I am a 49 yo former high tech industry exec, and am seriously looking into a career change into flying as a profession. (I flew 25 years ago - stopped just short of my PPL check ride). I am also a new member to this site.
Obviously, I do not wish to plunk down $30K+ in training costs, if there is no chance for a reasonable ROI.
After considerable research, I have concluded the following:
* My age, and the fact that I would be just now starting my PPL training, precludes me from any chance of flying for the regionals/majors, and probably rules out corporate as well (okay with me, since I think I would find flying smaller aircraft more enjoyable anyway!)
* I will need to do some sort of "fast track" approach to training - whether through a school like FSI or American Flyers - or a "serious" FBO. I would be doing this on a full time basis. I also recognize that to earn CFII/MEI will take me at least one year if everything goes very well.
* Thusly, my career path would be that of "career" CFI (with perhaps some slight possibility that I would get REAL lucky and get a small commuter/charter job, or could supplement income with flying skydivers, sightseeing, etc.)
* Since I would NOT be instructing simply to log hours, but as a career, I could be highly attractive to a flight school, inasmuch as I would be sticking around for a long time, if not "forever".
MY QUESTIONS - (based on a presumption that, by the time I have the necessary ratings, the economy will have started to come back, and GA will be hiring once again at "normal" rates):
1) Does anyone with any firsthand knowledge see any "flaw" in the above conclusions?
2) What could I expect for income as a "career" CFI?
(I have heard many comments of "you'll be lucky to make $20K a year" - however, I have also been told ((most recently, by a local CFI)) that if I treated instructing as a career (i.e., instruct full days, 6 or 7 days a week, be willing and flexible to meet the students' scheduling needs, etc.) that I could reasonably expect to make $45-50K per year)
3) Could I get hired by schools of the FSI, American Flyers, etc. ilk - or do they prefer to utilize the "going on to the majors" students as short term instructors?
4) I have been told that if instructing for an FSI type of school, that the school "does the marketing" to bring in students - but that if one instructs for an FBO, the instructor has to bring in the students. Is this true?
5) Is it true that most CFIs are independent contractors?
6) Is it true then that an independent contractor CFI must carry their own liability insurance? What is the cost for insurance?
My apologies for the lengthiness of this message - and thanks in advance for any input any of you could provide.
If anyone chooses to reply directly, my email address is:
[email protected]
Obviously, I do not wish to plunk down $30K+ in training costs, if there is no chance for a reasonable ROI.
After considerable research, I have concluded the following:
* My age, and the fact that I would be just now starting my PPL training, precludes me from any chance of flying for the regionals/majors, and probably rules out corporate as well (okay with me, since I think I would find flying smaller aircraft more enjoyable anyway!)
* I will need to do some sort of "fast track" approach to training - whether through a school like FSI or American Flyers - or a "serious" FBO. I would be doing this on a full time basis. I also recognize that to earn CFII/MEI will take me at least one year if everything goes very well.
* Thusly, my career path would be that of "career" CFI (with perhaps some slight possibility that I would get REAL lucky and get a small commuter/charter job, or could supplement income with flying skydivers, sightseeing, etc.)
* Since I would NOT be instructing simply to log hours, but as a career, I could be highly attractive to a flight school, inasmuch as I would be sticking around for a long time, if not "forever".
MY QUESTIONS - (based on a presumption that, by the time I have the necessary ratings, the economy will have started to come back, and GA will be hiring once again at "normal" rates):
1) Does anyone with any firsthand knowledge see any "flaw" in the above conclusions?
2) What could I expect for income as a "career" CFI?
(I have heard many comments of "you'll be lucky to make $20K a year" - however, I have also been told ((most recently, by a local CFI)) that if I treated instructing as a career (i.e., instruct full days, 6 or 7 days a week, be willing and flexible to meet the students' scheduling needs, etc.) that I could reasonably expect to make $45-50K per year)
3) Could I get hired by schools of the FSI, American Flyers, etc. ilk - or do they prefer to utilize the "going on to the majors" students as short term instructors?
4) I have been told that if instructing for an FSI type of school, that the school "does the marketing" to bring in students - but that if one instructs for an FBO, the instructor has to bring in the students. Is this true?
5) Is it true that most CFIs are independent contractors?
6) Is it true then that an independent contractor CFI must carry their own liability insurance? What is the cost for insurance?
My apologies for the lengthiness of this message - and thanks in advance for any input any of you could provide.
If anyone chooses to reply directly, my email address is:
[email protected]