JOHNSCHR

Hi all,
I was wondering if you guys have some advice for a newly hired CFI/II/MEI. Currently I have just over 250 hours with 30 multi. After looking at some of the regional minimums (PSA, TSA) it is very tempting to stop instructing and jump into the right seat regional jet/turboprop. However, I cant help but think that building more time through instructing and getting on with Express Jet or Skywest might be a better option for me in the long run. Any words of wisdom for me? Thanks!

JoeyMeatballs

Well, there will always be jobs at the Regionals, so I wouldnt rush to get a job at this level. There is always the seniority thing, it is a wonderful thing, Getting on an airline as early as possible is the idea, more seniority, better schedule, job protection etc...............however don't do what I did, dont go to the first regional unless you want to stay there, no sense in making lateral moves. Instruct until you can get a job with an airline you WANT to work for and a place you can see yourself if it takes you a while to move on to greener pastures. CFI'ing was a blast for me and I miss GA more than anything. Take your time and wait for the airline you want to call you, especially now the regionals are hurting for people, if jobs were scarce go for the first that calls you, At least for now you are able to be picky........................good luck

tebpilot

You should keep instructing. You will learn more from you time as a flight instructor than you did through your entire flight training. The skills you will aquire will be valuable in the right seat of a jet but especially helpful when you move to the left seat. As captain, you will be acting like a flight instructor, trying to iron out your first officers skills and keeping the ship in the air at the same time. Remember, as captain, your are not only responsible for yourself, but the mistakes of the First officer as well. Flight instructing will help prepare you for this challenge.

You should also consider this. Although everyone may not agree with me, I feel that flying a light piston is probably the most fun that you can have in aviation. When you move to the airlines flying IFR with autopilot, flight director and FMS it just doesn't have the same fun factor as navigating VFR by pilotage or doing maneuvers. Many pilots I've talked to speak fondly of the days of flight instruction and how flying for the regionals is more of a job than a joy. Take a look through these forums and try to find references to how much "fun" they have flying for the airlines. You won't find many.

Take your time and build your skills. You will be a better pilot and have plenty of "my student tried to kill me one day" stories to share with your captain while sitting at cruise for 2 hours. Also, the unspoken truth is that you will probably command more respect amongst your peers if you spend time flight instructing, hauling freight, or banner towing while building your time. "Paying your dues" is, I believe, an important part of your development as a pilot. After all, how many gusty crosswind days have you had during your 250 hours? I know that I didn't have very many, and didn't feel very confident doing them. You will be expected to deal with these conditions with many passengers in the back.

Take your time and learn. The piloting jobs won't be going anywhere. Just my 2 cents. Good luck.

TXTECHKA

you will definitely be a much better pilot after eight or nine hundred hours of dual given. it will make you more well rounded and marketable as well as much much more proficient than the 250 hr mesa pilot.

Squawk_5543

Hey bro I'm in the exact same position you are...(couple hund more hrs)...and it IS tempting. But if you really listen to some of these guys around here, they really do know what they are talking about. It's harder to wait it out now that there's basically an open door out there for you.....but if you hold out for the right door...and not just the first door....I think you will be much happier where it takes you.


**GO ASTROS**

bizzum

I agree with the other guys....KEEP INSTRUCTING! I also fell into the trap of going to the first place that hired me. It took about 3 months for the "I'm an airline pilot" to wear off, then another 9 to get out. I can guarantee that you will want to leave the bottom feeders after a few months. Build that time, start sending resumes to places you actually want to work, and it will work out for the better in the end.

172capt

Just read that and its so true, while in training it was ok to not go up because its gusting to 20 with a crosswind and sometimes the school wouldnt even let you. Now at my current job doing aerial mapping if I did not go up when it was gusting to 20 or maxint out the crosswind componet I think i would only fly a couple times a week.

I am also in the same boat and could most likely go to one of the regionals that are taking low time pilots but I am holding out for Eagle becuase I want to be at home (DFW) and have what seems like alot better work rules then alot of the other regionals, at least from what I have heard on here. Even though everyday I wake up I am starting to hate this job even more not the flying because I am getting alot of it and quickly but mainly because I am on the road 100% of the time. I am even considering quiting and using that flight instructor raiting I got right before I started this job.

ryane946

Here is a good link as to why getting hired with 250TT is a bad idea. See post #73.
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/sh...t=11328&page=8

All the flight schools will try to tell you that seniority is everything, blah blah blah. But to be honest, there is really no glory in being a regional FO. You make less money than a CFI. The time you are building is not important (in my cases, the PIC from flight instructing in single engine aircraft is more important!). The idea is to get to the left seat the fastest. If you want to do this, instruct until you have some experience (800-1200hrs). Apply to the best regional you can (Skywest, ExpressJet, Republic...). While the guy who went to TSA at 250hrs may be "more senior" than you, he will not even have the minimums to upgrade to captain . You will be flying in the left seat of a good company (making money, building TPIC, and enjoying life) while he will be in the right seat of a bad company (making regional FO pay, not building any important time, and hating life).

The choice is yours. But I recommend CFI'ing until you have 800-1200hrs, then going to the best regionals out there. You will be happy you did. And if the whole building time faster, making more money, and enjoying life argument doesn't convince you to remain a CFI, you will learn more in your first 250+ hours of instructing than you have throughout your entire flight training!
Good luck.

Roper92

Alright, you have 250 hours. This means you are only 350 hours of total time away from ExpressJet (#1 in my opinion) and a few hundred more after that for the rest of the good regionals. You have an MEI so the 100 multi will not be a problem. Listen to these guys because they are giving great advice. It's all about quality of life and it will be much better if you wait it out.

N2rotation

I wholeheartedly agree. IT IS all about QOL. Waiting it out is certainly worth it!