malc4d
22nd Jun 2008, 18:03
Hi guys, A quick question..............
As the 'downturn' seems to be here or is coming, what do you think would be a good career move ( get out your crystal ball ).
Heli CFI-II add on or a business jet type rating.................?
both cost around the same.
Whats do you think is the best route to get some wages......
Airline, businessjet, rotor or instructing......
George Semel
22nd Jun 2008, 21:14
How about keeping the money for a rainy day? Seems to me that would be the smart thing to do, that is till you actually line up a job, I had a CFII for helicopters since 1982 when I did the add on. I would have been better served if I took that money and bought Microsoft Stock. Do what you want to do. You already made the decision on what you are going to do. So its really moot. I think you are looking for validation.
malc4d
23rd Jun 2008, 10:22
No thats the problem............l'm not 100% sure, i want to do it all !!....:O
SNS3Guppy
23rd Jun 2008, 16:39
Malc4d,
You haven't cited your qualifications, but do you have the qualifications that would allow you to find work with that type rating? Simply holding the type rating doesn't necessarily buy you any leverage. Many operators want to see 500 hours or more in type before they'll hire you. Having the type rating on your resume with no experience looks like someone who bought a type rating...which doesn't enhance your image to a prospective employer, either.
You want to do it all, and that's understandable. What are your qualifications presently, and what's your game plan? Aviation isn't an arena in which you simply decide to work somewhere and go do it. You need to build yourself up to that point, and it can take years. Often many years. For example, if you would like to try your hand at the left seat of a corporate jet, you may be ten years getting there, starting with flight instructing, flying freight, and working your way up in experience in a regional airline, right seat charter, then corporate. Something like that. You don't normally go buy a type rating and go to work flying the CEO of a company who is worth more individually than an entire airliner full of passengers...that CEO is going to want to find the best his money can buy...which usually means the most qualified and the most experienced.
You see the dilema.
Are you presently instructing in helicopters? If so, do you feel that you can generate enough work with the CFII add-on to justify going that route? If so, then go that route. If you want to educate yourself in a turbojet, then you might consider going that route, but do you have any high performance fixed wing experience, and solid instrument skills? If you do, great. If not, then you have some experience to build first...it's all building blocks and gaining experience, but it's very hard to run before walking, first.
A little more information would be a big help.