Expert: Ismar Avdic, Eng. - 11/20/2007

Question
Good day!

I am currently working at getting my private pilot license in canada. If everything goes well, I think I can get it shortly. I do not foresee any problems (maybe I am naive!!) continuing on with the different ratings(instruments, nights, multi-engine)and commercial license. What troubles me is the route to take once I am fully licensed. A commercial license with multiple ratings will take me to 250-300 hours TT. In my mind, the challenge is really to gather hours once all the proper licenses/ratings are obtained in order to become marketable. How to gather 1500-2000TT with satisfactory multi-engine time. Renting multi-engine is far from affordable and so is buying time share or renting. Any suggestions or tips? Thanks! Your help with this is greatly appreciated.

Answer
Chris,
Very good question. It is really hard to accumulate hours after 200-300 hrs when you get license. But you can start flight instructing and do your dues to accumulate 1500 hrs. Some poeple choose to get into agriculutre pilot jobs that really fast accumulate required hours, and also it is paid good. Some people start flying as tow banner pilots or glider banner pilots, but buttom line you will have to start flying as an pilot in order to accumulate hours that requires you to get an airline pilot job. All pilots that are hired with airlines have been working either as an instructor pilots, spent time in miltary flying fighter jets and so on. Your marketability without an respective pilot job in other of above categories is really nil to zero. So yes, you will have to accumulate flight hours preferably flying in all weaher coditions before you can qualify as an qualified candidate.
Good Luck

Ismar