Opinions/Guidance

[crosby87]

I'm pretty much at a crossroads right now and looking for some opinions.

I've been instructing since September and have only logged 200 dual given, mainly because the winter weather in the Northeast. Even when the weather is behaving my schedule is sporadic at best because the number of airplanes is less than the number of instructors. I do not currently have my MEI, but it wouldn't matter since we don't have any multi students.

So, as you can see, I'm more or less in a pretty stagnant position. I enjoy the people I work with, since I've known the majority of them since I started training in 04 and I also have a sense of loyalty to my flight school - I don't know exactly why, they were pretty good at accepting my credit card I guess.

My main concern is my inability to build multi-time. I figure I have two options - go pay for a 50 hour block at Skymates or Ariben or get my MEI and jump ship to ATP until I get my time and roll out.

I'd feel pretty bad about leaving for another school, but I gotta do what I gotta do. My ideal situation would to be hired at Republic and get PIT as a base, but I know that is like winning the Republic lottery. But if I don't make some kind of move I won't even be able to buy a ticket.

[jynxyjoe]

I the last 20 or so hours at Skymates getting my MEI and then flying to the east coast and back to build some time. I don't think it was a bad route. I'm sure you can find SOMEPLACE to build some multi time. What part of the northeast are you in?

[crosby87]

I live in Western PA - multi around here runs about 250/hr. There is no way I can afford that.

[kellwolf]

Get the MEI. Then you're in a position to take a job if it comes open.

I wound up moving to another state and leaving my wife and kid behind for a short while in order to get ME time. It's possible you might have to go where the job is. Then again, the CFI job market is TOTALLY different than it was when I was instructing.

[crosby87]

I do plan on getting my MEI regardless of which route I take. If I do go the time building route, at least it would be dual given instead of safety pilot BS time.