Getting a Job w/out Being an Instructor?

[Coney]

I was doing some thinking recently. I'm working on the Comm-ASEL, which I plan to have finished sometime in April. My plan is to knock out the comm-AMEL-IA next with Skymates' 3-day course. So, if I hope to get on with a regional airline (e.g., Skywest, Express Jet, etc.), I figure I could have all my certificates and ratings within the next 3-4 months. Am I way off here? I know I have to build time (I only have 278 TT), but is that all? Can I land a good job without becoming an instructor? Thanks.

[DE727UPS]

It depends. There are other ways to build time besides instructing, but it's not easy. You could buy a 150 and fly around. You could tow banners. You could do traffic watch. You might be able to get a VFR 135 type job in the Grand Canyon or one of the few other places that operate that way, but you'll need 500 total for VFR 135.

Regionals raise and lower their mins as their needs for more pilots goes up and down. For the most part, if you get up to 1000 to 1200 total and at least 100 multi, you should have a shot at a few. I know Ameriflight hires guys with 1200 total and less than 100 multi.

[EatSleepFly]

There was a place advertising somewhere looking for low time glider tow pilots. Another is hiring banner tow pilots.

The problem with these types of jobs (jumpers, glider towing, traffic watch), is that while they build total time, they don't do much to fill up any of the other columns- like XC, instrument, night, etc. I know some banner places do some XC flying between locations, and but not much. You'll need 500 hrs. of point to point XC for 135 mins, and 500 hrs. of 50+nm XC for your ATP. You also need a certain amount of night, and instrument time. How do you plan on getting that if you are flying around dragging a glider behind you, or looking down upon traffic jams?

Instructing really is the quickest way to move on, but do the world a favor and don't instruct if you truely don't want to. The last thing the world needs is another a-hole instructor who absolutely hates instructing, and his students suffer because of it. So no, you don't *have to* instruct. Just don't be surprised when your CFI buddies get jobs before you. It's better experience than any other entry level job I can think of, no matter which way you look at it.

[CaptChris]

In an attempt to avoid the CFI checkride, the responsibility, and the overall agony of having to deal with being a flight instructor I tried to find a way around instructing. The only real alternative is to purchase a plane. If you fly jumpers, gliders, sightseeing, etc. as ESF mentioned, you don't build any x-c time, or any instrument time.

The only thing that I found that will provide you a good amount of time, x-c, instrument, etc. is aerial survey. I talked with some companies with mins around 300 hours TT, others want 500, and I've seen some as high as 1000! In any event, there is a quality versus quantity issue.

[Ophir]

IMHO, trying to find a way to get to a career quickly and dodging the instruction job is a misconceived route that will not serve you well.

If you intent on having enough knowledge of airspace, aerodynamics, FAR's and IFR procedures I think the absolute best way of getting this is to instruct. You could do it another way but if you intention is to be ready for an interview by the time you reach 1000hrs, you shoudl really consider instructing. When you consider instructing consider it an education on all the nuaces of avation. I couldn't imagine knowing enough for a regional interview with 1000hrs an not teaching the elements of VFR and IFR flight.

Being an instructor is not that bad.

[mtsu_av8er]

[ QUOTE ]
Being an instructor is not that bad.

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Not that bad? It isn't bad at all!! I absolutely love it!!!

[Ophir]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Being an instructor is not that bad.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not that bad? It isn't bad at all!! I absolutely love it!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I should have had the smiley face and sarcasm tag on there. I love it too.

[av8trxx]

I got my first job at a DZ around 300TT. Find one in your area at http://www.uspa.org. An operator with 182s will prob hire ya. Get a HP endorsement if you don't have one.

After building up some experience, check into ferry flights. I landed quite a few around 700-800TT and literally went coast to coast. That will take care of night, XC ect.Most brokers require at least that manby hours for insurance mins.

No matter what you do, start networking NOW. Make friends and contacts at any places that you may consider for future employment. Seek out pilots doing these kinds of jobs for friendly conversation & advice.Visit their offices and inquire as to what they require to apply. Check back from time to time. By doing this, you will surely find an opportunity down the road.

[Coney]

Great input! Thanks, everyone. Allow me to make one point. I don't think I would be a bad instructor. In fact, I really think I'd enjoy it. I'm just weighing my options. I've heard some real horror stories about checkrides with the FAA, that's all. Then again, I've met some real flaky instructors. If they can do it, then I can, too.

Thanks again!

[EatSleepFly]

Definitely don't let a checkride scare you away from being a CFI if that's what you want to do. They're not that bad!

[bike21]

Being a CFI is great! But before you decide to go for it, make sure you are committed to being the best CFI on the planet. Nothing irks me more than 'time-builders' who only intstruct to move on and don't care about their students, creating safe/long-lasting pilots or contributing the company they work for. But don't get me wrong about goals, a lot of us have future goals after CFI'ing - but be honest to yourself and do your future students a favor by really becoming an educator rather than just sitting in the right seat and watching the hobbs tick by

[CapnJim]

Hey Coney, I know how you feel. There was a point when I would have done almost anything to keep out of having to instruct. Thing is, I got hired at probably one of the best places in Texas to instruct, and had a hell of a good time and made some great contacts doing it.

The other guys are right- with the exception of aerial survey, all the other 'low time' jobs simply won't give you the quality of flying time that instructing will (I'll loosely define quality time as x-country, night, actual, and multi. You'll note that even aerial survey won't net you much night or actual).

Instructing is a hell of a lot of hard work, the pay is marginal, then benefits are nonexistent, and most other regimes of flight look down on you as some sort of half-pilot. Gut it out. Get your time, and give as good as you've got. Trust me, It'll pay off.

[bike21]

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Trust me, It'll pay off.

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Indeed!

[scoobs]

I know people who got tubine pic with 800 hours flying jumpers.Once you hit 500 hrs king airlines in Vegas will hire people in there twin.And after a summer there most people go to Scenic and fly twotters.Upgrades are around six months to a year.