The FASTEST and CHEAPEST way to Build Hours as a Pilot

[@mastrkents]

Your video is somewhat misleading. First, 4:33, the $2900 for fuel, is grossly underestimated. It sounds like you're expecting that you can get 4 hours of glide out of one tow? I haven't flown a glider in years, but I thought getting 40 minutes out of a tow was somewhat miraculous, but maybe that's just where I was. I'd say the fuel estimate would need to be more like.. $17.5k. Second, 4:49, no, you would not be eligible to work for the airlines. You still need to have at least a Commercial Multiengine AIRPLANE rating, and your option 3 only details obtaining a Commercial Glider rating. So on top of that $25500 that you're stating (5:44), they would still need to acquire at least 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 must be in airplanes (and all of the specific training requirements detailed in 61.129(a) or 61.129(b)). Your Option #1 is based on 250 hours (I think), so let's say that the person can miraculously complete the rating in 100 hours of airplane, so you have to add $24k-$36k to the $25.5k that you previously mentioned... which *is* cheaper than Option 2, and slightly cheaper than Option 1, but they'll also have to arrange and pass the Glider checkrides. But that *still* will not make someone eligible to work for a 121 Operator. They'd need to be able to meet ATP-R minimums, which are more than just "1500 hours". 100 hours of night flight are required. 200 hours of cross-country are required (which I don't believe you can make in a glider). 75 hours of instrument is required. So let's re-work the calculator to account for 200 hours of airplane, which adds $48k-$72k to your original estimate of $25.5k. And conservatively add another $10k for fuel estimation. So we're now actually looking at $83.5k-$107.5k... which is more than Option 1. And finally, it seems like you unfairly gave a "best-case" flight hour accumulation to Option #3, without giving that to the other options. What stops someone doing Option #1 from flying 4 hours a day, and then once they become a CFI, instructing up to the legal limit of 8 hours per day? If we look at it that way, 250 hours could be accumulated in 62.5 days, and the other 1250 hours could be accumulated in 156.25 days. 218.75, or rounded, 219 days. Slightly over 7 months. I do agree that gliders will run less per flight hour than an airplane. But if we're talking cheapest, there's no way that something that you have to put money into, is going to be cheaper than something that is paying you money (CFI or 91/135 Airplane Operator).

[@SVSky]

40 min is nowhere near the norm, you can get many hours after a tow if you are even halfway competent and the conditions are decent.

[@AviationAlertss]

17.5k is a little over estimated, although I’ve never flown a glider when I did my research I found people saying you could stay in the air for up to 5 hours, sometimes it may only last 30 minutes but it depends on the day. And the beauty of this plane is you can just turn the engine back on and go find another thermal. Also don’t forget you should only be paying half for this fuel and bring another pilot along who’s time building. As for being eligible for the airlines your right I got a little carried away 😅 forgot to add on those requirements cause mainly I was just referring to the 1500 hour total. But hey at least you’ll be so skilled by 1500 you can get your other ratings cheaper than most people. And you can do short XC flights in this glider since it has power and the reg doesn’t specify class or category so you can knock out the 500 hours. I do agree tho once you get comm airplane, instrument, and 25 multi hours on the side the total cost should be closer to 70-80k

[@mastrkents]

@@AviationAlertss I didn't think about bringing another pilot along for time building, but AFAIK, you can only do that with them signing off as a safety pilot, which requires (at least) simulated instrument flight... which again, I'm not sure that you can do in a glider. I do agree that the pilots will become more skilled over the course of their 1500 hour journey. Although I don't expect the increase in skill to be significant after a while, and a significant portion of the skills would not be transferrable to powered aircraft...

[@rdj2938]

There are a lot of "yes and no" on the info above. Mostly what masrkents saying is correct. On a glider certificate you can flight at night, above 10000 and carry one passenger. Although, you can get your hours for instruments, if the glider it's so equipped for, to get the rating, you will have to do the examination on another aircraft and have a cfi give the training so you will need to pay for that. On a glider's requirement, XC is the half of as PPL. A 100 NM XC on a glider, you will use your engine. The cost of fuel will be less that on a cessna 172 but not that much. Then you need money for a hangar (most likely, you are not going to storage your glider on your garage) and with the long wing span the hangar will not be cheap. Flying 4 hours a day, every day is also unrealistic. Yes, you can stay aloft for hours on a glider but sailing for 4 hours every day will beat the heck out you. You can run the engine but again, flying 4 hours a day when you have other stuff to do on your regular day-to-day is not that easy. Gliders are most sensitive to whether, so again, you are not flying every day. Then multiengine, commercial. Even if you find a cheaper glider, you will pay more to keep it flying. It's definitely more fun tho.

[@mastrkents]

@@SVSky can you tell I don't do gliders? hahaha but is like.. 8 hours typical/possible? or no?

[@doruoriginal981]

Check your flight time limitation regulations first and the details of those minimum 1500hrs, maybe there are some bullet points under that which are important.

[@excellenceinanimation960]

I think you can count 150 hours to commercial.

[@VictoryAviation]

Although I really appreciate thinking outside the box, let’s address the elephant in the room… Who tf can afford an $80,000 dollar plane, the insurance, the maintenance costs, and other fixed and variable costs, when they’re just starting their aviation journey? Not many people I know. And as another person stated, there are a ton of missed ratings/certs costs that have been conveniently skipped here. Fastest way to get your 1,500? Become a pipeline pilot. I feel like I was slacking ass this month, and I still flew 200 hours. My higher months have been around 240 hours.

[@doruoriginal981]

So you openly admit to exceeding the FTL regulations? Or is there something that I'm missing, like different regulations or something else?

[@VictoryAviation]

@@doruoriginal981 What are FTL regulations? Never heard of that.

[@ryanryan5653]

@@VictoryAviation In what state do you work that has that demand for pipeline pilots? Just curius I've always thought the fasted route to 1,500 would be by becoming a CFI.

[@VictoryAviation]

@@ryanryan5653 I fly in roughly 13 states, with an emphasis on 6. I’m in Rawlins, WY as I type this. Today I flew 9 hours and some change. It was a pretty laid back day. There are pipelines running literally everywhere. Every type of petroleum product you can think of flows through pipelines. On top of that is natural gas, and even water.

[@ryanryan5653]

@@VictoryAviation do you have instagram or some place where I can DM you in private. I have a couple questions, if you wouldn’t mind .

[@fpvpilot1017]

Can I use my flight hours on gliders to go to my powered aircraft rating for a private pilots license and commercial pilots license?

[@AviationAlertss]

Yeah you can use 200 of the glider hours towards your commercial. From what I’ve been seeing online it counts as a “powered aircraft” so you can check off that requirement. Just might wanna double check with the fisdo to be 100% cause I couldn’t find any official source. After that you’d only need to do an extra 50 hours flight time in airplanes and you could use this as prep time. As long as you already have comm glider you can switch over to comm ASEL and skip private

[@excellenceinanimation960]

I appreciate what you are trying to accomplish but I think there are some problems. First the pipistrel will not thermal worth a crap. It’s to heavy and unless you live near a very effective ridge or possibly Texas you will find it almost impossible to stay aloft. If you want to use gliders it’s a great idea but why not just join a club for probably around a grand and just pay 40 or 50 bucks for a tow. I’d you get good you can stay up for hours! I think purchasing a glider to build time in is not a great strategy especially when you can go get something like a cub and just beet around to your hearts content sipping fuel. Heck why not get a 150 those things drink about 4 gal and hour. Back to gliders if you have tail wheel endorsement and some time you probably can tow. Also banner towing is a great time builder. Just my thoughts best of luck. One more thing, joining a glider club is a really wonderful social experience and you may meet people who can help you with your career! I recommend 100%!

[@darthheretic129]

In no world does it take 4-5 years to become a CFI and reach 1500.

[@AviationAlertss]

Just to become a CFI would take at least 2 years and then 2 more to build hours unless your going thru a fast track program

[@briansantana3157]

that is exactly how long it takes on average. some people even longer.

[@str33tkng]

Yeah you are correct it does not take that long. This all depends on where you teach. There are 141 school that will hire direct after training and their training program for all 7 licenses can be done is under 6 months. Part 141 has lower flight time requirements compared to 61 to get your commercial rating (this is a huge difference in time it takes to get all 7 ratings).