AcesHigh

Now that we have that cleared up, I'm over it. I have taken full consideration that there might be recruiters on here. But by no means, do I have a know it all attitude . When I was at the academy, I saw that all the time, I did not want to be that person. I know where that kind of attitude leads you.

I said it merely in defense to your comment, which it seemed to me in a negative tone. I do not know it all, I never claimed to. If you thought I was trying to be some sort of hotshot with a PC12 cert under my belt because I got it with 160TT, it was to prove a point that anything is possible with a little motivation and anything is indeed possible. Water under the bridge. But I do thank you for your insight.

I understand where your coming from..But beat you by 5 years? What's the rush? I guess the way I look at things, I'd rather take my time and think things over. In this case the deal with Silver is that it was a 2 year commitment technically speaking. Yes, I had the choice to leave whenever I'd like, at the EXPENSE of me paying off the rest of my type.

Say something happened, and I needed to relocate? Say my girlfriend has a baby and can't relocate due to her obligations.(COMPLETELY HYPOTHETICAL NO BABIES ANYTIME SOON) But I mean I do have somewhat long distance thing going and anything is possible.

I guess I just had to take into consideration many things before just jumping onto the first train to paradise..You never know, that might just be your train ride to hell..

It's not that I don't think about Silver, as I surely do. It's just I feel like a lot of people do that knee jerk reaction when it comes to going to a regional. Who knows, maybe I just want more experience, maybe I'm more patient than others. This is technically a brand new experience for me and I'm growing and learning. As long as I'm learning I'm happy. Thanks everybody for their input and support as well as understanding.

Swedish Blender

It isn't about a rush. Its ultimately about where you want to end your career. The earlier you get the quals to apply for your next job, the better off you are.

Say you build your time and aim for a job you want. What if you don't get that one? What's next? Take a job you don't want then because you didn't get your first, second, or third choice?

The business is all about timing. If you miss a hiring window, when will the next one open? I've seen more people than I can count miss the boat, or interview and not get hired and have to wait a long time before they get another one.

Do you have a personal timeline?

All this time, others you are competing with will be building time/PIC turbine toward that next job.

USMCFLYR

What's the rush?
5 years at a major, or in the industry in general, could be the difference between a successful career or ending up like many of the other disenfranchised pilots on these boards who's careers never took them down they road they planned!

Above you say "what's the rush", but in this sentence you are worried about 2 years of ME turbine time in a P121 organization?

Yes....this is called choices and life. In the aviation profession you had better know that these 'what ifs' are part of every decision you will ever make. So what if......something happened? You would make a choice to stay or go. What if..........your girlfriend had a baby. I'll counter that what if with........what if she breaks up with you in a month? If you are not interested in the possibility of paying off the contract in case something else comes along then you did the right thing; but you can take that what if attitude in the other direction too.

Welcome to aviation

This isn't just a Silver thing, these decisions will come up with ANY job offer.
In the end, make the best decision that you can, FOR YOURSELF, and make the best of any opportunity.

USMCFLYR

AcesHigh

2 year commitment because of the fact that in case anything happens to you within those 2 years, you have to foot the remainder of the bill for the type.

I'm not worried about the ME time I'd be building, I'm worried if I'm out a job, I'd love to know where where I'm getting that $1000 each month to pay for the remainder... Worst case scenario of course.

USMC, I appreciate your response. Swedish, you as well. Thank you

USMCFLYR

Yes - that is how a training contract works. If you aren't willing to give 2 years or buy out the contract if something better comes along (look at it as an investment if it helps you) then you should avoid all jobs with any sort of training contract; and should you ever be a successful businessman involved in an industry that requires very expensive training costs - I hope that you will not secure training contracts either.

Until you have enough ME, turbine, and PIC time to met the requirements for your dream job then you should always worry about where those times are coming from because they are the current metric on which the more desirable companies hire - along with referrals.

USMCFLYR

Holding

If you are interested there are a few companies at KHWO that tow banners and signs.
I did it there for a few years, at first its a great challange but after a while and up and down the beach it can get kinda old. Great stick and rudder skills though.

Good luck to you.

stormrider

They're not hiring now, but if you can put up with D.B. and his cronies, someplace like Amerijet that will upgrade a Flight Engineer to First Officer might save you a lot of time and money. This industry is notoriously cyclical, and before too long they will be hiring. If not Amerijet, another bottom feeder. At least upgrading to FO will get you transport multi turbine time.

BenS

Ace,

As I have been reading your post, there is just so much I see that I really feel the need to address even though I probably shouldn't.

First, the "having a plan B sir" quote really bugs me. How can someone with 300 hours total time talk down to anybody in aviation? Second, save the expectaction that people refer to you by your "hip" name until after you actually make it somewhere in aviation.

Okay, petty stuff aside. Look, I do want to congradulate you on the cpl and it sounds like you've managed to do so without debt. That is a HUGE financial plus in this industry. It seems to me like you want to get into aviation doing anything but instructing. That strikes a personal cord with me. I got into aviation not long ago and I wanted to do cfi work for as short a time as possible, all I wanted was airline and I didn't want anything to get into my way. I've been a flight instructor for a year now and must say I love it. I'd say take instructing for now and make it a passion for you like aviation was when you were new. If you can't have fun doing cfi work, when would you ever? In a jet watching the autopilot fly? Second if you do take cfi, give your students your best. You received good instruction from your instructors, I assume, therefore pass that knowledge on to the pilots you will be working with down the road. But if not cfi, I really do wish you the best of luck in whatever time building part 91 ops.

Fast foreward now to being a year in as a cfi. I am at about a thousand total and 50 multi (because I'm at a 172 only flight school), looking for work when you don't know anybody in this industry is not easy. If it is going to be about the money to you, then fine, that it can be. But at my school here there is a cfi that I work with now who has been at this school since I've started. Every flight instructor who was here when he was has moved to other jobs, but all he does is gripe about money. He may have 2000 hours total, but he still can't find a job that pays what "he's worth". So be very careful with the money issue, it is a very dangerous pit to fall into. Training contracts shouldn't be looked at as a penalty for quitting, just look at them as getting a very big and helpful career rating at a steep discount (or possibly free). You paid how much to get everything you have, what is a few thousand more to hold a type rating that makes you MUCH more valuable as an employee?

Lastly, I'm not going to lay into you about passing on job offers you had in the past. Not because you asked us not to, but only because whats passed has passed and there is no point in dwelling on it. But in aviation, look around. See what offers are to be had. Just remember who you work for is a business deal, they're going to lay an offer and it may not be exactly what you want. But sometime soon (don't pass on too many offers, never know when there won't be any more to come your way), sometime soon, swallow your pride and take an offer that is "close enough" to what you're looking for.

AcesHigh

I don't know why having a plan b would bug you in anyway, as it's a very logical statement. I don't know of many people who don't have a plan B when it comes to doing anything in life. Take college for instance, people usually have a specific major in college, whether it be in business,psychology etc. People may minor, in liberal arts, marketing,etc. Reason being, say you worked for a law-firm and they went under. Maybe you can't get a job right away, well hey, maybe I can make use of this marketing degree. You have a plan b for the "what if's" in life. In this case, what if instructing isn't right for me? What if my funding gets stopped? In this case my funding got stopped and couldn't continue with my CFI courses.

As for my "hip" name...Years, before I got into aviation, I used to break dance, I do all sorts of dance and still do today. I was called Ace by many because firstly my real name was a bit hard to pronounce by many, although it is quite simple imo, and firstly "Ace Boogie" was the name given to me by my dance partners and friends alike.I've had the name "Ace" for 10 years and it stuck with me . Every real street dancer is a given a name if you knew the history, but maybe you don't so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. So next time before telling me what I should do, don't be so quick to judge.

As for me talking down to somebody.I wasn't talking down, merely disagreeing with the previous statement for the need to CFI before I further my aviation career. If I need to do it, I will do it with no complaints. But in this case like I stated before, funding stopped. Luckily for me, I've been dedicated into finding a job flying and been putting in resumes and making myself known. I've networked with many and I've been blessed with some good people that fortunately know people and have the opportunity to get my foot in the door.

As for job offers, I've had some, and I'm a calculated thinker.I'm not the type to put all my eggs in the same basket and think everything will be fine.I am currently training for a company that wants to use me as we speak and fortunate that I have been granted the opportunity.

I appreciate your congratulatory remarks. I also appreciate your advice and opinions on the situation at hand. I'd write more, but I just got home for flying, and quite frankly I would just like to put my feet up before I'm back at it in the morning. All the best and I wish you success for your future.

USMCFLYR

I don't think the comment was made about you HAVING a plan B Aces - it was in your delivery.

Again - I doubt that you really have to explain WHY it is good to have a Plan 'B' to a group of professionals who might very likely put their Plan 'Bs' into actual use more often than most!

Now you just sound like some kid with a chip on his shoulder. MAYBE YOU SHOULD KNOW the history of the word 'Ace' as it relates to an AVIATION FORUM and realize the meaning the word carries in your present company on this website. Maybe the dance world doesn't have a similar word, but I'm sure if I logged onto a street dancing site and used a username that made it sound like I had taken my first dance lesson a month ago but I thought I was greatest thing since bagels that others in the 'biz' might think me just a tad presumptuous?

CFI'ing is certainly the standard for gaining experience in this industry it seems, but is in no way the only path to experience. There are no doubt pros and cons to CFI'ing. I myself did not want to instruct right away and looked for other opportunities, but found them very hard to find especially without a good network. I eventually went another path and found that instructing was incredibly rewarding.

USMCFLYR