Is buying an aircraft to build flight time a good idea?
Hopefully you’ve paid attention and noticed that all negative comments were hypothetical - that is -they were written by people who think they know something but have no personal experience.Just as the first responder, I have done it - and much more recently - as in - two years ago. It can be very cheap. It can also be very expensive. The difference will usually be the airplane itself. I bought a used Cessna. Several other owners also had Cessna’s or other similar ( simple, cheap ) aircraft, like the Grumman, various Piper’s. etc.The only two disasters I know about had very specific causes. One guy bought a complicated aircraft, retractable gear, pressurized. He bought it for half the typical market value. He found out why very quickly and spent the whole “savings” doing neglected repairs. The second guy bought a good plane but let an unqualified instructor fly it, who dipped a wing on landing. The insurance did not cover the damage, for obvious reasons.I do recommend you make sure you can afford to insure it fully (all damaged, ground/air/moving/not-moving ) or that you have enough money to replace it. Another consideration I almost never hear mentioned - such aircraft tend to appreciate over time. ( my plane was $3000 brand new 1946 - $24,000 2012 ) You can fly your plane, get your hours, and then get back all of your capital costs - maybe a touch more. The only thing is - you must not buy in a hurry and you must not be in a hurry to sell.
American Flyers optional multi-engine ?
So i'm thinking about going to american flyers in Dallas,Tx. To become an Commercial airline pilot.On it's aviation career/airline academy page it says: Three Month Program: -Private License -Commercial License -Instrument Rating -Optional Multi-Engine I've read that... to become a airline pilot you need alot of Multi-engine hrs/time! How would i build this up ? if i finish the program. I know that instructing is a way to build up your time. any other ways? Or other school ? in the DALLAS area. (it doesn't matter where in the Dallas area, ill drive anywhere.) Please help
How do I get 1000 hours of flight time?
I'm still in high school, but the job I'm looking at requires 1000 hours of pilot-in-command time in jet aircrafts. Would I have to go to an aviation academy or would I just take a bunch of lessons? Like I don't get it! Could anybody help explain what I should do? Thanks!
Any low time pilot jobs that make a living?
I'm going to finish flight school soon with my commercial and multi. Are there any jobs out there that I can actually make a living at while building hours. Meat bombing is obviously not a money making job. I have no aspirations of flying airline. But I would like to fly corporate or charter. And really, if I can make good money in a small plane doing short hops, I would be happy. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Flight Schools that offer the required training for airline pilots.?
I'm looking into becoming an airline pilot through an accredited flight school. What are some that offer the required training of 1500 hours of air time for this?
Can a certified flight instructor teach students in his/her privately owned plane? Does CFI have to get some commercial insurance?
Yes, a CFI can teach in his own aircraft provided that he has the Category, Class, Rating, and/or endorsements required to teach in the owned aircraft. For example you cannot provide Instrument Training in a Multi-Engine Aircraft without having the MEI (Multi Engine Instructor Rating) even though the instruction is solely for Instrument Proficiency and not towards a Multi-Engine Rating. Also, there are many restrictions regarding Instruction on an Experimental Category Aircraft. Basically, if your aircraft is an Experimental Registered Aircraft (Home Built), then you may only instruct in this aircraft a pilot buying or building the same Type of aircraft. You may not use an Experimental Registered Aircraft for general instruction to any other student. Realistically, if you own an aircraft, then you have sought the proper ratings to be able to fly and instruct on that aircraft. Just double check and make sure. You also need a CFI insurance policy, and through obtaining the policy the issuing company will make sure you are fully meeting any requirements needed for your aircraft.
How difficult is it to reach 500 flight hours? Why do airlines ask for 1,000 hours?
If you're paying for it yourself, it can be difficult and take quite some time unless you have 'deep pockets'. I'm over 1/5 of my way to the 1500 hours required to obtain an ATPL and I started flying just over 6 years ago but stopped twice for almost one year in each case.If you're looking toward a career as a professional pilot and you're not funded either by an Airline, the Military or your own independent means, becoming a flight instructor is usually a quick way to amass hours after you obtain your commercial license.Why are Airlines now asking for 1,000 hours ? It's largely due to changes in regulations imposed by the FAA, in light of recommendations made after investigations into the Airline Industry's practices following several high profile fatal accidents.Essentially, as you progress in your flying, you gain experience, expertise and insight which assist you when you're called upon "to use your superior judgement in order to avoid having to use your superior skill". You also develop great proficiency and maintain it longer in between flights as you accumulate flight hours. Your Pilots license is a license to continually learn and the Airline is going to invest quite a lot of resources ($$$) into your continual training. By having already developed a substantial mount of experience, expertise and insight (through accumulation of 1,000 hours), you will be better able to benefit from the intense training more rapidly and deeply, making you a much better aviator from everyone's perspective.To answer the first part of your question and being realistic, anticipate 6 months to 18 months from the time you first start to lean to fly. It's going to largely depend on how or who pays the bills.
Is building flying hours on your own aircraft valued towards job?
It depends on your ultimate goal. All flight time is valuable in some sense, but some is more desirable for certain types of jobs. If you want an airline job, 1,500 hours of single engine pleasure flying in a Cessna 150 isn't what they are looking for, but 500 hours in your own twin engine plane would be more valuable than working as a single-engine flight instructor. Even the regional airlines want to see several hundred hours of multi-engine time these days. On the other hand, having worked as a pilot and having good references from previous employers is a great asset. A solid year or two flying for an employer is good for the resume. Flight time in a multi-crew situation, and in turbine powered airplanes is also highly valuable. It also depends on what you have done while piloting your own plane. Flying around the world, or at least all over the continent in all types of weather conditions and terrain is far more impressive than doing hundreds of hours of circuits at your local airports. If most of the time is spent flying cross-country, and / or on IFR flight plans, and / or at night, with much of it to or from busy metropolitan airports, that would be far more valuable for an airline career than if build mostly day VFR sightseeing hours. On the other hand, if your goal is to be a bush pilot, then a lot of VFR flying cannot hurt, especially if it is at relatively low level in the mountains or the wilderness. I built about 700 hours of the time toward an ATP rating in my own airplanes. I logged the other half working as a flight instructor, but the time flown in my own plane was generally more valuable because I did a lot of interesting and challenging flying all over North America - the type of flying that few pilots ever get to do, either renting airplanes, flight instructing, or flying for an airline. So, If you can afford your own plane, and you can afford to fly it at least several hundred hours, and you do it with the goal of getting some unique and valuable experience, I would recommend it. .