Career Flight Instructors (Pro's and Con's)

[Coloaviator]

I am considering a career as an instructor. If an instructor could get a position at a local college with a "make a living" kind of salary what would be the bad and good of it. I guess I am looking for the opinions of the guys/gals who are out there making a living as career flight instructors- the folks who have done it for a while and do not have any intentions of going the airline or corporate route. I just want to know what you like and don't like about it!!! I appreciate your input on this matter!!!

 

[350DRIVER]

Possibly but is it smart?, no. The only way you are going to make a decent living, be able to raise kids, and support a household,etc, would be to get on with one of the few international flight training programs that are set up in the US with the purpose of training foreign students for airline positions in their home country. They seem to pay the CFI's the most. I still would not consider this unless you want to remain single your entire life. If you are into real estate or something else a long those lines to supplement the income then you may do alright but even at that I surely wouldn't attempt it.

My advice, get a career and do this more or less as a hobby. If you pick the right career that allows you enough flexibility then you will be able to do both and not have to worry about the money issue and you will live quite comfortably. I know college professors, doctors, attorneys, whores, etc, that make the $$$ 4 or so days a week and instruct as a hobby and excuse to get out of the office.

3 5 0

 

[minitour]

...If you pick the right career...

i.e. Start your own flight school!

Think about it. You charge Joe Bloe $35 an hour for an instructor. You pay that instructor what, $8-$14? The owners make a killing!

-mini

 

[English]

Don't listen to the naysayers who are always here on this board trying to discourage folks from pursuing their dreams. There ARE flight instructors who make a decent, and some a very good, living. Ever think about becoming a sim instructor? Or, an instructor for an airline? What about working at one of those quickie type rating schools? There are lots of options, and most, if not all, will allow you to be home every night and sleep in your own bed.

 

[350DRIVER]

i.e. Start your own flight school!

Think about it. You charge Joe Bloe $35 an hour for an instructor. You pay that instructor what, $8-$14? The owners make a killing!

-mini

RLW + You= recipe for success

3 5 0

 

[minitour]

RLW + You= recipe for success

3 5 0

Thanks...my $3 diet pepsi just flew out my nostrils...so now, I'm tired, in pain, have no pepsi, and my nose burns like NOBODYS business....

-mini

 

[bobbysamd]

Career instructing

I am considering a career as an instructor. If an instructor could get a position at a local college with a "make a living" kind of salary what would be the bad and good of it. I guess I am looking for the opinions of the guys/gals who are out there making a living as career flight instructors- the folks who have done it for a while and do not have any intentions of going the airline or corporate route. I just want to know what you like and don't like about it!!! I appreciate your input on this matter!!!

Instead of being denigrated you should be congratulated! Aviation, and especially American aviation, needs more pilots who want to dedicate their careers to training other pilots. My only professional aviation experience was as a flight instructor. While I wanted to move on to other things, when I found I could not I happily stuck with instructing until aviation altogether became impossible for me.

There are instructing jobs that pay decent money. It may take some time to work your way up into such a position at an aviation college, but it can be done. The foreign airline schools, such as International Flight Training Academy in Bakersfield, California, pay great money. You fly good, well-maintained equipment. Benefits are good, and, last but not least, you work with hand-picked, motivated students. I believe that ERAU still runs a contract program for Air Force Academy pilot screening - the one the AF used to do itself with T-41s. There still may be the same kind of program in Hondo, Texas.

Good luck with your plans. Once more, you deserve congratulations for having an aviation career goal not considered by most pilots but one that is vital for creating pilots.

 

[nosehair]

Instead of being denigrated you should be congratulated! Aviation, and especially American aviation, needs more pilots who want to dedicate their careers to training other pilots.
Good luck with your plans. Once more, you deserve congratulations for having an aviation career goal not considered by most pilots but one that is vital for creating pilots.

...I second that emotion! I am living it and loving it. I have been instructing about 35 of my 42 years in Aviation. Just enough "line" and "field" experience to know that instructing is my place. I don't make big money, but I have thousands of people who know me as the guy who helped them change their life and realize a dream. You can't buy that.

 

[msuspartans24]

become a D.E.

 

[minitour]

become a D.E.

now THAT sounds like fun.

Where do I sign up???...seriously, how do you get started in something like that? Know someone?

-mini