KiloAlpha

My CFI certificate is in need of renewal before the end of February '06 and I am debating whether or not to get my MEI. The main reason I don't want to do so is cost.

I am 22 and currently fly a King Air 90 and flight instruct on the side, so the multi-engine time potential is of absolutely zero importance to me. So I guess my question is this; will my lack of an MEI possibly hurt my chances with a future employer (airline or fractional)?

loudgarrettdriver

Probably just a review. If your right seat in that King Air- remember that King Air doesn't require 2 pilots. Not only can you not log SIC time. But if you put a whole bunch of PIC time in your log book and your not the true PIC people will see right through that.

I have heard of people with right seat king air time being hammered on interviews. Get a book know the systems like the back of your hand and get your MEI- that'll make you look ten times better.

I'm not trying to dog you- I have just talked to some many right seaters that don't know how much fuel the tanks hold- yet they a 500+ hours of King Air time. (Veiwed as- "put the gear down sonny")

Now I know you're not that kinda guy- but get your MEI and legitimize you Multi time.

Pilotpip

To add, if you're instructing and you're in a place where lots of people use aircraft for business it could be possible to pick up jobs helping owners meet insurance requirements in larger twins. Your time in the kingair would be valuable in getting you insured in their aircraft.

HSLD

Why not get the MEI and ask the left seat pilot if you log some of the King Air time as dual given? That's IF you are sitting in the right seat of a single pilot aircraft. After reading your post, I'm not sure that's the correct assumption.

If you are the PIC and logging "appropriate" King Air time, I'd consider myself very lucky and not worry too much about the MEI. Before your CFI expires get it renewed so you don't have to take another check ride - it's a meal ticket too!

Good luck.

KiloAlpha

I am currently sitting right seat and I do fly the plane, not simply operate the radios, gear, and flaps. I am logging the time as dual received. I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to fly along side a former Air Force fighter pilot. He believes stongly that I should know everything about everything, you would not believe the amount of information he has passed on to me. I think this stems from his desire to fly with a competent pilot not just a time builder. (not to seem arrogant, just making a point)

I actually spent a week at SimCom Orlando for King Air training; thus I could tell you absolutely anything about the aircraft (within reason). So as far as an interview goes, I would have no problem answering any turbine / high altitude / King Air related questions.

However, I do know where you are coming from... all too often people are given the opportunity to sit right seat in a turboprop and have absolutely no understanding of the aircraft or the environment within which it operates. I dont think those people should really even be allowed to log the time.

loudgarrettdriver -
What do fly that has garretts? The King Air I fly has been modified with -10's

loudgarrettdriver

b100 with -10s

cocomojoe4

As long as you are the sole manipulator of the flight controls, whether right seat or left seat (in a single pilot airplane), you are considered the PIC and can log it accordingly even if you are not recieving dual givin. In the king air I also believe you need your high altititude endorsement to log PIC. I ran into a situation where I was given the opportunity to fly a BE-10 and the pilot that I was flying with (that was insured on the airplane) letting me fly from the left seat until he flew with me for a bit. So I simply did about 10 hours of flying from the right seat so he would feel comfortable. I am an MEI so I was comfortable flying from either seat. After he was comfortable with my flying ability he let me start flying from the left seat. The key thing here is that I was the pilot flying regardless of the seat I was in so I logged PIC because I was the sole manipulator of the controls. I would recommed getting your MEI, but it is certainly not required. It is always nice to have if you want to intstruct for a company one day...just my thoughts...Joe

KiloAlpha

More to logging PIC than being sole manipulator of controls. A 777 captain on a trans-oceanic flight can log PIC even while he (or she) sleeps. The person operating the controls cannot. I do not have the final authority of the comand and operation of the aircraft. I cannot legally log PIC.

Also, I failed to state that I am not logging both dual received and PIC, only the dual... is that correct? I dont think anyone is gonna care if I have turbine PIC that was in the form of instruction recieved.. actually I think they will laugh me out of the building.

HSLD

Sounds like you have a pretty good handle on logging time and that you have a great opportunity for gaining some valuable experience. You are on your way my friend.

Still, I'd suggest keeping the CFI current... you never know.

Cheers -

PS. Don't forget that we get per diem in addition to PIC time while sleeping

KiloAlpha

Without a doubt, i will keep my CFI current. I may get my MEI in the future, but for now I am probably just going to do the online refresher with American Flyers.

Thanks for all the input guys!