CFI Pay

[Flechas]

i have a question: i work as a CFI for a small flight school, but i'm self employed because i don't get any benefits (medical, dental , ...). The thing is that i only get half of what the school charges for instruction ($20, so i get $10).
Is this normal or am i being completely ripped off?

appreciate your thought on this.

 

[banned username 2]

Well unfortunately that is pretty normal... Most small flights schools do no give you benefits and usually hire you as an "Independant Contractor"

Don't feel bad, I remember back in the early 90's American Flyers was charging something like $40 per hour for a CFI and a new hire CFI at American Flyers was making $6/hr. Talk about grabbing your ankles.

 

[Toy Soldier]

Two of the local schools pay $14/17 per hour. They charge $24 and $27 respectively.

You might want to see if they will pay you more if you bring your own students. The logic is that the school will make a few bucks off of you and the rental of the aircraft.

They may also want to raise the rates. I saw an article a while back that says the "average" school billing rate is becoming more like $35 to $45 per hour.

Your other option, since you are "self employed" is to work independent. Hence the benefit - if you can bring in your own students then you can probably find students with planes and then keep the entire billing rate.

I currently have 5 students. 4 are finishing up their private and then I will have 6 instrument students (1 other pending) - all the while I am a PART-TIME independent CFI charging $45/hr.

 

[MarineGrunt]

I currently have 5 students. 4 are finishing up their private and then I will have 6 instrument students (1 other pending) - all the while I am a PART-TIME independent CFI charging $45/hr.

Dang! You're doing a lot better than I am as a FULL TIME flight instructor.

I only see $13 of the $33 we charge.

 

[T/SF34/A]

You have to be an "Independent Contractor" to make any money flight instructing. It's ridiculous that flight schools charge 33- for instruction, but then pay the instructor 13-. The school that I use to work for charged 35 an hour for instruction and I saw 10 of that. I currently "contract" part time and charge 25 an hour. I pocket all 25.

If the demand is great, find an FBO that rents its aircraft out and ask if they would mind if you instructed in it. If they do not mind, then you can charge what you want for instruction. Obviously the aircraft rental is separate expence for the student. Be sure to purchase CFI insurance because you probably wont be covered under the FBO.

Try it, you might like it...

 

[labbats]

You get only $10 an hour because you don't have to sell yourself and drum up business. I left sales to be a pilot and don't need that headache.

Also, let's not all say that it's as easy as going independent and charging a whopping $45 an hour. In order to garner that kind of coin, you'd need to have a serious amount of word-of-mouth that you knew what you were doing and were a seasoned veteran. That doesn't happen to someone who just got their CFI or has less than 1000 hours dual given.

 

[Toy Soldier]

labbats

You are correct about the experience=rates. I started out charging the same as the local FBO and raised my rates as I got more ratings/experience.

Once I got the Master CFI my rate went to $35. $45/hr came after I got my ATP.

There are some local instructors (downtown) that charge $65/hr and are booked.

In an earlier post I mentioned that the public doesn't mind paying top-notch money if they are getting top-notch service in return.

I'm not sure when my rates will go up to $65/hr..

 

[banned username 2]

Once I got the Master CFI my rate went to $35. $45/hr came after I got my ATP.

Whats a "Master CFI"?

 

[T/SF34/A]

Supply and Demand

If they want it, they will come.

If you were to try going solo, you could probably make a bit more than working for a flight school. Like said above, you would have to make a name for yourself. It's hard to compete with a well known flight school.

 

[Toy Soldier]

Falcon Capt

Here is the link, if you are interested.

http://www.nafinet.org/mastercfi/index.html

It is a designation earned through the National Association of Flight Instructors. It is also recognized by the FAA as a method for renewing your CFI ticket.

 

[labbats]

Not to hijack the thread or anything, but after reading what was needed to become a Master CFI, it seemed that the major prerequisite was 24 months on the CFI certificate. I sort of phased out after that.

Can you break down what else there is? And exactly what benefits there are (besides the aforementioned increase in self-employed CFI rates)? Seems to be a bit of a scam to get people to join NAFI, but I've been wrong before.

 

[Toy Soldier]

labbats

Probable the biggest benefit is getting SIGNIFICANTLY reduced CFI insurances, etc. I mean a huge discount. Also, I was able to get "single ship startup flight school" insurance because I had the MCFI. The underwriter stated that that was the only reason I gto it! They don't like to underwrite single ship operations very much.

Other than the insurance you get Flying magazine, a license that looks similar to the new FAA license, Boucoup local media generation that they do for you!, automatic renewal of your CFI (which is good if you don't have the required "5 go's" in two years), and a few other things.

I figured it like this, if I had to pay for the renewal itself, through American Flyers, etc., the cost can be upwards of $150. However, the NAFI membership AND the cost of the MCFI application is less than or about equal to the average renewal cost. Plus then you get national recognition from an accredited organization - the faa recognizes the MCFI.

Probably the biggest benefit is intangable in that it is another designation that few others have - which lends to marketability. I'll say this, I got more business generation and "respect" from those that know about it.

The bottom line is this, it's not really what the MCFI can do for CFI's, it's what the CFI's can do with the MCFI. It is a great tool to say that you have gotten to the "next level".

Listed below are the types of activities that you must earn 32 credits in. It takes a lot of work and must be redone every two years. It is not easy by any means....

WHAT DOES IT TAKE?

EDUCATOR

Teaching safety seminars
Teaching industry seminars
FAA Wings program
Teaching pilot ground schools
Teaching aviation related college classes
Teaching aviation related vocational classes
Teaching aviation related high school classes
Teaching Flight Instructor Revalidation Clinics
Aviation related consultive services
Teaching industry training courses
Actively instructing - practical test recommendation
Flight Reviews / IPCs (»1 CEU / 5 reviews or IPCs)
Insurance checkouts
Rental, hi-performance, tailwheel, etc, checkouts

SERVICE TO THE AVIATION COMMUNITY

Youth activities (CAP, Scouts, Young Eagles, etc)
FAA Aviation Safety Counselor
Mentor to a newly certificated CFI
Aviation committee chairperson/secretary
Aviation organization elected officer
Scout Aviation Merit Badge counselor
Aviation representative to foreign countries
AOPA Airport Support Network (ASN)
*Board of Directors of an aviation organization
Aviation organization committee/task force
Pro bono position of leadership/responsibility
EAA Flight Advisor/Technical Counselor
(NAFI Flight Specialist, fly-in Air Boss, etc.)
High School/College Career Fair

CREATOR OF MEDIA

Published aviation newspaper/newsletter articles
Develop aviation seminar w/ overheads/PowerPoint
Published aviation magazine/journal articles
Aviation pamphlet, brochure, guidebook or manual
Original aviation research paper
Response to an FAA NPRM
Training Course Outline (TCO)
Aviation related grant proposal
Published aviation book or textbook
Original ground school course
Aviation related audio/video tapes
Aviation related computer program
Original pre-solo exam/test questions
Aviation related curricula
Published aviation book review
Aviation related study guides
Aviation related photography Aviation related website

PARTICIPANT

FAA Wings / safety seminars
NAFI, EAA, AOPA seminars
Ground school for certificate or rating
Additional certificate or rating
Aviation industry seminars
Aviation related college class
Aviation related vocational class
Aviation related travel experience
Aviation related self-study course
Construction of a homebuilt aircraft
Flight Instructor Revalidation Clinic (FIRC)
Initial Designated Pilot Examiner course (DPE)
Aviation related educational tours
Test Center Supervisor course (TCS)
Aviation related conferences/conventions
Renewal of DPE or TCS


I hope this helps.....

 

[labbats]

Great response. I'll look into it.

One last quesion. You mentioned 32 credits. How much is each item you listed worth?

 

[Toy Soldier]

labbats

You have to earn 32 credits total - of which 16 must come from the EDUCATOR category. It works out to be about 15 hours per credit in this area. Usually each individual item might be anywhere from 1 to 3 credits.

Here is a basic rundown:

EDUCATOR: each item is worth anywhere from 1 to 3 crcedits

MEDIA: each item is worth 1 - a couple of them might be worth more

PARTICIPANT: each item is worth 1 to 3

SERVICE: each item is worth 1 or so

When I submitted my portfoli, they gave me more credits than I requested in some areas and less in others. If I was short I then had to provide additional documentation to make them up.

Getting through the portfolio the first time is the toughest - if you wait like I did. I had been a CFI for almost two years when I decided to put it together. However, the one I am working on for next time is going much smoother.

Let me know if there is anythng else I can do.