[Millerspal]

Having my Comm SEL/S MEL, Inst. CFI, CFII and about 500 hours, I was wondering what type of hours are the airlines looking for? I realize that airlines would love turbine time, and heck so would I, but my question is a bit more basic.
Do the airlines and flight departments care if a load of flight hours (500 or so) come from just a single engine piston airplane? Is a Mooney (complex) better to build time in than a a 172 or 182? That would mean the total time of the pilot would be at about 1000 hours. For the sake of this argument, I am not referring to any multi-engine hours, the question is about single engine time building only.
Or even better, what if that 500 hours was gained piloting a LSA? Since an LSA aircraft has a lower operating cost it would make financial sense.

Thanks,
Millerspal

[Redbaronahp]

As someone that has reviewed resumes for a 135 flight operation, I would say that if you are only going to build single engine flight time then the type of flight time is considered before the type of aircraft. It would be best if you log night, cross country, in actual IMC. I always looked at the type of fight time before the type of aircraft, but time in high performance complex aircraft would be preferred over an LSA. I'd say don't spend lots of money flying an LSA, because my understanding is that they are not IFR approved. Get an IFR aircraft and log some IMC cross countries, and if you can, then do the flights at night.

If you are trying to get hired at a 121 airline then you need to do it soon, otherwise 121 airlines will be hiring only pilots with their ATP.
For your ATP you will need, 1500 hours of total flying time, 500 cross country, and 75 hours of instrument time. This instrument time can be either simulated or actual aircraft time.

Another option would be the 135 route.

135 PIC requirements:

VFR:
Commercial Pilot with instrument rating
500 TT, 100 XC, 25 night XC

IFR:
Commercial Pilot with instrument rating
1200TT, 500 point-to-point cross country(no 50 nm requirement here, any distance is ok as long as you landed at another airport), 100 night, 75 instrument

[Aviation Interview Prep]

I agree you want to try and get as much specialty time we call it as possible. Something that separates you from the pack. I wouldn't waste your time with LSA. Instead I would focus on complex, night and IFR. The goal is to stand out on a resume. Keep trying to build up your time and good luck.

-A