I have a question for the pilots here. I’m a 41 year old looking at a second career. Always wanted to fly but successfully talked myself out of it in the past, primarily due to cost. Now being over 40 and looking at my life and realizing, I don’t want to spend the next 25 years in the trucking industry. I’m seriously looking at ATP. How beneficial is the 100+ hour Multi-Engine add on when looking at the class? Am I most likely better off taking that option (extra 10K roughly in cost) or just go with the main program?
Since I’ve stated this is a second career for me, a little background if it helps. I hold a Bachelor’s in Education. Realized in my student teaching (last thing you do before graduation) that I did not want to be a babysitter for 35K a year. Became a truck driver initially to have a paycheck and benefits while I figured out what I wanted to do. Drove for 16 years, then moved into dispatch. I’m bored at my desk and the trucking industry has changed so much since I was driving that I have no desire to get back into a semi. I’d rather spend the rest of my working years doing something I love. At this point, like most, I’d like to fly for a major, but also understand quality of life and with what I hear about the constant revolving door of pilots at the regionals, I’m not ruling out staying with a regional especially with the speed you seem to be able to build seniority there.
The decision totally depends on your goals and the route you’d like to take. If you’re planning on the conventional route after training of flight instructing for ATP to build time then going to a Regional then the standard program should be fine.
The 100hr Multi (which I did) gives you a few more options. The main one being if you decide to instruct for another flight school other than ATP and they don’t offer multi instruction, you’ve already have more ME time than the Regionals require. Also should a 135 opportunity present itself flying corporate either before going to a Regional or in place of again you’ve already got a good amount of ME time. I also believe there’s alot to be said for doing a significant amount of your training in the twin. It’s a complex airplane and demands a higher level of skill and attention.
Welcome to the forum. The question about the 100 hours of multi time is a good one. I for one am a fan of it for a couple of reasons. First of all, the Seminole is a great airplane to fly, it is the perfect training airplane and handles nicely. The Seminole is also more complex, which will help add to your pilot skills. Secondly, having 100 hours of multi time is a good thing, it can help you check many application boxes and will put you ahead of those who do not have it.
Now let’s be clear there is no requirement to do the 100 hour multi program and many do not. If you can afford it, great, but I would not delay training to save up for it or anything like that.
Derek,
I’m with the others here. If you have the money, by all means it will make your resume that much better than those who only have the bare minimum for the atp. However, you could still be just fine without it. The 100 hr program wasn’t very popular when I went through so I didn’t do it but I did get an opportunity to fly multi students as the lead at my training center. It’s obviously better to log those multi hours getting paid for it then being the one paying for it. You could have the opportunity to build multi hours as the multi instructor or a lead, but those positions are hard to secure. It’s the most competitive among the instructor positions.
Derek,
Great! I think you really can’t go wrong with it as long as finances aren’t a major concern. Let us know if you have any other questions and of course keep us updated on your progress once you start!
Chris and @Adam curious on your thoughts. In this thread you suggest the 100 me hour. In a related thread back in '16/'17, you suggest the 100 hour was not as necessary, especially if you planned to instruct at ATP. Back then it was the “40 hour vs 100hr”. Chris you emphasized a few times that the 100 hour was not as much of a benefit and to save the 10k.
What jumps out that perhaps you are more “pro 100 hour” so to speak? Is this because the difference between the now 25 hour ME and 100 is a greater difference than the 40 vs 100 and that extra 15 hours makes a big difference?
Are there other factors in the industry or with ATP or what you’ve experienced as pilots five years on? I bounce back and forth between the two on a daily basis and curious to your thought process.
I think my answers to this question vary with who is asking it and what their situation is. If your goal is to instruct at ATP and money is an issue, absolutely do the 25 hour program. If you plan to instruct at ATP and you have extra cash, then sure, the 100 hour program will give you a slightly better cross country experience (I would not have opted for it). If you envision yourself going into the corporate world and not the airlines, then yes, you should do the 100 hour program.
I am impressed with you digging up posts from 2016
I have always been an advocate of the 100hr program IF money isn’t a factor. I believe the more complex time you get earlier in your career the better. That and the twin is just more fun to fly.
Thing is in this environment where everyone is getting hired regardless of how much ME time you have makes justifying the expense more difficult, again if we’re not talking about money, I’m a fan.
