your job market is saturated and you still try moving ahead in it for years you still get the tough titty when you call it quits for that job market in order not to starve to death. No grant to learn new trade 
.
MSU Pilot
Well-Known Member
I think you are assuming that an MEI can't teach someone to be proficient pilot in "quick" 9-10 hours. Up "in the air" is not a place to teach things like checklist items, flows, systems and procedures. I've finished a Private Multi add-on in 6 hours, the guy spend days learning all the material that I provided to him and flew to commercial standards. It comes down to preparation; this is also a Seneca, it's a baby twin compared to some twins out there used for training. I have never signed off someone who I don't trust to fly my kid around, it's not going to start now... or ever.
I don't think anyone has the funds to do training this way while paying out of pocket. We've had many people turned down for flight training loans or people that refused to pay 30-40% interest
for flight training. We should be getting some "career" students at the end of this month, when the other flight school in town shuts doors. I have one commercial initial student to keep me busy for the next few weeks though.
CoffeeIcePapers
Well-Hung Member
I think he is referring to some of the places where you get the multi-engine license in 3 hours of flight time or less. Some people can be proficient in 6 hours, but really, what are they going to get out of 6 hours?
They can't rent the plane (our insurance requires 10 hours), they can't really get a job with only 6 hours of multi-engine time, so I don't really see the practical point of getting it that low.
splash
your social justice comic center
To get one college lab credit just to be finished with college.
I would have done the 6 hour at a cheaper price if offered. Did mine in 10 hours for $900 guaranteed plus $300 examiner's fee in 2004 just for the record here though.