Gunga Galunga

prepare well for the CFI. Pass that and then you can decide which one you want to tackle next. Most do the CFI-> CFII-> MEI. Get the CFI/CFII first then if you still have money/can swing it go over to LafAv and get the MEI in 55908. Work at Purdue part time, see if lafav's hiring, check crawfordsville, frankfort, kokomo, even indy flight schools to see if they need anyone. Use your best available resource, being at purdue and your location/connections to your advantage.

btw- after putting 2+2 together, I realized I was your instructor your first semester at Purdue.

wrxpilot

In my opinion, one at a time is best. Here's why:

When you are a brand new CFI, you are going to spend some time trying to learn how to teach. You're going to make mistakes, and sometimes they'll be pretty big ones. As long as you're being safe, that's how you learn as a flight instructor.

If you're teaching primary students, they're probably not even going to notice your inexperience. This is good, because if a student loses confidence in you, you're all done. It is very hard to win them back after that, and if they lose confidence in you all learning stops. An experienced private pilot working on their instrument or multi will be able to sense your lack of experience right away, and it could be intimidating and difficult. After you have a couple hundred hours dual given you will be much more confident as a pilot and flight instructor, and the advanced students will gain a lot more out of it.

Also, it is much, much easier to pass the other CFI checkrides after you have some experience. I took my CFII when I had about 300 hrs of dual given, and it was the easiest checkride I'd ever done. I already knew how to teach by then, so there was nothing to it. Trying to knock out all three rides? That sounds like misery to me, and I really don't understand the point of it. You're not going to be getting the multi students when you have 300 hours of TT anyway... Also, your employer may even pay for your CFII or MEI. That's probably pretty rare these days, but you never know. My boss paid for my CFII, which was very nice.

crabinow16

YEah that sounds good. I think after graduation which is in December for me I will probably head down to Louisville and try to get an instructing job. Got a living situation down there that would make it pretty nice and affordable. I think I will just be doing the CFI this summer. I was thinking about going and doing all three. They aren't running a class through LAFAV for CFI this summer so I don't know if they will be hiring people to instruct there. Should be interesting.

jumpseat2024

It's "programs" like that that contribute to pilots being treated like dirt...I mean why would a regional PAY someone to fly for them when there are suckers out there that will pay THEM...you may think you're helping your career by all of this "awesome" B1900 time, but you're really just hurting your future salary potential..not to mention, all the rest of us. Anyways, with this new 800 hr minimum they just passed, the 200 hrs in a B1900 would put you at what..450 hrs..still 350 short there.

Bottom line, go get a CFI..

rickair7777

I would say get them all at once if you can afford to. Several reasons...

1. It will be a little easier to focus while you are in "student mode".

2. More ratings will make you more competitive for instructor jobs...especially the CFII.

3. You will likely encounter a variety of opportunities to get flight time while in the GA world...freelance instruction, airplane repos, etc. The more ratings you have, the better the odds that you will be qualified to seize these opportunities. This is especially true for MEI work...twin time is critical when entry-level hiring is slow and you don't want to pass on too many opportunities (but don't do MEI work if you are rusty or inexperienced in the airplane).

wizepilot

Okay, I just have to chime in now. As a pilot for 37 years, a CFI,CFI-I, MEI for the past 35 years, GET YOUR CFI. Some people are taking too much of a simplistic view of what is happening today. I felt the same way you did when I had those hours. I felt like I was entitled to a job, and wondered why no one threw one down at my feet. NOT GONNA HAPPEN folks!

Get the ratings at your own pace. CFI for sure to start. The double I and MEI will follow quicker than you think. Once you have these you will really learn how to fly and be a decision maker, called PILOT IN COMMAND. I know, you younger guys are thinking, who is this old fart on here blowing all this out there. Been there, done it. Patience is a virtue so employ it to the best of your ability. Your time will come. Okay, old guy rant is over. As you were!

wrxpilot

Actually wizepilot, almost all of us agree with you. Check out the other responses in this thread... Perhaps contrary to what a lot of the more uh... "mature" pilots think, most of us that have only been flying professionally for a few years strongly believe in paying dues and going the CFI route.

Ewfflyer

Definately get the CFI, and the CFI-I is a very easy follow-up. MEI just really depends on the market and where you think you can be. If you have some funds available, I'd say go for it now, and that way you will have it if the opportunity presents itself.

You going to be at the fly-in on the 17th? I'll be there in a Meridian, won't be hard to find me. Like to meet you and talk.

wizepilot

The only reason I ranted on this is because back in '07, I was hired at RAH for a FO position. I was 54 years old then, okay now, no snyde remarks. Anyway, most of the people in my class were my son's age (24). Not all, but a good half of them felt as though they were entitled to this job. I was hired with an ATP already. Again, about half maybe had 350-400 hours, and the most complex, high performance airplane they had flown was a Seminole.

Now I'm not saying that any or all of these people should not have been
there. More power to them, and I was happy for every one of them. The aviation industry has been sliding down a very slippery slope the last few
years and I hate to see that too. I started flying when it was very respected and a "romantic" thing to do. Today, pilots are treated like bus
drivers. The pay sucks for the hours you put in. Upper management treats most like [edit; dog excrement]. That's one of the reasons I do not work for RAH anymore. Nuf sed.

flight511

I would get your CFI II and MEI all at once. It is much simpler to do them together. While you may not use the MEI right away it will come in very handy during job changes and times of unemployment, ect. When you need your MEI it you may not be able to afford it. To keep it is the same as your CFI.