How long did it take you.....

[Ace]

I've been reading these boards for awhile now and have been wondering how long it took you fine people to go from having completed your CFI rating to getting that first commercial job. (Not working as a CFI, but flying for some company somewhere.) I know it depends on how many times a day/week you are teaching/flying, but how long did it take you regardless. Thanks for participating!

[flingwing206]

Ace, I assume you mean your second commercial job - the first one where a CFI certificate wasn't required.

 

I say that because there are a passable few of us who work in operations where flight training is only a part of what we do. For instance in my case, dual instruction has accounted for about 65% of my work, the rest has been ENG, photo, pipe/powerline survey, tours, special events and so on.

 

However, to answer the question you are asking, I was eligible to apply to the "next step" jobs about 15 months after I started as a CFI.

[Ace]

I think I'm understanding you correctly and I'm glad to hear how fast you moved onto your "Second" job.

 

The reason I'm asking this generic question is I only have a few more answers I need to make a qualified decision on wether this is for me or not, and the time from getting your CFI rating 'til you actually start working as a bonafide Helicopter Pilot is what I would like to hear more on. Experiences on how people got there, time it took (again, I know it is different for everyone), etc. will help me understand the process. I have a wife, an 11 month old son, a mortgage, and alot of other things to think about before jumping into another career at the age of 36. This all intrigues me, but I like alot of info before making the final decision. Thanks for your feedback, fling. Very much appreciated!

[Vaqueroaero]

I think I'm understanding you correctly and I'm glad to hear how fast you moved onto your "Second" job.

 

The reason I'm asking this generic question is I only have a few more answers I need to make a qualified decision on wether this is for me or not, and the time from getting your CFI rating 'til you actually start working as a bonafide Helicopter Pilot is what I would like to hear more on. Experiences on how people got there, time it took (again, I know it is different for everyone), etc. will help me understand the process. I have a wife, an 11 month old son, a mortgage, and alot of other things to think about before jumping into another career at the age of 36. This all intrigues me, but I like alot of info before making the final decision. Thanks for your feedback, fling. Very much appreciated!

 

Your comment "time from getting your CFI rating 'til you actually start working as a bonafide Helicopter Pilot" is a little demeaning, innocent I know. I make my living as a full time CFI and consider myself a 'bonafide helicopter pilot'!! You will never learn as much or have the time to practice emergency procedures as when you are an instructor. It is a time when you can sharpen your own skills and should never be looked at as purely a stepping stone. It is a position that carries a huge burden of responsibility, both from a legal standpoint with the FAA, but also dealing with someone else's money and future career.

 

Anyway to answer your question: It all depends upon what your flight schedule is like as a CFI, and therefore that regulates how long it takes you to get to the magic 1000 hours. I remember way back when it took me about a year to get to one thousand hours. From that point it is fairly easy to move on and gain employment elsewhere.

 

Helicopter pilots by nature are a fairly nomadic bunch, and many of the jobs require a lot of time away from home, so really think hard before making the change....... Do you want to be at home for your childs first steps etc........ or would you rather be on an oil rig in the GOM?

[volition]

That's funny. In Canada nobody starts out a cfi.......................in Canada you need 250pic before you can do your course. There is nobody that would pay top dollar for a flight instructor, that does not have at least 1000 hours.

[Ace]

Your comment "time from getting your CFI rating 'til you actually start working as a bonafide Helicopter Pilot" is a little demeaning, innocent I know. I make my living as a full time CFI and consider myself a 'bonafide helicopter pilot'!! You will never learn as much or have the time to practice emergency procedures as when you are an instructor. It is a time when you can sharpen your own skills and should never be looked at as purely a stepping stone. It is a position that carries a huge burden of responsibility, both from a legal standpoint with the FAA, but also dealing with someone else's money and future career.

 

I am totally sorry Vaq, as I didn't mean it that way, nor did I think about it long enough to take that into account. My apologies as I agree that all who get paid, wether CFI or not are "Bonafide" Helicopter Pilots. My wording really sucked there and I hope you can forgive me.

 

I'm also just getting to know what all this stuff means, and I'm a noob at that anyway. That's why I came here to learn all I can before I get my feet wet and jump in for good. I don't like to be uninformed about anything, at least what I can control. Again, I'm sorry.

[Vaqueroaero]

I am totally sorry Vaq, as I didn't mean it that way, nor did I think about it long enough to take that into account. My apologies as I agree that all who get paid, wether CFI or not are "Bonafide" Helicopter Pilots. My wording really sucked there and I hope you can forgive me.

 

I'm also just getting to know what all this stuff means, and I'm a noob at that anyway. That's why I came here to learn all I can before I get my feet wet and jump in for good. I don't like to be uninformed about anything, at least what I can control. Again, I'm sorry.

 

Don't worry about it. No harm done! Nothing wrong with doing research at all. I wish more people would do a bit more of it before jumping in with both feet.

 

Hopefully you are gathering that it takes a year or so from gaining your CFI to get to a position of moving on. Depending on the amount of time you can give to training, it will take you up to a year, or more to do it. So in effect you are looking at 2 years down the road before you are able to move on to other things. Typically that will be the Gulf of Mexico, or tours in the Canyon. Other options exist, but those are the two major areas where low time pilots move onto.

[flingwing206]

I think I'm understanding you correctly and I'm glad to hear how fast you moved onto your "Second" job.

Actually it'll be more like 26 months before I do move to that second job - mostly because I was enjoying my make-believe job so much...

I have a wife, an 11 month old son, a mortgage, and alot of other things to think about before jumping into another career at the age of 36. This all intrigues me, but I like alot of info before making the final decision.

Well, I'm 45, and started this game at 42 - I figure I've got another 20 or so years if I want them.