Cjserio
Filing Flight Plan
I'll start by admitting, I'm not sure what exactly I'm asking here...I think i just want to have a discussion and see what people have to say.
I've been flying for 17 years but I only have 350 hours. I have my Commercial, Multiengine Instrument ratings (complex and high performance signoffs of course). I went to college, bought a house, had 2 kids etc...all the while, putting aviation on the back burner. But it's time to start flying again! I have a full time job...not as a pilot but as a software developer and I'm not looking to leave my job...though my work hours are fairly flexible.
BUT....I love flying. More specifically, I love flying twins and turboprops. Again, I'm not looking to become a full time charter pilot. In my ideal fantasy world, I'd love to fly an aircraft a handful of times a month...perhaps for a private owner or someone who just wants a second pair of eyes or split the workload somewhere from time to time when they need to travel.
My biggest problem at the moment is that I'm what I like to call an "adolescent" pilot. I'm 32 and I have enough experience that I'm not a total rookie, but not great enough that anyone will take me seriously...especially insurance companies.
So the first hurdle is...how do I get multi-time? I'm in CT and I don't really know of anyone that rents twin engines around here...nor can I afford the outrageous rates they'll want for one...probably $300/hr nowadays. Plus, I'm looking for real hours...not a race to the finish where I plop down $30,000 and just fly my @$$ off. I'd love to meet someone with a twin that just sits most of the time that would be willing to let me take it for operating costs.
The second hurdle is...finding someone with the right equipment. I have to believe there are plenty of single pilot King Air C90s, Conquests, Cheyennes etc that would be happy to have someone sit right seat and take a load off for them...but I just don't know how to meet those types of people that would be willing to share the experience.
Anyone been in my shoes that just wants to smell the JET-A burn but not want an accelerated career track to the majors?
I've been flying for 17 years but I only have 350 hours. I have my Commercial, Multiengine Instrument ratings (complex and high performance signoffs of course). I went to college, bought a house, had 2 kids etc...all the while, putting aviation on the back burner. But it's time to start flying again! I have a full time job...not as a pilot but as a software developer and I'm not looking to leave my job...though my work hours are fairly flexible.
BUT....I love flying. More specifically, I love flying twins and turboprops. Again, I'm not looking to become a full time charter pilot. In my ideal fantasy world, I'd love to fly an aircraft a handful of times a month...perhaps for a private owner or someone who just wants a second pair of eyes or split the workload somewhere from time to time when they need to travel.
My biggest problem at the moment is that I'm what I like to call an "adolescent" pilot. I'm 32 and I have enough experience that I'm not a total rookie, but not great enough that anyone will take me seriously...especially insurance companies.
So the first hurdle is...how do I get multi-time? I'm in CT and I don't really know of anyone that rents twin engines around here...nor can I afford the outrageous rates they'll want for one...probably $300/hr nowadays. Plus, I'm looking for real hours...not a race to the finish where I plop down $30,000 and just fly my @$$ off. I'd love to meet someone with a twin that just sits most of the time that would be willing to let me take it for operating costs.
The second hurdle is...finding someone with the right equipment. I have to believe there are plenty of single pilot King Air C90s, Conquests, Cheyennes etc that would be happy to have someone sit right seat and take a load off for them...but I just don't know how to meet those types of people that would be willing to share the experience.
Anyone been in my shoes that just wants to smell the JET-A burn but not want an accelerated career track to the majors?