Is getting a Type Rating or FI worth it?
 

I'm 22, graduated in August with an fATPL from OAA. Am I allowed to say the name? Whoops if I'm not allowed to.

I've been in a rut since then, Ryanair said no to me and I haven't had any other opportunities coming alone. I have a bit of cash to the side from the loan I took, but I'm wondering if it's worth me getting a TR on a 737 (or similar) or just getting an FI and trying to get a job to build up hours?

I'm not willing to consider P2F, as I don't think it will land me in much of a better position than I would be if I could get a job as an instructor.

Tricky tricky! Any advice would be appreciated guys.

Please please don't bother with getting an FI. You obviously have no interest in being a instructor and are only doing it to get hours. There was over 250 FI ratings issued last year and I can't see much more than 50 jobs being available in the UK.

Go get your self a job that you might have a chance of paying your loans with. You won't on a FI wage.

FI
 

mad_jock: Agree you need to enjoy instructing and not see it as just a stepping stone. However, there is actually a shortage of experienced instructors out there - and to become experienced you have to start somewhere.

We just hired 2 guys after sifting through around 30 applications. Whist PPL/trail Lesson FI's can be under paid, the big schools and Military pay very well for the right stuff.

Thanks for the replies guys. What about a TR? Any advice on that?

Thanks again.

Were you integrated or modular?

I haven't looked at the current job opportunities but I'd imagine they'd all want you to be current on type with a MINIMUM of 500 hrs, most likely more...So you get a rated on 737/320 but your applications still going to get binned as you haven't got the hours. You're alienating yourself from the market you should be targeting by getting a rating. You would essentially be over qualified for the low hour cadet schemes as they would (I assume) want you to undertake a SSTR with their trainers/SOPs. I doubt they'd look at you if you already had a rating.

Secondly what happens if you get rated on a 737 and then get offered a job which requires you to undertake a SSTR for the 320? You'd take it so you've just thrown away money (a lot of money) on a rating that you've never used and most likely had no bearing in you getting the job in the first place.

So with your new rating you're going to have to get a job in the open market and as we all know there are many experienced and rated pilots out of work (sadly a couple of hundred more pilots from Spanair as of today) who you would be competing against so its pretty straight forward who they'd prefer to employ...

Lastly, lets say you've got your rating and still no job for a year - Are you honestly going to call it a day there? or are you going to be tempted to give it another shot by buying 500hrs? which by that stage the airlines might be wanting 1000 hours on type as an absolute minimum.

If I were you, I wouldn't.

Paying the TR if you have a job offer:
Dumb but understandable.
Paying a TR if you have no job offer:
Crazy, don't do it. It doesn't help you getting a job. You need the same luck as before but with a bigger mountain of debt and thus more pressure to accept any offer, even if it's a second rating to pay.

Take a foreign language class. :ok:

Yeah I've actually been considering a foreign language class. Rosetta Stone! I'm thinking German. :p

Also, I'm integrated Mr Boombastick. Appreciate all the advice guys.

Has anyone had any success or anecdotes of success with the CTC ATP program?