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Ways to acquire flying hours for commercial flying

Asked by: 2348 views ,
Commercial Pilot, FAA Regulations, General Aviation, Student Pilot

 I am working as a Software Engineer and on H1B.I am currently undergoing training for student pilot as a hobby. When I think of acquiring flying hours for commercial pilot, I have restricted options as my status does not allow me to work as flight instructor (also it will be a risk switching my profession entirely). Or I can fly as much as possible on weekends but it is difficult given other responsibilities. My question is , what are other practical ways to acquire  that many flying hours in 3 to 4 years?

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2 Answers



  1. Dan on Jan 21, 2018

    Check out FAR 119.1, it lists what a commercial pilot can do without an operating certificate. There are opinions out there such as sightseeing flights, survey flights, banner towing etc.

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  2. KDS on Jan 21, 2018

    There are three time tested methods for building flight time:

    (1) Join the military.

    (2) Go into debt up to your eyeballs or have a well-heeled parent.

    (3) Find a chief pilot who has a very ugly daughter and marry her.

    However, given your situation as a a professional software engineer who cannot flight instruct, the best advice I can give is to forget it. Make money hand over fist as a software engineer and use it to fly for fun. Enjoy flying. Believe me, the fun of flying professionally is very short-lived.

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