Best Way to get Multi Time if going FBO

[Scuba]

Thanks to a ton of your help I've learned valuable lessons here before I just jump into a flight school.

I'm very comfortable with how the academy style big multi time schools work, but what if I heed the advice given to me from so many here and go to my local fbo that will only get me 10 hrs of multi with all my ratings? This will indeed keep costs around 30k, but what is the best way to gain the 100hrs of multi that I'll inevitably need to join a regional?

Thanks

Mostly

[moxiepilot]

flight instruct

[Sprint100]

You know that term "best way" leaves the door wide open. What is your time frame to get those hours? How deep are your pockets?

[Scuba]

1.) Flight Instruct - Yes I would have my MEI license, but with only 10hrs of multi time is there much chance to get a job doing that?

2.) I would like to get all of my training done in 6-12 months, but I actually would like to flight instruct for a year or so before moving on, unless the regionals or whomever just can't wait.

I would like to save money where possible, but I'm willing to spend some to get some.

Mostly

[Murdoughnut]

Right now it seems the magic number is 50 hours of multi. Not to say that 100 isn't better, but in terms of opportunity/financial cost, it might be better to get 50 multi and then an extra 100 of single, rather than 100 multi (assuming a similar price).

[killbilly]

Originally Posted by Mostly

1.) Flight Instruct - Yes I would have my MEI license, but with only 10hrs of multi time is there much chance to get a job doing that?

It has been my impression that if you're hired to instruct at the place you trained and got your MEI, that you would get the multi hours by instructing other ME students.

[mhcasey]

Originally Posted by Mostly

1.) Flight Instruct - Yes I would have my MEI license, but with only 10hrs of multi time is there much chance to get a job doing that?

No, you would probably have around 25 hours. You'll probably need around 10 for multi commercial (assuming it's an add on) which will equate to 0 PIC multi time. You need 15 hours PIC in class to instruct per the regs, aka 15 hours multi engine to get your MEI.

There are plenty of jobs if you've got 25 hours, but not necessarily. The closest school to Austin with a twin and where I got my Com. AMEL requires 50 hours multi engine to instruct.

Plan on instructing unless your parents rule Saudi Arabia and will pay for some extra multi time. You don't have to go to a gargantuan academy to find a twin either.

Also, the day after I took my AMEL checkride I got a call to take a guy on a trip in the twin, so as long as you don't "hold out" you might find some opportunities out there to exercise some Part 91 commercial privileges until you meet your school's MEI insurance requirement.

[mtsu_av8er]

Why not fly freight?

[JEP]

Originally Posted by mtsu_av8er

Why not fly freight?

In those crappy planes at night, IFR by yourself......?

[Scuba]

To be completely honest I actually am leaning towards freight flying vs. Airlines, but haven't done a ton of research on that yet.

What are some basic minimums for freight flying?

P.S. I tried to fly with Lloyd, but it was a no go.

[JEP]

Originally Posted by Mostly

Thanks to a ton of your help I've learned valuable lessons here before I just jump into a flight school.

I'm very comfortable with how the academy style big multi time schools work, but what if I heed the advice given to me from so many here and go to my local fbo that will only get me 10 hrs of multi with all my ratings? This will indeed keep costs around 30k, but what is the best way to gain the 100hrs of multi that I'll inevitably need to join a regional?

Thanks

Mostly

Right or wrong, you don't need 100 hours multi at this time to get hired at most regionals.

[JEP]

Originally Posted by Mostly

To be completely honest I actually am leaning towards freight flying vs. Airlines, but haven't done a ton of research on that yet.

What are some basic minimums for freight flying?

basic:

FAA FAR 135.243c Operating Requirements
Picture of Propeller
No certificate holders may not use a person, nor may any person serve, as pilot in command of an aircraft under IFR 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 1,200 hours of flight time as a pilot, including 500 hours of cross-country flight time, 100 hours of night flight time, and 75 hours of actual or simulated instrument time at least 50 hours of which were in actual flight; and

(3) For an airplane, holds an instrument rating or an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane category rating;

[cfii2007]

25 multi would probably get you a few interviews.....50 would almost certainly get calls from most regionals, except maybe SkyWest and Air Wisky.

[HMS CALPE]

One option to consider is to buy 100hrs block time from Falcon Flight Orlando in a Beech Duchess (IFR). You can buy 2ea 50 hour blocks at 172hr. That is $17,200.
Sound expensive? I don't think so. Take the $30K you will spend getting all of your ratings at your FBO, your numbers, add in 100 hours doing cxc in Florida and your total comes to $47,200. Compare that to going to ATP to get all of the "ATP twin time" and you will have saved over $8,800. Not only that half of the xc twin time at ATP is safety pilot time. The 100 hours from FFO would be 100 hours of true PIC, just make them all xc.
That is one idea, but I am sure DE727ups has the best answer.
Good luck.

[Scuba]

Originally Posted by HMS CALPE

O Take the $30K you will spend getting all of your ratings at your FBO, your numbers, add in 100 hours doing cxc in Florida and your total comes to $47,200. Compare that to going to ATP to get all of the "ATP twin time" and you will have saved over $8,800. Not only that half of the xc twin time at ATP is safety pilot time. The 100 hours from FFO would be 100 hours of true PIC, just make them all xc.
Good luck.

This is the first option I was thinking about, actually going and buying time from a school. So far the options I'm getting are great, especially if I can just find a school and instruct for that multi.

[Nihon_Ni]

Originally Posted by HMS CALPE

One option to consider is to buy 100hrs block time from Falcon Flight Orlando in a Beech Duchess (IFR). You can buy 2ea 50 hour blocks at 172hr. That is $17,200.
Sound expensive? I don't think so. Take the $30K you will spend getting all of your ratings at your FBO, your numbers, add in 100 hours doing cxc in Florida and your total comes to $47,200. Compare that to going to ATP to get all of the "ATP twin time" and you will have saved over $8,800. Not only that half of the xc twin time at ATP is safety pilot time. The 100 hours from FFO would be 100 hours of true PIC, just make them all xc.
That is one idea, but I am sure DE727ups has the best answer.
Good luck.

If you want to make an "apples-to-apples" comparison with ATP, then get a buddy to do it with you. Each of you buy 100 hrs block time, you'll get 100 hrs PIC & X/C (of which 80-90 will be simulated), and 80-90 hrs PIC safety pilot. (If you can get checked out as a MEI then you could log dual given for the time your buddy flies and be able to log all of the time you're in the plane with him, not just when he has the hood on.)

At the end of the same $47,200 you'll have over 200 ME and about 500-550 TT (assuming you get your CPL ASEL at 250 TT and add CPAMEL, CFI, MEI and CFII in the next 50-100 hrs).

[Nihon_Ni]

Originally Posted by HMS CALPE

One option to consider is to buy 100hrs block time from Falcon Flight Orlando in a Beech Duchess (IFR). You can buy 2ea 50 hour blocks at 172hr. That is $17,200.

Another option would be to buy those 100 hrs and use it by flying missions for Angel Fllight. While you will have to donate the flight time, you will be able to write it off of your taxes. Depending on your financial situation, that could be a huge savings. For example, if you're in the 25% tax bracket, each $100 you spend on charity flying will reduce your tax bill by $25. That's an easy way to get Uncle Sam to chip in on your flight training. It's also a very rewarding experience and will allow you to make a real improvement in someone's life with a skill you have and money you plan to spend anyhow. Even if the tax benifits aren't attractive (if you have little income, they aren't as good), the personal satisfaction you will get out of it will last a lifetime. Besides, it's a good resume bullet. It's esentially part 135 work for charity.

http://www.angelflight.com/

Blue skies,
Rob

[minitour]

Or, get your private and instrument, then do a quick private multi add-on.

Buy your 100 hours of multi for commercial time building (you need 250TT anyway).

When you're done, go back and do your CSEL, CMEL, etc.

Then you'll save the single engine time building money and spend it on multi (which you need anyway) and the time all counts the same. If you were going to spend $30k for ratings + $17k for multi time, maybe you can spend $20k for ratings + $17k for multi. I'd have to run the numbers to see for sure, but it's got to be less expensive doing it that way than $47k. I also like the idea of getting a "partner" and having them buy 100 hours...or split the 100 hours.

-mini

[aloft]

Originally Posted by HMS CALPE

One option to consider is to buy 100hrs block time from Falcon Flight Orlando in a Beech Duchess (IFR). You can buy 2ea 50 hour blocks at 172hr. That is $17,200.
Sound expensive? I don't think so. Take the $30K you will spend getting all of your ratings at your FBO, your numbers, add in 100 hours doing cxc in Florida and your total comes to $47,200. Compare that to going to ATP to get all of the "ATP twin time" and you will have saved over $8,800. Not only that half of the xc twin time at ATP is safety pilot time. The 100 hours from FFO would be 100 hours of true PIC, just make them all xc.
That is one idea, but I am sure DE727ups has the best answer.
Good luck.

Or you can spend $5500 for a 100 hr block at Multiengine.net and send me half of the money you saved.

[HMS CALPE]

Just keep in mind that most FBO's won't allow you to rent their twins with less than 250 hours TT and 20 hours in a twin. This will vary from FBO to FBO but I've rarely seen it lower.

[HMS CALPE]

Originally Posted by aloft

Or you can spend $5500 for a 100 hr block at Multiengine.net

That offer doesn't pass the smell test. Their website is a bit brief on details. Have you ever rented from Aerial Survey Inc. in Galveston? $50 would not even cover the fuel, that thing will probably burn 10 to 13 GPH. The Comanche might be a bit tricky for a wet ME.

[Duck_Twacy]

Originally Posted by HMS CALPE

You can buy 2ea 50 hour blocks at 172hr. That is $17,200.

Man, you could go to JetU for that!



sorry, I couldn't resist.

The couple of flight schools I've interviewed with require a chunk of multi time (25, to be exact), plus a certain amount of dual given prior to instructing in the twin. That being said, three months at a busy flight school and you would meet the requirements.

That's assuming you have a twin nearby, and don't have to travel several hundred miles to find one, like me

[mcdavi02]

Originally Posted by HMS CALPE

That offer doesn't pass the smell test. Their website is a bit brief on details. Have you ever rented from Aerial Survey Inc. in Galveston? $50 would not even cover the fuel, that thing will probably burn 10 to 13 GPH. The Comanche might be a bit tricky for a wet ME.

They are booked out till June/July. I called and they have one of their pilots on board the aircraft as well. I think they do pipeline surveys while you are paying for the time.

[Scuba]

Sounds like I might just make this a whole lot easier by getting the multi with my ratings and instructing after to build hours.

[sharkey]

Load up the plane with 5 friends and make up some kind of scenic tour with a lunch destination or something and have them each pay 1/6th of the cost. Talk it up with all your friends and family, this is a pretty good scam to build some cheap multi time but may not be a possability if you're someplace like North Dakota.