Congratulations on your IR Cookmg!
Good questions Cookmg and JediNein! Asking the right questions is the first step on the way to good solutions.
Should you become and instructor? Why do pilots become instructors?
I see three kinds of CFI's:
One is the lifetime instructor who is so motivated that he or she would like to teach for many years. Another is the line pilot who enjoys flying so much that he or she would like to work in the training department. The last and largest category is the "time builder". The "time builder" may look at the instructor stage as an undesirable stepping stone that must be used to get to the final goal. A point worth mentioning is that this attitude tends to change because teaching is an integral part of every aviation job. As an example, good instructor skills are needed on the line when working with new colleagues.
How do you prevent burnout?
Anyone enjoying instructing out there?
When can flying loose its sparkle
I have been in the industry for many years and love my job. It seems to me that the motivated "happy" students (and experienced pilots) know how to motivate themselves. They do this by finding new goals in training or at work. Cookmg lists several such goals. Many professional pilots combats burnout by working at the training department, doing union work and some will even write on this forum! I think the ideal situation is to be able to mix. As a new CFI you can vary between teaching ground school and hopefully get at least some mix between basic and advanced flight instruction.
Full time instructor or airline pilot?
Main problem with instructing is pay and benefits. Few if any full time instructor position can compete with the high paying airline pilot jobs (unless you are an airline instructor pilot). There are however some good instructor jobs with a good salary and benefits.
How to help a student through learning plateaus, prevent drop outs, and handle transition from the learner to the teacher?
Teaching can be compared to fighting a battle; if you are unable to enter the castle through the front door then you must try attacking from another side. Try the side or back entrance or keep hitting different walls until you find a crack. In teaching, if one explanation or demonstration does not work then find another. Some aviation instructors only use the same books as their students. Few books offer a complete and easy-to-understand coverage of all topics. Various references can give you inspiration and different explanations. You should constantly be collecting good explanations. Do this while you read, watch videos or while listening to other instructors. Veteran instructors have large collections of stories, examples and explanations - this is called experience. But don't fall into the trap of the old saying: "He who can does. - He who cannot, teaches". Flying is a practical job. Your goal should be that you never ask a student to do something you couldn't do yourself. With this in mind, Cookmg, I would use the hours for commercial to get as good as possible at all the maneuvers in the PTS that you plan to teach.
How can I pass on good judgement?
How can I be a decent flight instructor?
Developing good decision making skills is far more difficult than developing good flying skills.
It is difficult for me to remember the names of all my old students, but I do remember my instructors, not by their words but by their personality and manners. Be aware of your actions because your students will detect and remember many details. A significant part of what a person learns occurs through imitation. It is natural for students to observe others, primarily you - the instructor, and to imitate your behavior. New "want-to-be" pilots are easily influenced by aviation professionals and especially by their instructor. They look up to their instructors with great admiration and observe every detail in their actions. From your student's viewpoint you have unlimited wisdom, knowledge, proficiency and a level of expertise that they can only hope to reach. This is why it is so important that you present a good role model for your students. As a role model you are not only teaching knowledge and skills, you also have a great influence on attitude, character and discipline. Be aware of your actions and provide a positive example to help your students imitate a safe attitude and desirable behavior. Being a good role model means paying attention to your actions and how they express what you believe in. Your attitude and behavior often have a greater impact on your students than your words. Statements such as, "do as I say and not as I do" have little effect because learning takes place all the time even when you do not want it to. Students will be impressed when you avoid shortcuts under difficult circumstances. Your credibility will be reinforced if you live by your values even in a stressful situation. It is difficult to define and measure airmanship, expertise and how safely a pilot conducts his or her tasks. Experience alone without discipline is no guarantee against failure. Current research suggests that realistic attitudes can improve pilot's abilities to handle difficult situations. The suggested role model is someone who recognizes their personal limitations, accepts that they can make mistakes and have realistic expectations of personal performance when stressed. As instructors it is not always easy to be a good role model. You must be sincere; otherwise your students will feel that you are two-faced and lose confidence in you. You might struggle with bad habits that you do not want to pass on to your students. As in other operations there are internal and external pressures such as schedules and examination deadlines. Everyone can say that they support safe operations when talking in the hangar. Not everyone will show this in action. The ability to handle pressures is a matter of self-discipline and character. I always like to quote an old instructor who used to say: The greatest skill a pilot can learn is to know when to say "no" - some never do.
Career strategy
Can't give you any statistics but a large portion of the civilian trained professional pilots have gone through the instructor stage. Many employers do pay attention to how you got your first hours. Airlines can choose from many applicants and will require relevant experience. Specific requirements vary, but they all want multi time, often 121 or 135 multi crew experience on aircraft larger than the typical light trainers. Instructor time is certainly still valued by employers as an extra additional experience.
Which type of school should you choose?
Bobbysamd is right, beggars can't be chooser, take what you can get - but keep in mind that it can take a long time to build CFI hours at a small school. I have noticed that instructors that have worked at larger 141 schools have been able to build time fast. Especially schools that have foreign students because they come to the US with money to pay for the entire training and will study full time. Many foreign students can not stay as instructors; this leaves more instructor work for US instructors. You might consider to do some of your training at the school where you would like to work. This will allow you to show how serious you are and to build a relationship with the management. Most schools like to hire their own "products" first. Watch out for false promises. Ask ex-students who have followed the route you are considering.
What about multi time?
Most schools have an insurance policy that will not allow you to instruct on twins before you have a bit more experience. Multi instruction is often reserved as a "reward" for the senior instructors.
Last advice:
Have realistic goals. There will always be someone who will have it better then you. Bigger plane (if that is a goal), more pay, better seniority and so on. Manage you personal life. Most of those that love flying, but don't make it, drop out because of money or family matters.
Don't quit your day job prematurely (or go and get one), be prepared to pay your dues and don't give up. Those that have done this have and will succeed.
Sorry I wrote so long, didn't have time to shorten it!
