amostcivilpilot-
A great informative post about the situation at hand. Saldy building hours when you first start out seems to be a gargantuan task. I am in the same boat as agnni as well. And I also agree that instructing is more than 'just an easy way' to get hours. It should be about the training and mentoring of the individual(s) you are responsible for, and it involves spending a lot more time with them than just 'engine start to engine stop'. Although I am just a student at the moment, I think instructing is a great way to build your confidence and skills as a pilot as well. If you know the subject well enough to teach it to others, no matter the subject, then it will help you become better at it, no? But rushing into it just to get hours and seeing your students as nothing more than $$, is another matter entirely...but a sad truth of the industry as well.