At a Crossroad
06-05-2015, 07:20 PM
#1
Captain who?
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Position: Backseat
Posts: 47
At a Crossroad
Looking for advice from the pool of experience here for which way to go.
I am a CFI working in central FL (like everyone else), trying to "build hours". I am a hard worker and have the prop turning 7 days a week racking up every .1 hr I can get. This past week, one student put my license in jeopardy with a bad descition he made on initial solo. (No violation, thank God) but it was a wake up call. I have lost all interest in CFI now due to this and realized logging 50hrs/mo instructing isn't worth what can I could be doing elsewhere. Other CFI's are leaving for C208 jobs etc that are 90+hrs/mo loggable time.
Have 13 months before my ATP written expires and 600 hrs to go for ATP mins. Which is the best direction to go to get the hours faster than at the pace of a CFI? Charter? Alaska? Pipeline? Skydiving? Crop dusting?
BIO:900TT. 300multi. 230 turbine. C510 PIC HS-125 SIC.
No kids, dog, girlfriend, or wife. (Can move anywhere)
I am a CFI working in central FL (like everyone else), trying to "build hours". I am a hard worker and have the prop turning 7 days a week racking up every .1 hr I can get. This past week, one student put my license in jeopardy with a bad descition he made on initial solo. (No violation, thank God) but it was a wake up call. I have lost all interest in CFI now due to this and realized logging 50hrs/mo instructing isn't worth what can I could be doing elsewhere. Other CFI's are leaving for C208 jobs etc that are 90+hrs/mo loggable time.
Have 13 months before my ATP written expires and 600 hrs to go for ATP mins. Which is the best direction to go to get the hours faster than at the pace of a CFI? Charter? Alaska? Pipeline? Skydiving? Crop dusting?
BIO:900TT. 300multi. 230 turbine. C510 PIC HS-125 SIC.
No kids, dog, girlfriend, or wife. (Can move anywhere)
06-05-2015, 07:47 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2013
Position: FO
Posts: 627
You've got a lot of options. I'll give you one. Apply to Cape Air.
They are hurting for pilots (like everyone else), they may move you around bases twice a year to cover seasonal flying (good since you don't have a family), and you will become a better pilot. Good luck.
They are hurting for pilots (like everyone else), they may move you around bases twice a year to cover seasonal flying (good since you don't have a family), and you will become a better pilot. Good luck.
06-05-2015, 09:03 PM
#3
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,261
Planesmart in Texas is looking for an instructor in their Cirrus aircraft. They operate a number of other aircraft such as the King Air or Piaggio. They're also looking for a PIC in the Piper Meridian. You appear to be within their qualification requirements.
If you have a mechanic certificate (A&P) Everts Air Cargo is looking for a FE for the DC-6; they're train, I believe.
Barr Air Patrol in Texas is looking for a 182 pilot to do pipeline patrol.
Great Lakes Air in Michigan is looking for a VFR 135 pilot.
And so on, and so on, and so on.
How many employment sites do you visit, or to which do you subscribe? If not, why not?
A student put your pilot certificate in jeopardy on a solo flight?
Ag may not be for you. It's definitely not a time building proposition, and it's not about minimums. You'll need some very solid conventional gear experience, and a farm and maintenance background will be a big plus.
If you have a mechanic certificate (A&P) Everts Air Cargo is looking for a FE for the DC-6; they're train, I believe.
Barr Air Patrol in Texas is looking for a 182 pilot to do pipeline patrol.
Great Lakes Air in Michigan is looking for a VFR 135 pilot.
And so on, and so on, and so on.
How many employment sites do you visit, or to which do you subscribe? If not, why not?
A student put your pilot certificate in jeopardy on a solo flight?
Ag may not be for you. It's definitely not a time building proposition, and it's not about minimums. You'll need some very solid conventional gear experience, and a farm and maintenance background will be a big plus.
06-06-2015, 04:06 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Posts: 147
Look into aerial survey, I did it many years ago flying mainly LIDAR 6-8 hours a day 20 day rotations and pay good. Do search for aerial survey companies and start blasting out resumes. Most are home based so no moving.
On the other hand you are almost at 135 IFR mins so if you can hang in there till 1200 you have a lot more options.
Also just curious to what the student did.... not trying to pry but maybe posting your experience may help others.
On the other hand you are almost at 135 IFR mins so if you can hang in there till 1200 you have a lot more options.
Also just curious to what the student did.... not trying to pry but maybe posting your experience may help others.
06-06-2015, 04:07 AM
#5
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jun 2014
Posts: 44
9ks training is currently around 3 months. By the time he gets on the line he most likely won't have enough time to reach 1500.
06-06-2015, 04:43 AM
#6
Captain who?
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Position: Backseat
Posts: 47
Planesmart in Texas is looking for an instructor in their Cirrus aircraft. They operate a number of other aircraft such as the King Air or Piaggio. They're also looking for a PIC in the Piper Meridian. You appear to be within their qualification requirements.
If you have a mechanic certificate (A&P) Everts Air Cargo is looking for a FE for the DC-6; they're train, I believe.
Barr Air Patrol in Texas is looking for a 182 pilot to do pipeline patrol.
Great Lakes Air in Michigan is looking for a VFR 135 pilot.
And so on, and so on, and so on.
How many employment sites do you visit, or to which do you subscribe? If not, why not?
A student put your pilot certificate in jeopardy on a solo flight?
Ag may not be for you. It's definitely not a time building proposition, and it's not about minimums. You'll need some very solid conventional gear experience, and a farm and maintenance background will be a big plus.
If you have a mechanic certificate (A&P) Everts Air Cargo is looking for a FE for the DC-6; they're train, I believe.
Barr Air Patrol in Texas is looking for a 182 pilot to do pipeline patrol.
Great Lakes Air in Michigan is looking for a VFR 135 pilot.
And so on, and so on, and so on.
How many employment sites do you visit, or to which do you subscribe? If not, why not?
A student put your pilot certificate in jeopardy on a solo flight?
Ag may not be for you. It's definitely not a time building proposition, and it's not about minimums. You'll need some very solid conventional gear experience, and a farm and maintenance background will be a big plus.
No A&P certificate here....yet.
06-06-2015, 04:51 AM
#7
Captain who?
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Position: Backseat
Posts: 47
Look into aerial survey, I did it many years ago flying mainly LIDAR 6-8 hours a day 20 day rotations and pay good. Do search for aerial survey companies and start blasting out resumes. Most are home based so no moving.
On the other hand you are almost at 135 IFR mins so if you can hang in there till 1200 you have a lot more options.
Also just curious to what the student did.... not trying to pry but maybe posting your experience may help others.
On the other hand you are almost at 135 IFR mins so if you can hang in there till 1200 you have a lot more options.
Also just curious to what the student did.... not trying to pry but maybe posting your experience may help others.
Short story time: student was international Vietnamese. Has 75 hours and I trained him from the start. Did the 3 take offs and landings and they were great. I jumped out the the plane and sent him on his way to do 3 laps in the pattern. Each lap had to be to a full stop and taxi backs though. Student was on final and tower had to tell him to go around 5 times because airplane in the downwind said they had "severe" engine roughness. Kid was just nervous maybe? He went around finally. On the next lap around he landed and as he was trying to taxi back to the runway, he didn't contact ground for taxi instructions went ahead on his own and cut 2 company aircraft off on taxiways and on runway. Sigh. Like I said, lucky tower was feeling. Nice that day so no violation.
06-06-2015, 06:30 AM
#8
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,261
Short story time: student was international Vietnamese. Has 75 hours and I trained him from the start. Did the 3 take offs and landings and they were great. I jumped out the the plane and sent him on his way to do 3 laps in the pattern. Each lap had to be to a full stop and taxi backs though. Student was on final and tower had to tell him to go around 5 times because airplane in the downwind said they had "severe" engine roughness. Kid was just nervous maybe? He went around finally. On the next lap around he landed and as he was trying to taxi back to the runway, he didn't contact ground for taxi instructions went ahead on his own and cut 2 company aircraft off on taxiways and on runway. Sigh. Like I said, lucky tower was feeling. Nice that day so no violation.
It sounds as though the student is just soloing at 75 hours?
06-06-2015, 08:30 AM
#9
Captain who?
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Position: Backseat
Posts: 47
Yes he is a 75 hr and just soloing. We are at a part 141 school. The student had trouble passing his stage progress checks. (5 attempts) and multiple repeat training by myself and other instructors
