CFI required?

[wilde737]

I am in the process of looking for a flying job and was wondering what people thought about whether or not a CFI is required? A family friend told me that the airlines will never hire you if you don't have it. I am now over 1000 TT, and thinking about getting my CFI/CFII/MEI. What do you guys think?

 

[minitour]

I don't think its required.

The guys who go through the MAPD program don't get it and don't need it. Yet many of them get into the airlines.

(lets not make this a MAPD bashing thread folks...)

This is all just my opinion though, since I'm still working on the CSEL/MEL/CFI & CFII

-mini

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

Airlines could care less if you have it or not. It just makes getting your time to 1200TT much easier.

Hardly any military pilots have CFI's and they get hired with no problem!

 

[cessna_driver2]

I have heard a lot of Corp & 135 Ops perfer CFI time. But you did say the airlines......Hummmmm.

Well if you ever decieded to go corp or 135, I've talked to a few cheif pilots and they have all perferred CFI time.

 

[Dr Pokenhiemer]

Most people who move up the career ladder have their CFI/CFII. There are 2 types of instructors. 1) Those who are just building time. 2) Those who like teaching others how to do something that relatively few people have the chance to do while they build time. Being type #1 doesn't make you any more competetive for a job, but I think that #2 does. The reason most of us instructed for a while is because very few people can afford to rent (or buy) an airplane for atleast 1200 hours. Some employers will consider instructing as a plus up to a certain point. It gives you QUANTITY time, but they also want to see QUALITY time. That's where a lot of instructors move into 135 cargo jobs--for QUALITY time. Hope this helps answer your question--or maybe create more.

 

[seethru]

Don't know if the airlines like CFIs or not. I can't imagine it would hurt you if you were a CFI.

Being a CFI will most likely improve your skills and understanding of flying. It did for me.

Clear skies.

Greg

 

[350DRIVER]

No airline requires it, many have gotten hired without the instructor tickets. Most obtain the CFI ticket to "build" time/experience.

I have heard a lot of Corp & 135 Ops perfer CFI time. But you did say the airlines......Hummmmm.

I have to disagree... Most could care less.

3 5 0

 

[Lead Sled]

350 Driver, I'll second that. There are four things that no one cares about - 1. What scores you got on your writtens; 2. Where you got your license; 3. If you ever busted a checkride; and 4. How you got your experience (but it has to be solid experience). Personally, when I'm looking to hire someone, the fact that the candidate has either held or holds a CFI certificate is a big plus for me. I don't really care how much they used it - the fact that they were able to successfully jump through all of the hoops is enough. (In fact, based of the theory that there's a big difference between 1000 hours of experience and one hour of experience repeated 1000 times, I tend to start discounting dual given after 1000 hours or so.)

It wasn't always so. I had an ATP and over 3,000 hours before I got my CFI. I thought that somehow I had "dodged a bullet" by being able to go directly into Part 135 (charter) flying after I got my commercial and instrument rating. I was wrong.

In any teaching situation, it's always the teacher who learns the most. The same thing applies doubly in aviation. Getting your CFI and actively instructing for a while will teach you things about flying that you will only learn through instructing. In my case, I ended up getting my CFI certificates so that I could keep my hand in flying while I went to school full time to finish up my degree. I learned a lot and to this day the lessons are very valuable and useful. Becoming a CFI, in my opinion, is one of the most important steps you can take in your aviation career. Just my personal opinion.

'Sled

 

[minitour]

350 Driver, I'll second that. There are four things that no one cares about - 1. What scores you got on your writtens; 2. Where you got your license; 3. If you ever busted a checkride; and 4. How you got your experience (but it has to be solid experience). ...
'Sled

Okay, I can understand #1 since its easy to memorize the test.

#2 I can understand since you have to pass the same checkride wherever you get your training...

#3. Really? If you bust a ride they don't care? I figured it went as a "hmmmm" when you show up at an interview with a pink in your history.

#4. So they don't care if you earned your experience or bought a right seat for $20,000 of daddy's money?

Interesting stuff there lead...I learn something every day. Thanks!

-mini

 

[Lead Sled]

Okay, I can understand #1 since its easy to memorize the test.

#2 I can understand since you have to pass the same checkride wherever you get your training...

#3. Really? If you bust a ride they don't care? I figured it went as a "hmmmm" when you show up at an interview with a pink in your history.

#4. So they don't care if you earned your experience or bought a right seat for $20,000 of daddy's money?

Interesting stuff there lead...I learn something every day. Thanks!

-mini

Mini...
As far as #3 goes - any one can bust any checkride on any given day. You could have had a fight with the wife. Your examiner could have had a fight with his wife. If an examiner needs a bust to "adjust" his pass/fail ratio, they'll do it. I don't care how good or prepared you are - you'll end up with a pink slip. It's not a big deal, you just get another opportunity to show your stuff. There is no shame in a bust and most interviewers will never ask the question - they know better.

When it comes to #4 - I said "solid" experience. $20K of daddy's money isn't going to buy squat. Solid experience is legitimate PIC time, single-pilot IFR in complex airplanes. Not 100 hours riding shotgun in some clapped out turboprop. I can tell the difference and so can any other experienced pilot. Get me a guy with a couple of thousand hours total time and some "real world" IFR PIC experience and it's an easy transition into jets. But he has to have been "around the block" once or twice if you know what I mean.

'Sled

 

[minitour]

Lead,

Cool...thanks for the info there. I (in my limited experience of two) always have gone into checkrides with a prepared fear (in that I knew I was prepared and ready, but affraid of a bust). Knowing this info, it really opens it up so I can just go in and do my thing.

I understand what you mean by quality time, just wasn't sure if your definition of quality was "a block of time in a BE1900 for $20K" or whatever it can cost nowadays...sees as though some feel buying a right seat for 100 or 200 hours is **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** good quality...personally I don't buy it but anyway...

Again, thanks for the great info!

-mini

 

[FracCapt]

#3. Really? If you bust a ride they don't care? I figured it went as a "hmmmm" when you show up at an interview with a pink in your history.

As Lead stated, many pilots bust checkrides for a variety of reasons...could be anything from nerves to extreme incompetence. Busting a checkride is not a big deal....but busting a bunch of them is. One failure won't raise any red flags, but many failures certainly will.

 

[SloDoDriver]

I agree with the majority of the emails. But don't become a CFI unless you want to teach. Nothing worse than some of the "time builders " I have encountered in 25 years of flying. I love to instruct so I still do. I have seen these "time builders" drive people away from aviation, damage aircraft etc....... Also busting a single checkride while working on ratings will not disqualify you from getting hired by an airline. Busting initial training AT an airline makes it almost impossible to be hired by another for quite a while. Friend busted out of Piedmont, now all the other airlines will wonder what his issues are.....

 

[apdsm]

ABSOLUTELY NOT! I don't know where they got that info, but it is not true.

 

[Vik]

Mind if I ask how you got your 1000 hrs?

I dont have my CFI/II/MEI and don't plan to get it. I'm supporting my parents and sister and I can't stop my current work to get paid < $20k/yr. I bought a light twin and will apply to the commuters without my CFI/II/MEI.

If they really want to see it on paper, I'd spend the $6k, go to All ATPs and crank it out in 2 weeks.

I don't think I'll need t. Preparing for the interview might take more work since I'm not rattling off FARs and what not to students all day.

Just be sure you show up to the interview with your stuff down.

I am in the process of looking for a flying job and was wondering what people thought about whether or not a CFI is required? A family friend told me that the airlines will never hire you if you don't have it. I am now over 1000 TT, and thinking about getting my CFI/CFII/MEI. What do you guys think?

 

[Levidog]

I agree with the majority of the emails. But don't become a CFI unless you want to teach. Nothing worse than some of the "time builders " I have encountered in 25 years of flying. I love to instruct so I still do. I have seen these "time builders" drive people away from aviation, damage aircraft etc....... Also busting a single checkride while working on ratings will not disqualify you from getting hired by an airline. Busting initial training AT an airline makes it almost impossible to be hired by another for quite a while. Friend busted out of Piedmont, now all the other airlines will wonder what his issues are.....

Absolutely!! There's nothing worse than a CFI who is just in it for the hours. Earning a CFI will make you more knowlegable, increase your awareness and perspective, and cause you to pay attention to detail. But, if you don't LIKE teaching, you won't do a very good job at it and everyone suffers.
However, true satisfaction is watching your student on his/h first solo, and seeing the sh!t eating grin on their face as they walk out of the DE's office with that brand new ticket. Everybody remembers their first flight instructor (bad or good). LD