Expert: Ismar Avdic, Eng. - 4/25/2005

Question
I am currently attempting to research some future career options for a friend.  Most career options in which he is interested have a minimum Total Flight Time of 1500 hours.  That time is divided up accordingly into PIC time, Multi time, etc.  

In your opinion, what is the most educational and cost-effective way to build hours?  

He is currently working at a university as a CFI and an Aircraft Mechanic Apprentice.  This seems to be a very slow and expensive way to build hours.  I can tell he is beginning to become disgouraged.  Do you have any suggestions?

Any insight into the aviation industry in regards to my question is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time and willingness to share your knowledge!

Answer
Lauren!
Unfortunatelly that is the name of beast.  Building a time is slow and expensive process. However there is different ways how you can build a lot of time and make some money. One way is get tail dragger endorsenment and do some banner towing, I have a fe w of my frinds did that and during a season you can get some serious hours. Another way is do CFI job and again as I did you gonna be stuck in process that takes a few years sometimes. Another way like one of my friend had a chance to get 500 hours in multi-engine airplanes, just running and helping another pilot in ferry flights for Ratheon, by the way he sought majority of Europe and Africa as the result of that. Ferry flights will bring you a lot of hours in short time, you will literraly sleep and bread on airplane.

Good Luck
Ismar