Hi folks, I'm a 90hr PPL building time towards my CPL (Should be done CPL+Group 1 by next spring). I don't really have any desire to go to the airlines, and would prefer to stick with seasonal bush flying, and eventually firefighting. I've saved up enough to get around 50hrs float time (dual only) this spring, but just got offered a share in a friend's Champ for a very good price. Now I am considering only doing 25hrs on floats, and buying into the Champ to build a bunch of cheap PIC hours. I figure it will be several years before I manage to find work, and could probably get 100+ hours on the Champ in that time. It is experimental, and my buddy is the builder so operating costs are super low. What would be the better option to increase my chances of getting hired in a few years? 200ish TT with 50hrs dual floats, or 300+TT with 100+ tailwheel PIC? Will it make a difference?
Thanks guys.

I'd say go for the Champ time, get your CPL, and then worry about floats. The difference between having a float rating (7hrs) and having 50hrs may seem like a lot, but you'll still be an entry level float pilot with those times. Insurance companies require 25 or 50 hrs on floats before you can take passengers, but many operators will let the new guy do camp checks or minnow runs or whatever before meeting the magical 25 or 50 hours. Float time is super expensive, let someone else pay for it if you can...especially if you've already got a sweet deal lined up for taildragger time. What'll it take to put the Champ on floats??

Buy into the Champ!!!!!
The experience you’ll gain, just in hangar talk and grassroots aviation will far outweigh a few extra hours on floats. And the friends and experiences you’ll get flying around are priceless. Plus, owning the plane will hopefully teach you about ‘operating’ equipment and taking care, rather than being a door slamming throttle jockey.
Or, it could be the fastest way to part a fool with his money and you’ll be broke and have a share in a hangar queen.
If I had the chance, I’d buy into the plane!
(And as mentioned above, maybe it could go onto floats!)

dodgeram2500 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 06, 2020 4:44 pm I'd say go for the Champ time, get your CPL, and then worry about floats. The difference between having a float rating (7hrs) and having 50hrs may seem like a lot, but you'll still be an entry level float pilot with those times. Insurance companies require 25 or 50 hrs on floats before you can take passengers, but many operators will let the new guy do camp checks or minnow runs or whatever before meeting the magical 25 or 50 hours. Float time is super expensive, let someone else pay for it if you can...especially if you've already got a sweet deal lined up for taildragger time. What'll it take to put the Champ on floats??

Champ won't go on floats sadly, makes sense to do floats later, given all the weird stuff that is happening with the industry.

185_guy wrote: ↑Mon Dec 07, 2020 7:55 am Buy into the Champ!!!!!
The experience you’ll gain, just in hangar talk and grassroots aviation will far outweigh a few extra hours on floats. And the friends and experiences you’ll get flying around are priceless. Plus, owning the plane will hopefully teach you about ‘operating’ equipment and taking care, rather than being a door slamming throttle jockey.
Or, it could be the fastest way to part a fool with his money and you’ll be broke and have a share in a hangar queen.
If I had the chance, I’d buy into the plane!
(And as mentioned above, maybe it could go onto floats!)

Yeah, the airport the Champ is based at is a really awesome community, I've been hanging around there since I was a kid. And I figure the experience I'll get doing the maintenance would make me more valuable than if I'm letting a school mechanic do it.

When the time comes try for your “road trip” in the champ as well.

cost per hour for timebuilding(70) ish hrs should more than pay for your 7 hrs float

champ is what 4gph, and say 50 for reserve plus insurance, and hangar vs 170-200 for a 172. Also many rentals wont let you fly to yzf to bug people about a job.

rigpiggy wrote: ↑Mon Dec 07, 2020 3:21 pm cost per hour for timebuilding(70) ish hrs should more than pay for your 7 hrs float

champ is what 4gph, and say 50 for reserve plus insurance, and hangar vs 170-200 for a 172. Also many rentals wont let you fly to yzf to bug people about a job.

Yeah, all operating costs included, the Champ is around 50/hr. Pretty sure it would be faster to drive to Yellowknife though!

who cares if it takes as long as driving, you need the time! and stop all the other places along the way

rigpiggy wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 9:09 pm who cares if it takes as long as driving, you need the time! and stop all the other places along the way

It is a good idea, and a pretty good way to display your airmanship. Just hope the other partners will be ok with me taking the airplane though

One thing to always consider is the ATPL requirements and also what your goal with aviation is. I'd say get a share in a C150 that is maintained properly and build some PIC time towards your ATPL. But if you want to fly floats and then build PIC then take the course and hope you get some PIC time.