I’ve come on here before asking about job options other than being a cfi to build time to get to the airlines. I came across the odyssey pilot hours program where you basically time share with another pilot to your 1500 hours in just a couple months. My question here is if the airlines would look down at this and not hire me because I didn’t work to build these hours. Any and all input is appreciated thank you!
Gavin,
A couple of things. First off it is impossible to build “1500hrs in a couple of months” so you need to get that out of your head (do the math).
To answer your question, honestly the Regionals aren’t really concerned how you build your hours and right now, if you show up with the required licenses, ratings and time, you will get hired.
The real question is after getting hired (which is really easy these days) you’ll have the skills and experience to successfully complete newhire training (which is really hard). Many people seem to thing that the 1500hr Rule is just a box to check. It’s not. It was created to make certain pilots build the time and experience necessary to safely fly passengers.
If you think you can do that by buzzing around the skys of Colorado in a LSA then by all means. Just know (again) newhire training is EXTREMELY challenging and you’re expected to be a VERY skilled instrument pilot and washout rates are the highest they’ve ever been specifically because people think that quantity of hours is the same as quality of hours.
Adam
Gavin,
The regionals are not really concerned with how you get your flight time, they just want to see 1,500 hours. My concern would be that your skills might not be up to par with what the airlines expect. Airline flying is all instrument work, teaching that skill usually best prepares somebody for the airlines. If you can teach a skill well, it means that you have a firm grasp on the skill. This is not to say that it is impossible to go to the airlines without instructing, many before you have done just that.
Chris
I appreciate your feedback, just finished com single and multi and trying to figure out what the best path to the airlines is going to be for me. I got through the atp program with no checkride failures but when I got to the cfi portion I struggled with trying to teach and fly at the same time. I’m positive it could be done but I’ve become accustomed to the fast paced training environment and want to minimize my down time as much as possible, thank you!
Gavin,
I would argue that’s all the more reason to at least trying to instruct. Having the ability to multitask is part of the skill building.
Again when it comes to airline training you need to be VERY proficient in your flying skills as the airlines will not teach you to be a pilot.
Adam