Hi people,

I am an Instructor now with about 300 hours but was just curious would it be a wise decision to try looking for an F/O position or just stay here and build some time. I am getting about 500-600 flying hours a year here....

Since you've just got your instructor ticket, keep with it for a little while. Build-up 1000+ PIC to help for a quick transition to the left seat.

If you went looking for a FO spot, it would take a while to have the exp. req'd to go capt.

500-600 hrs a year isnt bad. Many entry-level turbine pilots fly 600ish/year. You're doing good.

Good luck with whichever you choose.

stick with instructing until you are close to the ATPL requirments. Where i work there are alot of F/O's with the skills to go Captain but have no PIC time and don't meet the ATPL requirments.

The time you invest in instructing will help you out a great deal later on.

bandit1 wrote:stick with instructing until you are close to the ATPL requirments. Where i work there are alot of F/O's with the skills to go Captain but have no PIC time and don't meet the ATPL requirments.

The time you invest in instructing will help you out a great deal later on.

how do rampies ever get their atp's done? do they have to spend tons more time in a right seat gig if they didnt build the time instructing?

master switch wrote:how do rampies ever get their atp's done? do they have to spend tons more time in a right seat gig if they didnt build the time instructing?

Not all aircraft require the ATP to go PIC. For instance, at some companies, you may start on the ramp. Then, you'd progress to king air FO. Then, if the company also has a/c like a navajo, 208, PC12, etc, they may put you as PIC on those a/c. Once you have your ATP, you go back to the king air.

Now, if the company operates a fleet of a/c which are all certified for 2 crew operations (ex. B1900, like at CMA), you may have a difficult time upgrading because for those a/c you do need the ATP to go PIC, and the IATRA to be an FO. If the company has other airplanes though, then you would probably get switched onto another a/c to get your ATP before returning to the previous a/c, assuming it does not require an ATP to go PIC.