nooneimportant wrote:
I don't mean to sound harsh and bum you out. But you really need to know
what you are getting into. I don't regret a day of my flying career, I love
every single flight, and learn from every single flight, I'm not flying for
the money, I'm not flying for the prestiege. I'm flying because it is my
life's passion, it is my joy, it is my best friend. I would fly every day
till the day I died making little more then enough to put food on the table
and keep a roof over my head, simply because flying is as much a part of me
as my left arm.



There was a lot of good information in your post and I don't disagree with a
word of it. Let's hope the original poster pays attention.

There is one other road to the airlines that avoids instructing: get a
commercial license with an instrument rating and get work as a courier pilot or
freight dog. You'll need at least 1100 hours (IIRC) total time for single
pilot IFR under part 135 (forget the VFR only crap... that's not a real job).
You'll probably accumulate multi time much faster than any instructing job can
offer. I started out as a single engine 135 pilot and went out on a weekend and
got my multiengine rating. My employer took note. The next thing I knew, I was
flying cabin class twins. My next flying job started me in a Grumman for one
flight, a Lance for a couple of hundred and then a light twin for several
hundred more hours. Then you apply for a commuter job...

By that time you've got enough total time to qualify for an ATP, you've got a
reasonable amount of multi time and your instrument skills should be top notch.
Essentially all of your time will be pilot in command and you will have flown in
real weather every day. All things airlines like to see....



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN