Time Building
Wherever you want to end up in aviation, it takes experience to get there. So how do you efficiently get the hours you need? Here are the most common options based on my experience (mostly CFI, airlines, and military reserve).
Flight Instructing
The most common way to build time. Provides a great base of experience and is a great resume builder regardless of which direction you want to go.
Conventional Route: Get your ratings and apply to flight schools near you. Train Where You Can Work: Train with a school that has a history of hiring their CFI students. Airline Career Programs: Train with a school partnered with an airline (AA Cadet, United Aviate, UPS FlightPath). You interview and are hired by a regional but instruct until you hit ATP minimums, with benefits along the way and a flow-through to a major.
The Good: Most common track so lots of jobs, great resume builder, become an expert (the best way to learn is to teach), airline benefits in some programs, straight to the airline once you meet hour requirements.
The Bad: Not great money, hours vary by demand, inconsistent schedules, students may try to kill you (half kidding).
Not Flight Instructing
Skydive / Scenic Tours: Commercial rating, local company, redundant but adds time. Glider Towing: One of the few jobs you can get paid for with only a Private. Banner Towing: Commercial cert plus a banner towing training program. Charter SIC: Many single pilot charter aircraft don't require an SIC type rating — you ride right seat, owner's insurance goes down. Freight Dog: Cargo world, often just a commercial rating to start.
The Good: Different types of experience, not teaching jobs if teaching isn't for you, more career-specific experience.
The Bad: Not necessarily "quality hours," irregular and seasonal schedules, cargo means night flying and being gone often.
Air Force Reserve
Rather than spending tens of thousands of dollars on training, why not have Uncle Sam send you through the best pilot training program in the world ($1M-$10M of training), and pay you to go? Take the AFOQT and TBAS, build a package, apply to squadrons. 10-year commitment after wings, so about 11.5 years minimum. Full breakdown in our Becoming an AF Reserve Pilot post.
The Good: Better training, better aircraft, better pay, huge resume builder, travel, retirement at 20+ years, decent control over your life as a Reservist.
The Bad: Time commitment (2.5 yrs training, 10 yr AF commitment), gone for extended periods, deployments, tough on a family, hours can be slower to build.
Personal Opinion: If you can handle the change in lifestyle, it's a no-brainer. Air Force training was the reason I got a major airline interview ahead of my peers. Airlines, cargo, just about everyone likes to hire military.
Let's Sum it Up
Lots of options. If you have a specific career goal, get into that industry as soon as you can. Otherwise, flight instructing or a military reserve job are the best ways to build quality time and a strong resume.
