So, who gets the next chunk of dough?

[Duck_Twacy]

And clones, please save the "You can give it to me" answers

I'm at 250.5, and after seeing my commercial checkride steed go down, perhaps permanently, I've decided to huddle up and decide which play to run on 4th down (God, I'm glad it's football season, go Hokies tomorrow)

Obviously, getting the CSEL checkride done is the first step. But after that, to whom do I hemmorhage my next chunk of money? The handful of airline guys and gals I know personally have actually suggested foregoing the CFI route and getting the CMEL and building some multi-time...or not. Ok, great if the latter works (how many ink-not-dry applicants are actually getting hired?). If not:

1. Stop the bleeding at the CMEL, maybe even the CSEL. Look into the low-time "opportunities" such as mapping, pipeline patrol.........tsa......
1. Get CSEL and CFI, start instructing and add other stuff later as money allows (Will probably extend the overall timeline this way) I'd probably get the CMEL anyway, so I'd have it as TT increased.
2. Get all ratings through MEI and instruct. Note: there are no twins in which to instruct in my area. This is probably the most expensive option.
3. Get CMEL and do some multi time building to around 310/50-ish. See what sticks (this obviously leaves me no fall-back.)

I would like to move into a not-paying-for-flying scenario. How can I accomplish that while keeping my next outlay to a minimum? Luckily I've come through this with a minimal amount of debt, but it's still not getting any cheaper, and it certainly ain't free!

[sdfcvoh]

Mesa, baby. All the way!


(but seriously - good luck on your next step.)

[Silverhawkpmm]

Jump over to the General Topics - there's a good discussion going on under the "Low Time Interview" thread.

I too am in the same position - 300 / and soon to be about 20 multi here in the next month or so. I'm definately starting the CFI and want to instruct for a while but at the same time have the same throw your application out there 'itis'.

Do your research... get some feedback.. and do what works best for you.

Best of Luck !!

[juskl]

Instruct, Instruct, Instruct........ Learn...... , then after a few years and lots of experience, move on.... No matter what though, you will still be broke....
Just the state of the industry..... Nice thing about this career, we may bitch about pay, but we all love to fly......

[Duck_Twacy]

Originally Posted by juskl

then after a few years and ....

<sigh> spoken like someone far younger than I.... And as for being broke, I'm a kept man! (until my wife leaves me...plus after 10 years in IT I'll be doing some consulting on the side so I can keep my NFL Sunday Ticket pkg...)

After some more thought, I've pared down my original questions to two:

1. Skip CMEL and just get CFI initial now and instruct.
2. Get CMEL and CFI initial now and instruct.

What's the difference? I have 5K to spend, but by going option 1 I can save the other 2K and combined with my year-end bonus afford a CMEL/Time building package. By then I'd have 600 TT or so (hopefully). By going with option 2 I'd at least be eligible to float some resumes while the TT creeps up, although the multi time would not be.

I really don't see any reason to get all the instructor ratings, as there aren't any twins around, and getting the -II by itself isn't as cost effective as doing it with the -MEI.

BTW, ATP's $5800 II and MEI package is just ridonculous.

[Flying Ninja]

Since you want to keep your next outlay to a minimum and you've specified that minimum as $5000, go get your CFI-A and instruct. It's your best course of action. You can make money as a CFI and work a second job somewhere to build more money to either live on or put toward that multi certification. Just remember, to become a commercial multi-engine instructor, you need to first get your commercial multi-engine, then go through the motions to get your MEI, both will cost you more than $5k in total.

Get the CFI, instruct, build time, and throw out the resumes once you're past 500/100...unless like someone else said, you can just try Mesa or TSA. They'll take anyone with a pulse, but I don't think you're quite there yet.

BTW, getting your MEI only means you can bulid multi time on someone else's buck. Just like the CFI/CFII.

[juskl]

Unless you are older than 36...... The benefits of being a CFII is the complete knowledge and understanding from teaching to many confused pilots in ways you never even dreamed..... Frustrating but true.

Everything depends on what you want. I want to experience it all in aviation. And be very good at what I do. There is nothing worse (to me) than checking out an airline pilot who has no clue how to fly...... I wish I was kidding. They may be great systems managers, but they have no clue what a rudder is for, let alone the basics.

Right now the industry is great for skipping various levels of the old days of flying and moving right on up to a Regional Airline or whatever...... Me, I am for being excellent at one level, then moving on up to the next and mastering that and so on.....

I like the idea of the 2500 hour new first officer.... Not so much the 250 hour one.... Maybe that is just me.....

Anyway, do what you love, enjoy the ride and don't forget to sit back and breathe. Those jets can wait...... Plus the Super Cub low level is by far the biggest rush....... Call me nostalgic.......

[mtsu_av8er]

Why not take your time, instruct for a year or 18 months, and get a bunch of time and experience before making this decision?

It's not the destination . . . it's watching all of the hot chicks out the window on the platform!!!

[surreal1221]

Originally Posted by mtsu_av8er

It's not the destination . . . it's watching all of the hot chicks out the window on the platform!!!

Hot chicks . .on a platform . . .

[Duck_Twacy]

Originally Posted by mtsu_av8er

Why not take your time, instruct for a year or 18 months, and get a bunch of time and experience before making this decision?

It's not the destination . . . it's watching all of the hot chicks out the window on the platform!!!

And where, pray tell, are these hot chicks of which you speak?

I've got the CSEL checkride Sunday, then I think I'll go for CMEL and CFIA. Then I'll add the CFII when I get that bonus. My concern is not being able to get any multi time once I'm broke. I don't want to be in the same boat as the couple instructors I mentioned: instructing for a while, and then still plunking down 9K to get the 100ME.

Once I start getting paid to fly I'm not sure I want to be plunking down 9K for anything...

Oh, and 34 next month.

[skidz]

Originally Posted by Duck_Twacy

Oh, and 34 next month.

Hey, I'm 34 next month too. on the 19th.