Regionals or CFI Job – Advice Appreciated!

[Red-Baron]

Hi all,

I'd need your opinion on the following. I have a total of 530 hours and 46 hours of multi time (I hold a CPL+IR ASEL+AMEL, CFI+I, AGI) and by the way, I'm 35 years old meanwhile. After not flying for about four years, I recently regained my currency (flight review and instrument proficiency check, took me about 13 hours) everything went pretty well - actually much better than I thought.

Now my plan was to find myself an Instructor Job, instruct for about six month and than move on to the regionals. Well, I have the impression that the flight schools are somewhat hesitant giving me a job, probably because of my flight time they figure that I won't stay for long.

My Question is, should I just forget about the CFI Job and apply for a job with the regionals instead? And by the way, I'm currently living in Europe (but I'm able to relocate to the States without a problem) do you think that'd be a disadvantage when applying for a job?

Let me know what you guys think, any opinions and advcie is appreciated!

Happy Landings

[GlenWimpy]

WOW , this is a new subject to discuss!
No offense to you red Barron

CFI for 6 months to a year , then apply to the regionals.

[moxiepilot]

well, it'd probably be easier applying for a job in the US while in the US....

But since it's no problem, come on over and start getting those resumes out on the street.

[mojo6911]

Considering your age, I would say go to the airlines. Make sure you get very proficient with your instrument scan, however.

You do know what first year regional pay is, right? That may be a huge factor.

[beechpilot]

CFI until you feel you are ready to make the move to the airlines. It is great experience and will only make you a better candidate when you interview. I can't tell you just how much I've been able to learn by flight instructing.

[BobDDuck]

With that low amount of time, most regionals are going to want to see a lot of recency of experience. A lot more then 15 hours in the last 4 years. So, you are going to probably need to get about 100 hours in the next 6 months or so before somebody will give you a look.

You could just buy a block of time and be done with it. That would probably satisfy all the requirements and you might get picked up.

Or (the better option I think) you could get your CFI and get PAID to fly some of that time, plus build a whole lot of useful experience.

[777forever]

Originally Posted by BobDDuck

With that low amount of time, most regionals are going to want to see a lot of recency of experience. A lot more then 15 hours in the last 4 years. So, you are going to probably need to get about 100 hours in the next 6 months or so before somebody will give you a look.

You could just buy a block of time and be done with it. That would probably satisfy all the requirements and you might get picked up.

Or (the better option I think) you could get your CFI and get PAID to fly some of that time, plus build a whole lot of useful experience.

15 hrs in last 4 months will not cut at all. Pick up your CFII and do at least 2 solid months of instructing and a hell of a lot of sim time.

[WAFlyBoy]

Originally Posted by Red-Baron

Let me know what you guys think, any opinions and advcie is appreciated!

It's a real rat race at the regionals. Stick with whatever you've been doing these last fours year and make a career of that.

However, if you really really must fly for a living, I'd consider a career path that might land you a corporate or fractional type job. Personally, I wish I had figured that out a lot sooner.

[Toonces]

With your times right now, you would probably have to settle for a crappy low paying airline right now. If you went to a sucky airline tomorrow it would take you a at least 2 months to get online and another 4 to 6 months after that to have the time to move on to another airline that doesn't suck. However the crappy airlines usually lock you into a contract for a year or more.

If you instruct for now, there are LOTS of places paying $25-$35 per hour. You will easily be able in most cases to bill over 100 hours a month NOW. Your pay at these places will be better than the bottom tier regionals and in another 4 to 6 months you will easily be able to get on with a top tier regional. If you take what you can get now (i.e Mesa, Colgan,Great Lakes, and Keylime air) you will be stuck there for a while. Do what I suggest and you will thank me later for it.

PM me if you want a short list of high paying schools to instruct at.

[wheelsup]

Since you already have the CFI, is there some place around where you can instruct to build time while waiting for a regional to call? You never lose anything by applying. I'd say apply where you want to work and if they call, great, if they don't at least you'd be working as a CFI (it is current, right ?).

Where do you live, where do you want to live, what are your end goals? Are you willing and able to move? Have a road map and stick to it. Being 35 won't hurt, it might even help, as most CFI schools I worked at liked the "older" folks because they were more dedicated, mature, etc. Folks in my new hire regional class ranged in age from 21 to 56.

[Red-Baron]

Thanks for your opinion folks, I appreciate! As a few of you already suggested, going the instructor track is probably the best way to get back into aviation again.

Happy Landings