Most regional airlines require 25 hours of multi-engine time for hiring; the ATP-Multi certificate requires 50 hours. Building multi time is expensive — $160–$340/hr wet nationally — but you can control cost by (1) building only what you need (25–50 hours, not more), (2) renting a Beechcraft Duchess at $160/hr wet instead of a Baron or Seneca at $250+, and (3) splitting flights with another pilot to log PIC on alternate legs. Total realistic cost: $4,000–$13,000 for regional-competitive multi time.
How Much Multi-Engine Time Do Airlines Actually Want?
Regional airline minimums (mid-2026): SkyWest 25 hours multi PIC, Republic 25, Envoy 25, PSA 25, Endeavor 50, GoJet 25, Piedmont 25. Most cadet/pathway programs waive the multi requirement entirely and let you build it during your first months on the job. If you're going through the standard 1,500-hour path, aim for 25 hours multi minimum, 50 if you want the ATP-Multi rating on Day 1.
Why Is Multi So Expensive?
Twin-engine piston aircraft burn 18–24 gallons per hour vs. 8–10 for a Cessna 172, plus insurance costs on twins run 2–3x higher. That drives wet rates to $160–$340/hr nationally. Our Beechcraft Duchess at $160/hr wet is one of the lowest published rates in the US — see our multi-engine time building page for current numbers.
What's the Cheapest Way to Build 25 Hours Multi?
At $160/hr wet in a Duchess: 25 hours = $4,000. If you fly 5-hour legs from KFXE to Naples, Key West, Orlando, and Tampa, you'll cover ground fast. Splitting flights with another multi-time builder logs half the time as PIC per person (only PIC counts for ATP mins) but cuts each pilot's cost to $80/hr. Both pilots get 12–13 hours of multi PIC for ~$2,000.
Should You Build 25 or 50 Hours Multi?
- 25 hours: meets most regional mins, keeps cost at $4,000–$5,000
- 50 hours: qualifies you for ATP-Multi checkride, opens Endeavor and freight jobs, ~$8,000–$10,000
- 100+ hours: unnecessary unless you're targeting a specific 121 carrier that requires it — most don't
Most pilots we time-build with target 25 hours multi and save the difference. If a hiring cycle demands more, you can always add hours in a 2-week block.
What About Multi PIC vs. Multi Dual?
Only PIC time counts toward ATP multi minimums (§61.159). Instructional 'multi dual received' during your Commercial Multi add-on typically doesn't count as PIC unless you're sole manipulator and safety-pilot-rated arrangements are in place. Confirm with your CFI/CFII how each hour is logged before you fly.
What Aircraft Are Best for Cheap Multi Building?
- Beechcraft Duchess (BE-76): counterrotating props, docile handling, $160–$220/hr wet — best value.
- Piper Seminole (PA-44): similar to Duchess, $180–$240/hr wet.
- Piper Twin Comanche (PA-30): fast, efficient, $200–$260/hr but harder to insure as low-time.
- Piper Seneca II/III: cabin-class, $260–$340/hr — good for airline transport style but overkill for time.
- Beechcraft Baron 55/58: sexy, $280–$400/hr — save for after you're hired.
Ready to Build Multi Time?
Our Multi-Engine Time Building Program rents the Beechcraft Duchess at $160/hr wet — bring another pilot to split, and you'll walk out with regional-ready multi PIC for around $2,000 each.
Frequently asked questions
How much multi-engine time do regional airlines want?
Twenty-five hours is a common floor and fifty to one hundred makes an application noticeably stronger. Beyond a few hundred, added multi time gives diminishing returns versus total time.
Is it cheaper to buy multi time in blocks?
Yes. Block rates and shared cockpit time are the two levers that matter most; together they can cut effective multi-engine cost by a quarter or more compared with hourly walk-up rental.
Can I log multi time as a safety pilot?
Only when the other pilot is under a view-limiting device and you are qualified in category and class. It is a legitimate way to log multi time, but the rules are specific — plan the flight before you file the logbook entry.