Building Flight Hours: CFI vs Banner Towing vs Pipeline Patrol

Between the commercial certificate and the 1,500 hours required for ATP and airline eligibility lies a significant gap. Most pilots bridge this gap by building hours in entry-level flying jobs. Understanding the options—from CFI work to banner towing to pipeline patrol—helps you choose a path that fits your goals and circumstances.

Flight Instruction: The Traditional Path

Teaching flying remains the most common hour-building option. CFI positions are numerous, and the teaching experience builds skills beyond just flight hours.

Advantages

Availability: CFI jobs exist everywhere flight training occurs. Unlike specialty operations concentrated in specific regions, teaching opportunities exist at flight schools nationwide.

Skill Development: Teaching deepens understanding. Explaining concepts to students forces you to truly understand them yourself. Handling student errors develops judgment and quick reactions.

Hour Quality: Much instruction occurs in aircraft similar to what you’ll fly later—complex singles, twins, IFR training. The hours transfer well to future operations.

Disadvantages

Pay: CFI pay is notoriously low. Entry-level instructors at small schools may earn $20,000-30,000 annually. Larger flight schools and academies pay better, but teaching rarely makes financial sense compared to non-aviation careers.

Burnout: Teaching the same lessons repeatedly to varying-quality students causes burnout for many instructors. The schedule often involves long days with irregular hours.

Hour Pace: Depending on student demand and weather, monthly hour totals vary. Some instructors build 100+ hours monthly; others struggle to reach 50.

Banner Towing: Flying the Beach

Banner tow operations advertise everything from restaurants to marriage proposals over beach crowds. The flying is unique and builds specific skills.

What It Involves

Pilots fly modified aircraft (often Piper Cubs or similar) along coastlines trailing advertising banners. The work is seasonal, concentrated in summer months and beach destinations. The flying is low, slow, and repetitive.

Advantages

Unique Experience: Banner towing develops stick-and-rudder skills in a challenging environment. Picking up banners requires precision; managing banner weight and drag builds aircraft handling skills.

Solo Time: All hours are solo PIC time—no students to manage, no split hours. This appeals to pilots who prefer flying alone.

Disadvantages

Seasonal: Banner towing is a summer job. Winter offers little work. Pilots need alternative income or savings for off-season months.

Location: Jobs exist primarily in beach resort areas. If you’re not near a coast or willing to relocate seasonally, banner towing isn’t practical.

Transferable Skills: While banner towing develops great stick-and-rudder skills, the experience doesn’t directly translate to airline or corporate operations.

Pipeline Patrol: Eyes in the Sky

Pipeline patrol pilots fly low-level routes inspecting oil and gas pipelines for leaks, encroachments, or damage. The work is steady and builds cross-country experience.

What It Involves

Pilots fly fixed routes at low altitude (typically 500-1,000 feet) observing pipeline right-of-way conditions. Aircraft are usually high-wing singles optimized for visibility. Routes may be flown daily or several times weekly.

Advantages

Consistent Schedule: Pipeline work is steadier than seasonal operations. Weather causes occasional cancellations, but the job offers year-round flying in most regions.

Predictable Routes: Flying the same routes builds intimate knowledge of terrain, weather patterns, and landmarks. Some pilots find this comfortable; others find it monotonous.

PIC Time: Solo operations mean all hours are pilot-in-command time.

Disadvantages

Low Altitude: Continuous low-level flying has inherent risks. Weather, birds, and terrain all pose hazards that cruise altitude operations don’t face.

Geographic Concentration: Pipeline patrol jobs concentrate in oil-producing regions—Texas, Oklahoma, North Dakota, and similar areas. If you’re not in these regions, relocation is required.

Monotony: Flying identical routes repeatedly doesn’t suit every personality. The lack of variety can make the job feel tedious.

Aerial Survey and Photography

Survey pilots fly precise patterns capturing imagery for mapping, agriculture, or construction monitoring. The flying requires precision and patience.

Advantages

Precision Flying: Survey work develops ability to fly exact ground tracks and maintain consistent altitude—skills that transfer to instrument flying and professional operations.

Variety: Different projects in different locations provide variety. Pilots may work across multiple states or regions.

Disadvantages

Seasonal Peaks: Agricultural surveys concentrate in growing seasons. Other survey work has project-based peaks and valleys.

Patience Required: Flying repetitive patterns for hours requires temperament that not everyone possesses.

Cargo Operations

Single-pilot cargo operations—flying canceled checks, medical specimens, or small freight—provide multi-engine time and night flying experience.

Advantages

Multi-Engine Time: Many cargo operations use twins, building the multi-engine time airlines value.

Night and IFR: Cargo flying often involves night operations and instrument conditions, developing proficiency in these areas.

Airline-Like Environment: The schedule, dispatch processes, and operational procedures more closely resemble airline operations than other time-building jobs.

Disadvantages

Schedule: Night cargo typically means overnight flying—departing evening, arriving early morning. The schedule is hard on family life and sleep patterns.

Single-Pilot IFR: Operating alone in weather at night in small twins demands skill and discipline. The work is challenging and sometimes stressful.

Wear and Tear: Cargo aircraft often aren’t maintained to passenger-carrying standards. The operational environment can be demanding.

Other Options

Additional hour-building opportunities include:

Skydive Operations: Dropping jumpers builds hours quickly in high-density altitude and unusual flight profiles.

Glider Tow: Towing gliders develops coordination and specialized takeoff techniques.

Agricultural Flying: Crop dusting is demanding, well-paid, but requires specific training and certification beyond typical commercial requirements.

Tour Operations: Scenic tour pilots fly repetitive routes with passengers, building PIC time while developing customer service skills.

Choosing Your Path

Consider these factors when selecting hour-building options:

Time Quality: Multi-engine time, turbine time, and complex time are more valuable for airline applications than simple single-engine hours.

Location Flexibility: Some jobs require relocation; others exist anywhere. Your personal situation affects which options are practical.

Pace: How quickly do you need to build hours? Some jobs offer 100+ hours monthly; others average 50-70.

Skills Development: Different jobs develop different skills. Consider which experiences will benefit your long-term career goals.

Financial Reality: Pay varies dramatically. Calculate whether you can survive financially while building hours.

Many pilots combine options—instructing during school year, banner towing in summer, for example. The path to 1,500 hours doesn’t require a single choice.