Introduction

[RyanW-NC-509]

Hey Jeremy,

I just want to first thank you for being a resource to all of us out there wanting to fly for a living.

My name is Ryan Wilbur, I am 26 years old and it has been my dream to become an airline pilot since I was about 6. My folks divorced at a very young age and I used to fly with my brother to see my dad every summer and was just in awe at the whole flying experience, seeing the cockpit and looking out the window.

Unfortunately for me, I have a color deficiency. I grew up knowing that I would never realize my dream which was absolutely crushing. Back then I didn't know of all the resources out there to find out there were different avenues for me to take.

I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life so I joined the Air Force after high school and was a medic for 6 years which I am very proud of (and I miss it a lot!). After about a year in service I found out that I could get my private pilot's license and just have a night restriction which, to me was better than nothing. So I took out a small loan and started flying. I finished it in about 4 months and I flew every couple weeks or so and had a great time doing it. I flew out of St. Petersburg, FL so you can imagine how great the flying is down there! So there I was cruising along with my life and in 2004, I was surfing the web one day and found out that I can take an alternate test to lift my restriction. I called the FSDO the next day and scheduled a light gun signal test with an examiner. Well I passed!!!! I never in my wildest dreams thought that I could actually realize my dream. I think about it everyday and it is still overwhelming to me. Literally, I think in the next week I got my dad to co-sign for a loan for me and I started on my instrument rating (This is all done at a local FBO by the way). Well since then I finished my instrument and my commercial. I started on my multi, but ran out of money and actually took a job in North Carolina so I couldn't finish it anyway. I haven't flown in about 2 years just because of finances, but I am in a position in my life now where I am going to be getting back into it very soon.

Well that is my story. Knowing without a doubt that I will one day be able to fly for a living keeps me going everyday. I have some questions about career direction and things like because I am considering doing the CFI program at ATP, but I will save that for another day...lol. Thanks again for being a mentor to all of us.

Ryan

[ExpressJet Jeremy]

Hi, there, Ryan.

WOW! I'm glad that things started to lean in your favor! So do you hold (or can you hold) a first class medical? You might find the "Color Blind Issues" thread to be interesting reading.

So, fire away with questions about career direction, flight training, whatever! Hopefully I'll be able to provide some additional information that helps guide you to the career that you're pursing.

I hope to hear from you soon,

Jeremy

[RyanW-NC-509]

Yes, I do hold a First Class Medical. After passing the light signal test I got the night restriction lifted and I am good to go my friend! I don't even have to take another vision test for the rest of my days.

So after doing a lot of research I have compiled 3 options to get to the airlines. Multi time is pretty much driving all of these so if you have any insight into how I can get multi time outside of these options please feel free to jump in.

Option 1 - Go through the CFI program at ATP and intruct there to get my hours and get multi time. I don't know how hard it is to get on there as an instructor, though. Especially since I didn't go through the main course to get my ratings.

Option 2 - Get my initial CFI and intruct at a local FBO until I hit 1200 hrs and go fly freight with someone like Ram Air Express or Flight Express and get multi that way. Even though it may take a little longer I really like this option because I think single pilot IFR will give me crazy experience and everyone that I've talked to that has done it said it was the most fun they ever had.

Option 3 - Get my initial CFI and intruct at a local FBO and buy 100 hrs of multi time. This will probably get me there the quickest, but of course it will cost a little more.

So that is what is going on in my head right now. Basically, this is all geared towards being in the best possible situation when the airlines start hiring again. Option 1 can be a challenge because I probably could not instruct at ATP until the airlines start hiring again. So definitely tell what you think and what you would do in my situation. Just an FYI all the costs will be done out of pocket. I can't afford to get another loan and be able to survive on 1st year FO pay.

Thanks again Jeremy and l look forward to hearing from you soon.

Ryan

[ExpressJet Jeremy]

Doh! I hate it when that happens... you make a post, I see it, but save it for later--then forget about it. Sorry Ryan for missing this one.

Great news about the First Class medical. For more than a few, this is this most difficult step on the road to a flying career. Way to be proactive and get that taken care of.

Multi-time... The holy grail of flight time. When I was in your shoes I explored every option I could come up with to add multi time.

Option 1 - Going through the CFI program at ATP is certainly a great way to quickly get your CFI ratings. It's amazing how much information you'll digest in 2 weeks. I would, however, put your chances of being hired on as an ATP instructor fairly low right now. With the airlines not hiring and ATP still turning out career pilots, it will be hard for you to break in at this point. When the industry turns around and really gets going again (and it will) ATP won't be able to hire enough instructors and that's when they typically start looking to other program graduates.

Option 2 - Certainly a good choice, and the route that a large number of current major airline pilots took to get to where they are. Flying single pilot, night, winter IFR will certainly give you experience that you'll carry with you for your entire career--not to mention loads of stories for your future airline crews. After some flights you might find say to yourself, "I'll never do that again!"

Option 3 - I would highly suggest getting all three CFIs (CFI, MEI, CFII). With only an initial CFI, you'll quickly find yourself up against some limits if a customer walks in and wants an instrument proficiency check and you have to pass because you don't have a CFII, or a buddy wants to split an hour in a twin. When I instructed at ATP, there were lots of current CFIs that would come in to add on their CFIIs and/or MEIs. As far as buying the time, well, I would suggest that you just see if you need it or not. You may not know if option 2 or 3 is going to be the winner until further down the road.

I would suggest that you get all of your CFI ratings now, either at ATP or somewhere else. But I wouldn't stop at just the CFI. Get them all. If you might get stuck with only the CFI and it's not always as easy to go back later and get them (ie, getting back into the swing of studying, etc.). That way you'll have them when you need them or as a fall back if things don't work out somehow. Then go get a job as an instructor and build time. When you start getting near 1000 hours, you'll have a much clearer picture of what the future holds... whether to go the Option 2 if the industry is still slow, or Option 3 if you think that you could be close to an airline job.

I hope this helps out. It sounds to me like you already have good idea of how you're going to proceed. What do you think?

Jeremy