For the people who never got their CFI, how did you build your hours and where are you now?
Posted by fgflyer@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 140 comments
Considering CFI is by far the most common, tried-and-true method of building hours and getting a foot in the door for flying jobs, I’m interested to hear from those who never got their CFI for whatever reason. Maybe you just weren’t cut out to teach, maybe you networked well, or for whatever reason, you just never got it.
Where are you now with your flying career and how did you get there? I’m just interested in hearing different perspectives.
Spare_Illustrator_54@reddit
Currently aerial survey. Went from 300 TT to 1K TT in 1 year. R-ATP as well but doesn’t seem to mean much right now.
TheRoadto1500@reddit
Saw your post from last year. Did you end up going for one of the suggested companies?
Spare_Illustrator_54@reddit
Yes
TheRoadto1500@reddit
was it maybe JAV or Williams? i didn’t make the cut for Skylens, applied for EV, waiting for JAV to open hiring… i can dm you if you prefer to keep it private, just a few questions :))
juniorfromgh@reddit
can i dm you?
Spare_Illustrator_54@reddit
DMed
PatientFlight2274@reddit
Makes me wonder if the R-ATP has any value considering the state of hiring right now.
Spare_Illustrator_54@reddit
At this point no. It’s a joke to get RATP. Most regionals aren’t even paying for it anyway
grumpycfi@reddit
Well if the subreddit is any indication a lot of them are starting CFI training... /s (but not really?)
Just gonna say that like...anyone who thinks "I'm not cut out to teach!" before they've even attempted CFI training or considered it seriously probably should reconsider. And also teaching and CRM are intrinsically linked. If you can't do one I expect you to largely struggle with the other. (This will piss peopel off but I stand by it.)
rotardy@reddit
I’m not pissed off but I don’t agree with you. I know several pilots at legacies that never taught before coming to the airlines. Civilian and military backgrounds. They are phenomenal captains. I do think being good at teaching generally is a good indicator the communication skills are up to speed for CRM. I don’t think someone not wanting to teach means anything. Well. It does mean they don’t want to teach.
grumpycfi@reddit
I certainly wouldn't assume someone is pissed off just for having another viewpoint.
I'm not talking about people who didn't teach, but those who can't. Of course I still maintain CFIing is some of the best prep out there to be an airline pilot, but I'm not saying anyone who didn't do it can't have good CRM. i'm saying if you can't teach, like literally cannot do it, then you are probably going to have shit CRM.
rotardy@reddit
I don’t disagree. Cheers.
ATrainDerailReturns@reddit
There’s a difference between people who never taught by coincidence
And those who don’t teach because they think “I am not cut out to teach” which was his original point
BugHistorical3@reddit
The CRM and CFI link is such a good point, I never thought about it.
Crescent03@reddit
I didn’t think I would enjoy teaching until I started doing it for my CFI training. Turns out I love it (as long as my students study and put forth effort). Good students are a lot of fun to teach
carl-swagan@reddit
I tend to agree. I was apprehensive about teaching since I come from an engineering background and I'm fairly introverted, so wasn't sure if I would excel at a job that requires so much... talking. But honing the ability to clearly communicate with the person next to me while actively observing and flying the airplane has been incredibly valuable.
Goop290@reddit
I have heard multiple times from a few different sources 135 and airline that if they have an applicant with cfii and an applicant that only did vfr stuff they will only look at the cfii applicant. Recently been told in a 135 single pilot ifr interview that "anyone who has been vfr flying like pipeline or anyone more than 3 checkrides falls gets filtered out. We see the best training success from CFIIs actively teaching and using the ifr structure."
Bunslow@reddit
username checks out lol
Icy-Bar-9712@reddit
I'm with you. I think the "I can't teach" is rooted in laziness.
The teaching and CRM linkage is interesting, care to expound?
grumpycfi@reddit
Sure!
Teaching is about being able to communicate with people of different experience levels, backgrounds, whatever. It's also about being able to get information across to someone who isn't always in the best place to hear it in the moment because of frustration, overload, whatever. All of this in a loud, sometimes uncomfortable, and unideal environment for deep philosophical discussions.
CRM is about being able to communicate with people of different experience levels, backgrounds, whatever. It's also about being able to get information across to someone who isn't always in the best place to hear it in the moment because of frustration, overload, whatever. All of this in a loud, sometimes uncomfortable, and unideal environment for deep philosophical discussions.
Potato tomato.
Icy-Bar-9712@reddit
That's a fascinating take on it.
I've a couple of students who really struggle with the communication aspect of the flight training environment. These are also the ones who do not want to teach. I've always told them they are going to have to learn how to communicate and be assertive, potentially from the short side of an unequal power, experience, or knowledge standpoint. And given those things, they are still going to have to do it.
What better opportunity to learn to to that then teach?
And also, at some point they'll have the bigger stick, and need to learn how to accept that from the little stick guy. What better opportunity to learn that then teach?
grumpycfi@reddit
Yep. I agree with this completely. It's fundamentally about working with another pilot.
DOUBLE_DOINKED@reddit
Not OP but I think they are getting at the fact that instructing is a lot of trend analysis and communication which go hand in hand with CRM as a whole.
554TangoAlpha@reddit
Aerial survey-Alaska 135-regional-major
TheRoadto1500@reddit
JAV imagery?
Whirlwind_AK@reddit
Ditto.
Never thought shit of CFI’s.
Crescent03@reddit
Awh, was your CFI mean to you when you didn’t study?
Whirlwind_AK@reddit
Nah, man. They’re simple. They don’t know what they don’t know.
I’ll take an applicant with good Alaska time over a CFI any day of the week.
All a CFI does is talk. And grab the control wheel if he’s gonna die.
Novel-Leg8534@reddit
Nobody knows what they don’t know… not really a meaningful statement. At least cfi’s know what they know lmao
Crescent03@reddit
You 100% failed your CFI checkride and came out bitter
YakVivid6538@reddit
https://i.imgflip.com/6xmag4.jpg?a487680
Y0uMadD0g@reddit
That's... aggressive
No_Currency5230@reddit
Did Alaska hire u with 0 AK time?
Routine_Earth8643@reddit
He literally said he flew up here for a 135 op
Valid__Salad@reddit
no he “literally” didn’t say anything about his hours or hiring process. Valid question from the other guy.
Routine_Earth8643@reddit
Is he talking about Alaska airlines or an Alaska 135
Valid__Salad@reddit
The way I read it, I got a 135 operating in AK.
RockEmSockEmRoboCock@reddit
r u me?
554TangoAlpha@reddit
I wish I had a Maule
entitled-doggo@reddit
being thinking about doing this after college, how’s the job?
Simple_Match_1815@reddit
If they missed the hiring wave, they’re at the back of the line behind everyone else (literally last priority) who did anything else besides fork over money to time build to 1500 in a 150/172 at the current moment. Lol with zero professional time building recs on their app they are at the dead bottom of the pile. My best friend recruites for one of the 3 wholly owned regionals and those are his exact words. They want to see time building in a professional/mission oriented capacity or they get put at the bottom of the stack regardless of it its 1500tt or 3000tt.
Spare_Illustrator_54@reddit
Just curious how does aerial survey fit into this?
PullDoNotRotate@reddit
You are doing something with a commercial purpose.
Simple_Match_1815@reddit
What he said. Anything with a “mission” (and no you buying a a single engine to take your fam across the continental 48 to build time to 1500 is not a mission) falls just under cfi
PullDoNotRotate@reddit
That’s more of a mission than instructing. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
Simple_Match_1815@reddit
No is it better experience especially when you file and shoot approaches? I would agree. But sadly the initial gatekeepers are HR linda’s that have never touched a yoke and they open the gate to get you an interview so you can even have the chance to talk to someone who will see the value in that. Unless you have connections (strong ones that can get you a CP meet n greet, get your app pulled, help get you a interviewer they know on a personal level etc) then doesnt matter at sll. Last guy my unlce got on property at UA had 2500tt 500sic in a latitude and 300 pic in a caravan. no degree. This was in 2025 less than 4 months ago. Dont hate the player hate the game.
Simple_Match_1815@reddit
In a recruitors eyes no its not. My uncle is top 500 seniority at UA, LCP, on the hiring board and he would politely disagree. The buy a 150 get to 1500 fog a window wave is over they want professional experience and cfi shows you can not only instruct, but adapt to flying with all types of people in a cockpit environment.
TheDoctor1699@reddit
I tried different stuff for about a year. The only call I really got back had some sketchy airplanes. Eventually, I just went back and got a cfi.
Mystery-5050@reddit
You can fly pipeline to get your hours. You’ll get 25 hours a week inspecting pipeline
anactualspacecadet@reddit
I do c-17, i’ll get cfi when i do become c-17 instructor tho, or at least i’ll have the option to, idk if its even worth it
mountainbrew46@reddit
Not what OP was asking.. also for what it’s worth you’ll only get multi engine and instrument on your certificate if you do MCI after IP upgrade. Unless you become an IP in a single engine airplane like the T-6. You’ll have to do an FAA checkride to add single engine to your CFI
ICY-20@reddit
False, I have a few colleagues that have done it without a FAA checkride
mountainbrew46@reddit
If that’s true, then it was an error by the DPE and/or FSDO. Military instructors will be issued flight instructor certificates that are appropriate to the aircraft for which they were IPs in the military.
14 CFR 61.73(g)(3)
If your colleagues told you they “got their CFI”, then I’m sure they did. “CFI” does not mean flight instructor with an Airplane Single Engine rating, even though that’s what everyone seems to think it means. I’m sure they have a certificate that says “Flight Instructor” that has a certificate number that says “CFI” at the end.
If they only instructed in multi engine military aircraft, they should only have been issued a CFI certificate with Airplane Multiengine and Instrument Airplane ratings.
ICY-20@reddit
My dude, get outside the military and explore! DPEs are all subjective 😉
mountainbrew46@reddit
I have like 300 hours civilian flight experience and have discussed this exact issue with like 3 DPEs and 2 FSDOs. The FARs are the FARs. Don’t use a certificate you’re not supposed to have.
anactualspacecadet@reddit
Not interested in single engine cfi anyway lol
DOUBLE_DOINKED@reddit
It’s not worth it unless you’ll actually use it. Also, unless you go instruct in a T-6 you won’t be able to get a CFI unless you take the checkride. You can get an MEI as a military instructor though.
Beyond-Salmon@reddit
would you still get your CFI if you were an instructor in the t-45?
mountainbrew46@reddit
You would get your CFI if you were a military instructor in any aircraft. If you were an instructor in the T-45, you would get a flight instructor certificate with Airplane Single Engine and Instrument Airplane ratings
mountainbrew46@reddit
You’re right, but a point of order since this is a peeve of mine because of how much confusion it sets off for this situation.
If you do the MCI you will become a CFI. You will have a certificate that says “Flight Instructor” on it and a certificate number that ends with “CFI”. The terms “MEI” and “CFII” are colloquial terms to mean multi engine and instrument privileges on a CFI certificate.
I’m doing the single engine addon now, and I’m not joking when I say I’ve had probably 10 CFIs tell me “you’re not a CFI, you’re only MEI and CFII, so you still need to do CFI initial”.
DOUBLE_DOINKED@reddit
The juice just isn’t worth the squeeze for the hoops to jump through to get it but also to maintain it. That sounds like a pain to deal with so I’m glad I didn’t do it.
mountainbrew46@reddit
If you took an IP form 8 checkride in the previous 24 calendar months, you can renew a CFI cert without any additional hassle. No additional requirement if you have single engine on there.
To each their own, worth it to me as a side hustle. I enjoy GA and I enjoy instructing
mrrichardhn@reddit
A good friend from highschool actually went through the CFI training but had a hurricane on the day of his checkride and of course his DPE cancelled the checkride. He then decided to go back home because he thinks it's not worth it to wait for another available date for a checkride. He then got a job offer as a Flight Safety Instructor shortly after he got home and took the job right away.
DrRichtofen18@reddit
Aerial survey for 10 months to build time flying a Aztec, then went to the A320
Brotein40@reddit
God damn bro were you flying 9 hrs per day everyday
abite@reddit
I logged 12.7 one day. Another pilot did 14.
Longest non stop in a 172 is 8.0 and 8.2 in an Aztec without refueling...
Had one pilot fly 236 hours in a month. Its great for time buiding
cbph@reddit
He averaged 16 hours a day for an entire month?!
That's absurd, and unsafe.
abite@reddit
You may want to check your math.
cbph@reddit
Shit, you're right. In my defense, I've been drinking and watching football all afternoon 😁.
Still, averaging over 8 hours of flying a day for 30 days sounds miserable. And I stand by my previous comment about it being absurd, haha.
abite@reddit
7.8 hours isn't over 8 but close enough 😂
It was a lot. But some days are 10-12 and some are minimal if any.
DrRichtofen18@reddit
My longest day was about 9 hours, a skyhawk pilot got just over 12 hours in one day when I was there. I also started the job at 400 hours and was 1000 hour R-ATP eligible. The December/ January I was there I got less than 10 hours total those months
PG67AW@reddit
Sounds about right for survey work lol
throfak@reddit
What company did you work for doing survey, if you don't mind sharing?
Loudnthumpy@reddit
Alaska 135 SIC/PIC - Regional - Major
Akbagger@reddit
Multiple Alaska 135’s SIC/PIC - ACMI - Major
Serious-Swim-9588@reddit
Alaska to ACMI… tell is more. Alaska sounds like the promise land.
Akbagger@reddit
Lots of total time and multi engine turbine PIC was the ticket. That was 5+ years ago though
Serious-Swim-9588@reddit
Would you do anything different?
Akbagger@reddit
No, maybe if I had done the DEC to a regional I could have gotten hired at a legacy quicker. But at the time pay was so low I couldn’t justify leavin
Routine_Earth8643@reddit
Nawww we full up here. Don’t need lower 48 people
Serious-Swim-9588@reddit
Many CFIs look down on anyone who isn’t a CFI attempting to become an airline pilot. They have the attitude “well I did it so you should too… you’re just lazy”. God forbid a COMMERCIAL RATED PILOT gets a job without a CFI rating. 😱
There are many ways to get across the finish line. Yes, a CFI rating beneficial, but do the path that’s best for you. Don’t let these jaded CFIs intimidate you. Just because they can’t get a job and feel you (non-CFI) don’t deserve one.
Blue skies.
PatientFlight2274@reddit
I don't understand getting shit on for not wanting to become a CFI. And to be honest this isn't the best way to build quality time.
Apprehensive_Cost937@reddit
I've built my time in a 737, if that counts :)
mctomtom@reddit
Nathan?
Basics32@reddit
I am a CFI but my best friend just has his CPL and got his hours flying oil pipeline out in Texas. He’s now flying PC12s for a 135 also out in Texas.
clearingmyprop@reddit
Is said best friend from vegas originally? Lol
Grand_Raccoon0923@reddit
Military, I went straight to an ATP when I got out.
Texpress22@reddit
I did mapping and survey flying. To build my time. Only got my cfi, cfii, Mei later on in my career
PILOT9000@reddit
My wife went fresh CPL > cargo SIC in what would nowadays require an ATP to fly > PC12 > international cargo > cushy bizjet
My path was different: Gov > 500 hours as CFI > Caravan night freight > air ambulance > regional > international cargo > OCONUS contractor > major > gov > legacy
Bowzy228@reddit
One of the hardest checkrides if not the hardest. If you don’t wanna teach do yourself a favor and spend that money on time building. Better than failing the ride or being a shitty CFI who’s just there for the hours. Also there’s barely any CFI jobs available so if I had to do it again I would spend that 15k on time building with a safety pilot and have tons of fun instead being a miserable unemployed CFI for almost a year now.
Status_Movie_6470@reddit
Public use job.
flythearc@reddit
251hrs - CPL
265hrs- Comm Multi
270hrs- 135 ops doing interisland pax
1610hrs- 121 Regional
1900hrs- ACMI
CJO from Major at 1900hrs. Class date over a year later. Decide to stay at ACMI.
2600hrs- TBD
This doesn’t reflect the current market of course. Discovery flight was about 5 years ago.
NeedMEI@reddit
Got my CFI, never instructed… Survey.
Independent-Reveal86@reddit
I did tourist flying then coastguard stuff for a civilian contractor, now at an airline.
4Sammich@reddit
Air Tour/Air Taxi > Pipeline > 135 Cargo > Bigger 135 Cargo > Regional > Major
Took way longer than if I just CFId but certainly got a lot more varied flight experience exposure.
I-r0ck@reddit
I know someone who only got his CPL. He started off as a ferry pilot, then became a corporate pilot, and is currently a test pilot.
throfak@reddit
That's cool!! Howd he become a test pilot?
I-r0ck@reddit
Right place, right time. It was during the pilot shortages right after COVID. He already knew a few test pilots and they needed another one.
turbinewings@reddit
Probably have to get a degree in Aerospace Engineering (or mechanical engineering) for the test pilot part.
rtrujillo13@reddit
Started working on my CFI in mid 2018 and a quarter way in I met a guy who was a survey pilot for a now defunct company out of Rome, NY (If you worked here you’ll know the company… still get nightmares of being yelled at by the big boss for spending $99 on a hotel instead of the approved $89 😭). Anyway, this guy told me all about survey and told me to apply if I was interested. So I did apply and 2 weeks later I was in Rome, NY learning how to operate the equipment on the rickety C172s and how to fly lines.
Did it for 15 months and it was genuinely one of the best jobs I’ve ever had. I flew from coast to coast and even up into Fort McMurray, Canada all in my little C172 with no autopilot. I’d do it again 100 times over. But alas, we must grow and evolve and make more than $500 a week. So I did and after a short stint at SkyWest, which I also loved, I’m now flying the A320. It’s been a fun journey honestly. CFI or any other form of acquiring hours, the most important thing is to enjoy the journey and find things in life that make you happy outside of flying. You gotta diversify your sources of happiness because eventually flying will become a job. The best job ever imo, but still a job.
K20017@reddit
Roommate knew a guy who knew a guy who was looking to fill seats in a King Air and Citation. Rate was 150 per non-flying day and 300 per flying day. Started flying here at 500hrs and haven't flown anything else since. Easy transition to that company when I left college. Got pretty lucky but those opportunities do exist.
BrickContent@reddit
I built my RATP mins(1250) through Mesa Airlines Pilot Development Program(MPD) in Glendale, AZ . I have a CFI/CFII but could not find a job with 237 hours at the time. I looked into MPD and it was relatively easy going getting in. I flew average of 140 hours a month, sometimes up to 200 in a when I was getting close to finishing. The way it works is you pay 250 hours up front at $65 per flight hour. Then you sign a contract where they finance you for the rest of your time building and you pay them back once you get ATP certified. The nice thing is they offer you a class date(granted you make it through and follow the rules). I have a class coming up soon and will pay them back within 2 years per the contract. Not sure how everything will work with Mesa Airlines in the near future with the Republic merge though. Overall, if you’re looking to build hours the fastest and grind it out, MPD is the way. It’s almost like you eat,sleep,fly at this program but you can still manage a healthy lifestyle. I completed my hours within 8 months and now waiting to fly the E175 in the next several.
MoreSpoiler@reddit
Buddy did his hours in Namibia (Google that on pprune)
nayr1683@reddit
Banners. Skydivers. Scenic flights. Aerial photo.
I fly for a 91 operator and it doesn’t suck.
The reason why I didn’t finish my CFI (someone came to me to start paying me to fly) was mainly because I felt that I was too immature to care about being a good instructor. I felt that my training was affected by someone that didn’t care about being a great instructor and I didn’t want to follow in their foot steps. I would love to be a CFI now on the side. Maybe one of these days I’ll get back at it.
SevenFortySwole@reddit
Pipeline patrol Regional-failing LCC-ACMI
DwayneHerbertCamacho@reddit
Never got CFI, my first paying pilot job was in the right seat of a GV. Then to build time faster I picked up a few various low time gigs like fire patrol and flying night freight to do concurrently. Life sucked for about 2 years but I landed a cushy corporate gig flying 150hrs/year in a brand new Longitude based in my hometown. Zero interest in flying for the airlines. I have so much downtime I contract on the side for Beer/Porsche money.
TheTubbyTickler@reddit
I’d love to chat with you to get your story of flying and advice on pathways to go. I’m a late starter (30 years) and just trying to build a network as best I can.
DwayneHerbertCamacho@reddit
I started as an A&P/IA, I wrench in a bunch of local guys shitboxes and network a lot. My A&P got me in the right seat of a Gulfstream with less than 700hrs.
ATrainDerailReturns@reddit
What year did the right seat in a Gulfstream start
TheTubbyTickler@reddit
That’s so awesome. I definitely wanna shadow some a&p’s when I go through training (if they’ll have me). Just hoping things open up by the time I get the commercial cert.
cl_320@reddit
I noticed you are an A&P. Is that how you got started?
DwayneHerbertCamacho@reddit
Yeah
CompassCardCaptain@reddit
Meanwhile, I haven't been to work in August and I don't need to contract out to afford my expensive hobbies.
DwayneHerbertCamacho@reddit
I’ve slept in my own bed all but maybe 4 nights since March.
intercepting_final@reddit
I was hired on with a small skydiving company at around 300 tt and 25 hours in a 182 worked that for a couple seasons and now working military contracts for a 135. Having ratings is a great start but making personal connections is really the key
Simple_Match_1815@reddit
If they missed the hirint wave, they’re at the back of the line behind everyone who did anything else besides for over money to time build to 1500 at the moment. Lol
Chappietime@reddit
I did traffic watch and was lucky to find a few mentors that would take me along on trips with them. That led to paying trips with them, which then led to contract pic gigs in those planes.
Then 15 years of 135, now a cushy 91 gig.
NevadaCFI@reddit
I earned my CFI at 1,000 hours and bought a plane at 200 hours, so 800 hours was just flying my plane all over the country. I was 40 so already had a career.
Historical-Pin1069@reddit
Ground to pilot role.
nukethesite_orbit@reddit
I was military, but speaking for the many Alaska friends and others I know, Alaska 135 will give you way better experience than the traditional CFI route. No slam to the young CFIs though. The type of flying you get up there is just way different, diverse, unrehearsed, and only helps your skills. My friend’s outfit has Super DC-3s, metros, and others. I think if you can fly a DC-3 into gravel strips on basic instrumentation, you are getting your stick and rudder skills polished well. Floatplanes, C206 into villages, you name it. I also have a friend who got her experience flying medivac in the South Pacific. Another great way to do it.
JBalloonist@reddit
Not me but a friend of mine is SIC on a Falcon. Don’t remember how many hours he has exactly but it’s less than 1000. He has his instructor ratings but never actually used them before getting the jet job. He did a lot of flying in the club we’re both in; I think his parents helped pay for the flight time.
jgremlin_@reddit
Born and raised in a south Jersey tourist town. Learned to fly and got all my certs in the same area. Just about the time I was getting my commercial, I was also flying with a flying club. And this particular flying club had their planes maintained by a local shop. While I was in that shop one day looking after one of the club planes, I happened to take a peek at a really nice looking well equipped Supercub that was being worked on and I had the following conversation.
Me: Nice looking Supercub. Whose is it?
A&P: Belongs to [owner]. He's a banner guy. You just got your commercial right? So you're looking for work right? You should go talk to him. You got any tailwheel time?
Me: Not a lick of tailwheel.
A&P: Oh. Well then go talk to [CFI]. He can get you your tailwheel, then go talk to [owner]. If you're gonna work for someone, he's not bad to work for.
I ended up flying that very Supercub for several years. And then I flew jumpers for a while. And then I got out of the business and never once looked back. Glad I did it. Glad I don't do it anymore.
But that aside, my origin story is a lesson in how important quality networking can be in your career path.
RaiseTheDed@reddit
The issue with non-CFI jobs is that they're very competitive. I'm talking hundreds of applications for one position, and they will end up hiring someone that they know already (referral/someone who worked in a different capacity for them).
Add to that, there are very few of these jobs out there. And a lot of them aren't low time anymore, as insurance has been raising requirements. The 250 hour job is now 750, the 500 hour job now requires 1000....
CFI is often path of least resistance. And I'm not saying people don't get these jobs, I know a few who got survey jobs, I know people who went to Alaska. I've also heard of people refusing to get CFI jobs, apply to every job they can, and eventually a year later get their CFI anyway.
Fwiw, the guy I know who went to Alaska instructed to around 1000 hours before he got that job lol.
A lot of the true low time jobs have gone away. eg flying checks (money checks/cheques).
And some of these jobs have pitfalls as well: jump pilots and banner tow may not get you any cross country time.
Ok-Stomach-@reddit
even jump pilots now require 1000 hours
GoldenKoala100@reddit
Only the turbine ones, you can still find plenty of 182 DZs that want 500.
Turbulent-Bus3392@reddit
I was working a great full time engineering job, raising a kid, and flying pipeline part time. I passed my CFI written exams and got my advanced ground instructor, but never had time to complete my CFI. I built my hours flying charter, pipeline, and owning a 182. I sold my 182 and started at a regional earlier this year. I still regret not getting my CFI.
abite@reddit
Aerial survey, flying Hawkers 135
Joshua528@reddit
I did the CFI route but my buddy and coworker did aircraft ferrying/repositioning for a while then got on with a king air charter company. She just got typed on the 74 :)
Cultural_Physics_935@reddit
In the bush, flying floats. At 1500TT after four seasons with $70k banked. Flying Beaver now. Travel the world in off season. Real flying, not right seat in a C152 to the exercise area in CAVOK conditions, with minimal winds. All PIC, all cross country
CompassCardCaptain@reddit
Legacy airline captain here. I didn't get my CFI until after I started flying jets. I was an engineer and owned a Bonanza for years, built up about 1200 hours flying that thing around the country until I got a job flying right seat in Hawkers for $22k/year. Sold the Bonanza to make it work. Then got my CFI/CFII/MEI years later when I became a corporate captain and had some spare dollary-doos.
SenileCFI@reddit
Just remember, for each non-CFI that makes it, there's a dozen or more CFIs that make it.
And for each non-CFI that makes it, there's probably a dozen who didn't or became CFIs eventually.
The survivorship and confirmation bias is strong in this thread, be careful.
EnvironmentCrafty710@reddit
Ok, I'm going to risk some heat here cuz I'm going to paint with a big brush and I'm not going to spend time talking about the minutiae of it all.
I'm technically one of "those guys" cuz I didn't build my hours by CFI. I got my CFI, but for other reasons (and that's my point here). I've never held any aspirations for airline flying, but 99% of the people here do or are there already though and no shade on them, it's a good job.
I built my hours by hook and by crook and it doesn't matter cuz there's no way you're following my path. If you are, I already know you and you're not posting on Reddit. Cuz like someone else correctly pointed out, "those" jobs are few and exceptionally competitive... and they really don't want the "I don't want to CFI types" either.
My main point... No matter what route you take to wherever you're going to go, get your CFI. There are just so many good things that come from it and that you can do with it... now and later in your career. You're shit hot in the "learning" phase of things, so it's also the easiest time to get it (as opposed to going back later and trying to ramp back up and get it).
When you're old and at the end of your career even, you'll be glad you have it rather than trying to go back and get it.
If you are going to the airlines, understand that there is a reason that it is the "tried and true" path to get there... and it's not only about the fact that it's a fast way to build hours... it's all the other stuff too. You learn to work with the system and people in a system. You learn to communicate and do things "by the book". And those people aren't always the ones you want to deal with and those situations aren't always either. You learn about dealing with financial and human pressures while keeping the ship in the right direction. You learn about passing checks and doing checks and passing more of them and learning and teaching and learning and... you get the point... that stuff never ends... it's part of the job.
Welcome to it.
Trust me. Go get your CFI.
$.02 NZD
minfremi@reddit
natdm@reddit
Wife and I just fly a lot.
Akepur@reddit
Buy a plane
Metharlin@reddit
US Navy.
infowhiskey@reddit
Sky diver driver and right seat nuclear medicine in a C310
MehCFI@reddit
For those reading this sub remember- the market just one year ago was completely different! Absolutely do not expect the non-CFI route to be likely. If you don’t directly know a guy offering you personally a job at 250 hours- it ain’t happening. Hell tons of CFIs with dual given and 300-500 hours are still begging for jobs. Go get your CFI/CFII/MEI and any dual given you can muster
dromzugg@reddit
Worked on the ground for a guy who owned a small floatplane operation while I was completing my CPL. Slowly, very very slowly, started flying for him after CPL and seaplane rating.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Considering CFI is by far the most common, tried-and-true method of building hours and getting a foot in the door for flying jobs, I’m interested to hear from those who never got their CFI for whatever reason. Maybe you just weren’t cut out to teach, maybe you networked well, or for whatever reason, you just never got it.
Where are you now with your flying career and how did you get there? I’m just interested in hearing different perspectives.
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