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.

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[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

 

[mattpilot]

now THAT sounds like fun.

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

-mini

They used to ask YOU and generally declined anyone who asked to be one. These days i think you fill out a request form, i think.

 

[350DRIVER]

You are generally placed into a pool where other qualified and experienced pilots are. You also generally have to show a need is present based on the geographical location that you are interested in. It isn't the easiest thing to do since in many areas folks have their eyes set on these positions long before they even open up. Give your local fsdo a call and they can steer you in the right direction. All costs in OKC will be paid by you when you go through this course. Good money if you can get a DE slot in your area. Just ask RC why he requests cash everytime he does a ride.

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[Flymach2]

Hi...


As a few have alluded to already, I also commend those who choose to remain in the part of our business which is less sought after for a career. Don't let the horror stories of no pay and long hours deter you from realizing your goal to be a career instructor. Like any profession, you have to start somewhere and you will feel you're not making any headway at first. Once you find a niche in your area, you may be surprised to find yourself making pretty good money. I personally know more than a few career instructors making better than 70k. Pretty good considering they're home every night and they make their own schedules.

As far as the DPE requirements are concerned, there are some specific criteria that will need to be met. Ideally, contacting your local FSDO should be helpful. Also, your application may be met with some resistance unless you have a recommendation(s) from other DPE's or perhaps a local inspector. It's always a good idea to establish a working relationship with your local FSDO. Try becoming an Aviation Safety Counselor, for instance. In addition, minimal flight time requirements need to be met for the specific tests you want to administer. 2000 hours PIC is the minimum for airplane tests in addition to at least 500 hours as a flight instructor. Once you've met the specific requirements, you will submit an application to the National Examiner Board, (NEB). Once there are openings in your area, your application will be reviewed and the process will include interviews, etc. Once you have satisfactorily completed the application process, your application will be kept in a pool until there is a space for you to fill. Not an easy process, but it's done all the time.

Bottom line is that you can do whatever you want in this industry and we need more career instructors. Thanks for wanting to give the gift to others.

Regards

 

[JediNein]

Your airworthiness will vary with the pros and cons listed within.

For being an independent career instructor:
Pros: May, June, July, August, September
Cons: October, November, December, January, February, March, April, any month with lots of bad weather, any month with lots of maintenance, any month with not enough students, any month with FAA headaches (you have to tell 'em to pound sand, not the company, the CCP, or the union).

For tenure positions:
Pros: Stable income for 9 months of the year. Free or reduced-cost education so you can get that masters and/or doctorate.
Cons: The other backbiters that are trying to get tenure. The politics over nothing. The budget wars. Independent contractor status. Persona non-grata status with the other professors. Trying to use benefits if you ever need them.

For foreign flight schools, one I'm familiar with is in Bakersfield:
Cons: It's in Bakersfield
Pros: The people, the airplanes, the simulators, the training course, the students, the steady pay, the fringe benefits, . . . did I already mention the airplanes?

Another is in Napa.... Same thing as above, except the con: it's in Napa.

Back to being independent:
I roll out of bed when I want to, having arranged my schedule to roll out when I feel like it. Today was late, but then, last night and tonight are late nights ending around 10PM or later.
My flight instruction is usually conducted on cross countries in 300+ hp turbocharged airplanes with every pilot toy known to man installed. The interiors are new along with the paint. They are in mechanically pristine condition receiving about 3 hours of maintenance for every hour aloft (including pre and post flight). Once we're done with instruction, the client will fly the tailfeathers off of their airplane thus reducing the maintenance ratio and taking their engine to TBO.
I really only have to work 6 days in the month to make my expenses, or 36 hours.
I'm directly responsible for if I make the 36 hours in a month or not.
Conversely, there is no one to blame if things go wrong.
But, as there's no one else to complain about, one doesn't waste time complaining and you can get to work solving the problem.
After funding your savings account for the lean months, you then get to fund your ROTH IRA. After that is maxed out, you can set up other retirement programs for your own business. Then you can get into investing. The key concept is multiple streams of income. You can only provide so many hours of physical labor each day.And keep in mind in the hardest times, where you're wondering how to make the next payment for whatever, unlike millions of people, I get paid to do what I love.
You do have to learn how to set priorities. For example, one could spend all day on the message boards, becoming a recluse. Or you can spend that time warming up your brain, brainstorming ideas of new ways to make an income stream, keeping in touch with the industry, and getting your day's, week's, and month's priorities planned out.
Then the second cup of coffee kicks in and it is time to get to work.
Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein

 

[Goose Egg]

...one could spend all day on the message boards, becoming a recluse.

Hahahahaha!! PRICELESS!!!