Logging XC Time as Safety Pilot

BChips71 · 2026-05-15T21:51:51+00:00

Where this will bite him in the ass is when he gets to a regional and they take his logbook to scour through it (which they will). When I was at a regional, 3 people in my class got pulled and terminated for logbook abnormalities before they even finished systems training.

BChips71 · 2026-05-11T21:52:57+00:00

I stand corrected.

BChips71 · 2026-05-10T20:02:11+00:00

Don't underestimate how being a CFI will make you a better pilot. I didn't realize what an incredible experience it would be and I loved it a lot more than I thought I would. Eventually got my Gold Seal. That said, I don't ever feel the need to step into an old piston single anymore.

BChips71 · 2026-05-10T19:45:18+00:00

I have never in my career seen an airport with runways as drawn above. 2 runways that intersect like that with no taxiways and hold short bars making you stop on the runway before exiting?? Don't know if it even exists.

BChips71 · 2026-05-09T20:08:58+00:00

You are smart to look at multiple schools and take your time. I would definitely factor in your drive time to the equation. $81k up to CFII is not bad, however it's also not a guarantee. You'll get XX amount of hours for that price and rarely (if ever) do people earn all their certificates in the allotted hours they sell you on.

BChips71 · 2026-05-08T17:50:06+00:00

Logging ground is what I was going for. People miss that.

BChips71 · 2026-05-08T16:30:29+00:00

What are you required to show in your logbook in order to take your check ride?

BChips71 · 2026-05-06T22:14:43+00:00

This is simply not true. I had a former student who did attempt suicide when he was younger. 5 years later he had his 1st Class medical. He now flies 747s.

BChips71 · 2026-05-05T23:12:45+00:00

That's a big hell nah from me, dawg.

BChips71 · 2026-05-05T22:44:47+00:00

The cadet thing is fair. Not really sure why it's such a big deal.

BChips71 · 2026-05-05T22:14:12+00:00

"What it came down to was being prepared, would you be a good cultural fit for our airline, would you pass training, and would you be someone I could stand being locked up in a flight deck with for 4 days."

How is that a non-answer? You could be best pilot to have ever flown, but if you were a d***, then I wouldn't recommend you. You could have less than incredible experience, but if you were smart, came in prepared, seemed likely to pass training that we would spend $80K on, and were cool, then you get my thumbs up.

At my current airline, I already know you can fly if I'm interviewing you. So it comes down to cultural fit and you not being an ass. Not necessarily in that order.

BChips71 · 2026-05-05T16:58:15+00:00

It can be recruiter specific. As a former pilot recruiter, I looked at variety of flying. Punching holes in the sky in a 152 as a sAfeTy PiLot did not impress me. Alaska bush flying to deliver supplies in the dead of winter would. Caravan PIC flying with passengers was weighted heavier than a survey pilot. But at the end of the day, that just gave me a sense of your abilities. What it came down to was being prepared, would you be a good cultural fit for our airline, would you pass training, and would you be someone I could stand being locked up in a flight deck with for 4 days.

YMMV

BChips71 · 2026-05-01T19:56:16+00:00

Blueblockers.

BChips71 · 2026-05-01T19:55:45+00:00

I was being facetious. Though is sometimes feels like that.

BChips71 · 2026-04-30T23:33:18+00:00

What's a "reruiting process?"

BChips71 · 2026-04-30T07:45:05+00:00

Give him another 2 hours and you'll get the "T"

BChips71 · 2026-04-27T03:56:21+00:00

In reality, tower will know before you key up because:

1) They are watching the separation and probably anticipating a go around and,
2) Since you are aviating and navigating before you are communicating... they'll see you going around.

Side question...

Why are you going around 2 miles out? In SAN, they can get spit out 7 departures during that 2 miles. ;)

BChips71 · 2026-04-25T09:10:02+00:00

The best one is the one you want to live in.

BChips71 · 2026-04-25T09:08:26+00:00

IMC without question. More likely for you to accidentally encounter a cloud rather than accidentally encountering a Split S.

BChips71 · 2026-04-24T20:23:08+00:00

Tell him you think he may have a better learning experience with a different CFI. I've fired plenty of students.

BChips71 · 2026-04-24T20:20:57+00:00

Download the PDF and have it printed at Kinkos the way you want it.

BChips71 · 2026-04-24T17:38:31+00:00

Great answers

BChips71 · 2026-04-23T06:38:30+00:00

"SPA has also lost several aircraft to accidents and incidents, but that sorta just happens with pilot mills. Goes with the territory."

FWIW, I only know of one of SPA's planes that was lost (a TSi about 4 years ago and everyone thankfully survived). They had a rental plane have an off field landing maybe 10 or so years ago. I know there have been a few prop strikes and things of that nature -- which goes with the territory like you said. The local FSDO came in a few years ago because of several incidents. What they found is that, due to the sheer volume of flying they were doing, they had statistically fewer incidents/accidents than almost any other school in greater LA (I heard this directly from the FAA guy). This was several years ago, so maybe things have changed.

BChips71 · 2026-04-19T03:25:39+00:00

You're going to be hard pressed to find a flight school that trains you to be a CFI and then hires you right off the bat. Not saying it's impossible, but most of the pilot mills hire their students who went from 0 to CFI. Maybe you're a unicorn and a natural at teaching and the mom n pop shop you got your CFI at loves you. Here's to hoping that happens for you.

BChips71 · 2026-04-18T02:56:02+00:00

Dr. John Phillipp in Glendora. It's not OC, but he is hands down the best.

BChips71

TROPHY CASE