One of the most common questions pilots face on the journey to a professional aviation career is: Should I become a flight instructor, or should I rent aircraft to build my hours? If you’re staring down the 1,500-hour ATP minimum or the 1,200-hour Part 135 requirement, it’s a critical decision that can shape your timeline, your finances, and even your flying skillset.
This article cuts through the noise and gives you a straightforward, side-by-side comparison of these two primary time-building strategies. Whether you’re weighing the costs, the benefits, or the lifestyle, we’ll help you decide which route might be the right fit for you.
The Goal: Reaching the Magic Number
Before we compare methods, let’s establish the end game. Most aspiring commercial pilots are working toward meeting one of these common benchmarks:
- 1,500 hours for ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) eligibility
- 1,200 hours for certain Part 135 charter operations
- Minimums for corporate or regional jobs, which often fall between 500 and 1,500 hours depending on the company
If you’re fresh out of flight school with 250 hours and a commercial certificate, you’ve got a big gap to close. Now the real question becomes: How do you get there as efficiently and affordably as possible?
Option 1: Flight Instructing
Overview
Flight instructing is the traditional route for time-building pilots, especially in the U.S. With a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certificate, you’re legally allowed to teach others and log PIC time while doing so. You’re paid to fly, which is the biggest draw.
Pros of Instructing
✅ Get Paid to Fly
Let’s be honest: flying isn’t cheap. One of the most appealing aspects of instructing is that you’re not the one footing the bill. While starting wages aren’t stellar (often $20–$40/hour depending on region and school), it’s money in your pocket—not out of it.
✅ Consistent Flying Opportunities
Flight schools need instructors year-round. In areas with good weather and strong student pipelines, you could fly 80–100+ hours per month. That kind of schedule can help you reach your hour goals within 12–18 months, sometimes faster.
✅ Teaches Strong Fundamentals
There’s a saying in aviation: “If you really want to learn something, teach it.” As an instructor, you’re constantly reviewing aerodynamics, regulations, emergency procedures, and airspace rules. The repetition builds deep knowledge and solid airmanship.
✅ Network and Job Pipeline
Many regional airlines and charter operators have partnerships with flight schools. As a CFI, you’re already on their radar. Some companies even offer flow-through programs that give you a direct path from instructing to the right seat of a jet.
Cons of Instructing
❌ Low Pay (Initially)
While you are getting paid, your take-home can be modest when you start. Some instructors may only bring in $1,500–$2,500/month early on, especially if flying part-time or during slow seasons.
❌ Flight Cancellations & Weather Dependence
If the weather’s bad or your student cancels, you don’t fly—and you don’t get paid. This variability can make your income and hour-building timeline somewhat unpredictable.
❌ Responsibility & Burnout
Teaching can be mentally draining, especially with struggling students or back-to-back flights. You’re also legally responsible for your students’ actions, so there’s a serious safety and liability component to consider.
Option 2: Renting Aircraft to Build Time
Overview
Renting an aircraft to build time—often called “pay-to-fly”—is a more flexible but more expensive option. You rent planes from flight schools or FBOs and log the hours you need at your own pace, on your own schedule.
Pros of Renting
✅ Flexible Schedule
You can fly when you want, where you want, and how you want (within reason). This is ideal for pilots with day jobs or family obligations who need control over their flight time.
✅ Fly Cross-Country and Diverse Missions
Renting allows you to go beyond the traffic pattern. You can plan multi-day cross-country trips, mountain flights, or even fly into controlled airspace you might not access as often during instructing. This builds experience that employers value.
✅ No Student Stress
You’re only responsible for yourself. No backseat emergencies, no failed checkrides to answer for, no constantly reviewing the basics. For some, that reduced stress is well worth the extra cost.
✅ Faster (if you can afford it)
If you’ve got the money, you can build hours as fast as you want. Some pilots build 50–100 hours per month just by flying cross-country trips several days a week.
Cons of Renting
❌ High Cost
Let’s do the math: Renting a basic trainer like a C172 costs anywhere from $120 to $180/hour wet, and that’s not including instruction or fuel surcharges at some places. If you need 1,200 hours and you’re starting at 250, you’re looking at 950 hours x $150 = $142,500. Ouch.
❌ No Income While Flying
Every hour you’re building is an hour you’re not earning. Unless you have a remote job, savings, or financial help, this path can be financially unsustainable.
❌ Lonely & Less Structured
Without the structure of a syllabus or school, some renters fall into bad habits. You’ll need to be self-motivated to ensure your time is varied and valuable—not just monotonous cross-country flights.
❌ Limited Networking
Flight instructors are embedded in aviation environments, often rubbing shoulders with recruiters and senior pilots. Renting on your own can be more isolating and may limit exposure to career opportunities.
Cost Comparison
Let’s take a closer look at what each option might cost you over the long term.
| Path | Hours Needed | Approximate Cost | Net Income | Time to 1,500 Hrs |
| Instructing | ~1,200 | $5,000–$10,000 (training + CFI cert) | +$20,000–$40,000 total (over 12–18 months) | 12–18 months (full-time) |
| Renting | ~1,200 | $120,000–$180,000+ | -$120,000+ (all self-funded) | 6–12 months (money-permitting) |
It’s clear: instructing is vastly more affordable, and for many, more realistic.
Hybrid Approaches and Alternatives
Not sold on either option exclusively? Here are some creative alternatives and hybrids:
Time-Building Partnerships
Split flight costs with another pilot to halve your expenses. Some pilots team up to fly long cross-country trips together, logging PIC time as safety pilots under IFR.
Aerial Survey / Banner Tow / Pipeline Patrol
Low-time pilots can sometimes find paid flying gigs outside of instructing. These jobs can be seasonal or regional, but they offer decent pay and long flight days.
Volunteering with Non-Profits
Organizations like Angel Flight or Pilots N Paws offer free transport for patients or rescue animals. You usually need 250–500 hours to qualify, but it’s meaningful and loggable time.
Buy a Plane or Join a Flying Club
If renting is too expensive, buying a used aircraft or joining a club can lower your hourly cost significantly—sometimes as low as $50/hour. You’ll need upfront capital, but it can save money long-term.
Which Is Right for You
Let’s simplify the decision based on your priorities:
Choose Instructing if:
- You want to build time with minimal out-of-pocket expense
- You enjoy teaching and working with others
- You want structured, steady flight time
- You’re aiming for airlines or Part 135 jobs and want to get noticed by recruiters
Choose Renting if:
- You have significant savings or a sponsor
- You prefer flexible, self-directed flying
- You want to build time fast without waiting on students
- You don’t want the stress or responsibility of teaching
Final Thoughts
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of instructing versus renting. The right path depends on your financial situation, your learning style, and your professional goals.
If cost is a major factor (and for most of us, it is), instructing is hands-down the smarter financial choice. But if you can afford to rent and want complete control over your schedule and experience, that path has its own rewards—especially if you design a time-building plan with intention.
Whatever path you choose, the key is to stay active, stay safe, and always be learning. Each hour you log is a step closer to your career in the skies.
Need Help Building Hours the Smart Way?
At Odyssey Pilot Hours, we help pilots bridge the gap between training and commercial jobs. Whether you’re looking for structured time-building, networking connections, or alternative flying gigs, we’ve got tools and programs to get you there.
Visit OdysseyPilotHours.com to learn more and take control of your journey to 1,500 hours.
Fly smart. Fly safe. And keep your eyes on the horizon.