Suggestions for my career path please....

[canpropjock]

Quite a few Questions I can only give you my experience:

I have been instructiing for 5 years or so and have watched students I taught go much further than I while I sat and Instructed. Now there are two schools of thought on the new 200hr pilot. One, Like I, became an instructor to better my flying and along the way to help others get there themselves, which in itself is very rewarding, yes it's difficult and frustrating and at times downright dissipointing, but you know what ... I certainly learned a lot and got to meet some pretty great pilots. The other way (and not better or worse ) is to get yourself to a ramp job where they hire right seat 200hr guys and make your way up that way. If you like helping people and don't mind learning yourself Instructing is a great way to build time and really know your stuff. If however instructing is only to build time you may grow to hate instructing as your students go whizzing by you into the right seat of equipment that you would rather be on. Food for thought, good luck whatever you decide.

[Crispy3M]

I think you forgot about the Instructor Course?

You can't instruct with a Commercial License only.

Crispy

[Meatloaf]

I'm not an instructor myself but the PIC time that you get instructing is invaluable later on. I know a number of people who are having a tough time moving up because of their high total time but lack of PIC. Some may say instructor time isn't worth much but remember, flying is a numbers game and instructors get the numbers that matter.

Meat

[shimmydampner]

Truer words were never spoken, flying is a numbers game, skill and ability matter not.

[Hickory Stick]

Dude, give it a shot. I assume you have researched enough to realize flying is not all roses. Anyway keep this in mind. By the time you finnish training and get enough time to get a decent job, AC WestJet and the like will most likely not be hiring. I could be wrong but in 4 years time the bubble will have burst, so plan on getting on with those companies 10 years from now. By that time you will be 33. keep in mind this is only a educated guess based on the aviation bubble cycles.

Cheers

[shimmydampner]

Obviously you're not in it for the enjoyment anyway, so quit now. Save yourself all kinds of headaches.