CFI Benefits

[aucfi]

Im graduating college April 30th and will be instructing full time in the fall for the university. The problem is they don’t have ANY benefits for their instructors. Instructing for the university is a great opportunity and I do not want to pass it up but living without medical insurance is too risky.

Is it unusual for CFIs jobs to not have benefits or is it just my school? I’ve looked into buying medical insurance and it is outrageous ($150-200/month). How did you all manage???

au

 

[Ralgha]

Quite common for CFIs to not get benefits. Primarily because they're nearly all ready to give away their "services" for free so they can gain an hour of flight time.

 

[Goose Egg]

Lucky me, I have full medical, dental, 401k, paid vacation and sick days, and free college classes. Say what you want about having a degree, but I couldn't have gotten this job without one.

-Goose

 

[Lil Jon]

Quite common for CFIs to not get benefits. Primarily because they're nearly all ready to give away their "services" for free so they can gain an hour of flight time.

yea, join the club of flight time hoes

 

[aucfi]

Definetly going to have to get another job on the side. I just dont want flight instructing to become the "side job."

 

[Ralgha]

You don't have to get another job. If you're in an area that has decent potential, then strive to be the best instructor around. That should allow you to command at least $35/hr. Couple that with charging "from hi to bye" and by the time you get things rolling you could be making decent money. Granted it's not easy, but no teaching job is.

 

[DAS at 10/250]

500 HR CFI's are a dime a dozen with no real world experience or knowledge. An entire staff of CFI's could be replaced within days with no real disruptions in flight operations.

Nothing personal, I was once there too. But you are not a valuable asset to the University so there is no real need or justification for the expense of benefits to try to keep you around. Benefits (med, dental, 401, etc) are designed to attract and retain the best employees and to gain loyalty. You are going to jump ship with the first smell of an RJ and not look back.

I would have to say that benefits are an exception and not the norm as an instructor.

 

[labbats]

Let's just say that I stopped riding my snowboard and motorcycle while I was instructing. Oh, and prayed to God that when my stomach ached that it wasn't an appendix or something.

Get a very high deductible and you should be able to manage. Different states have ways of making it easier to live on that type of insurance. Check around. And be careful, be very careful.

 

[aucfi]

Its jut part of the long journey to my goals and I will manage. Thanks for the input.

 

[MTpilot]

Benefits! Hahahahahahaha.....


Seroiusly, thats the first time I've even heard of soemeone expecting them.


Too Risky! are you sure your a flight instructor?

 

[ShyFlyGuy]

Live out on the edge a little. I have been without Medical/Dental for some 5 years. It's not the way I would have liked it, but one of my best students happens to be a doctor, and I've gotten many perks from that relationship (TONS of samples of "Liquigels", free minor surgery to remove a suspicious mole, as well as free advice on everyday bumps and sneezes). How long do you plan on being a CFI? A year or two? How young are you? Probibally pretty young. If you were 60 without health, I'd be worried, but if you lack any major medical problems now, it's probibally a safe bet to not worry about it. Do what you have to do, but if you are a CFI for only part-time, you'll be instructing longer than you otherwise would have. Tough it out... or fake an infected appendix while you still have insurance and have it taken out, so you can be sure you won't get it while you don't have insurance.

Good luck,

Shy

 

[cougar6903]

Lucky me, I have full medical, dental, 401k, paid vacation and sick days, and free college classes. Say what you want about having a degree, but I couldn't have gotten this job without one.

-Goose

where do you work?

 

[wheelsup]

Job Title:
Post Date:

Description:

Certificated Flight Instructors
11/22/2004

Positions open for Airplane and/or Helicopter flight instructors, CFI, CFII, and MEI. Qualifications to train flight instructors a plus. Tail wheel and aerobatic instruction experience a major plus. We have new, absolutely perfectly maintained, clean equipment. Standard and advanced avionics including glass cockpits. Full-motion simulation. All instructors are employed full-time and covered by workman’s compensation insurance and liability insurance. Health insurance (50% premium paid) coverage available after 90 days. We have an impressive record of safety, security, and upward mobility.

http://flyairorlando.com/employment_at_air_orlando.htm

Granted, its a 61 school, but atleast they provide it. The fact that your university doesn't is nuts...

~wheelsup

 

[aucfi]

How long do you plan on being a CFI? A year or two? How young are you?

I have planned on flight instructing for at least two years. That seems to be the duration most CFIs teach here after graduating until they get something better. I worked hard to get my CFI and want to enjoy the benefits of being a CFI (both the hours and the knowledge you gain from instructing) but like DAS said, when the time/opportunity comes Im outta here.

I am 22 right now.

 

[flyguy81]

insurance is cheap, i pay 120/month and am stopping soon b/c the airline i was hired at provides it. if you're working enough 120 bucks isn't that much, cut back on the beer, stop smoking, whatever. I'd rather pay my 120/month with a reasonable deductible than get in a car wreck on my way home and have to pay for life flight/ambulance, whatever....never know when your luck runs out.

 

[wheelsup]

than get in a car wreck on my way home and have to pay for life flight/ambulance, whatever

Isn't that provided with your car insurance? I was under the assumption that it was...

~wheelsup

 

[flyguy81]

you must have some pretty good car insurance if they'll pay your medical bills

 

[aucfi]

insurance is cheap, i pay 120/month

What insurance company are/were you with?

 

[flyguy81]

blue cross blue shield

 

[flyboydk]

My first CFI job had full medical coverage. Just started a new CFI job... salary, medical, dental, vision, life, vacation and sick days, its pretty sweet.