Fellow veteran CFIs, I need some advice

[777-2H4]

doesn't everything get stale? Lets say you get hired on at a regional...and you are doing the same runs day in and day out. Out of the hub to podunkville and back....repeat....repeat...... Doesn't that get boring too? the only thing different is the weather and making approach to a different runway.

 

[freeflyer14]

Just a thought.... Save up a little coin and go get some acro lessons. Puts the fun and pure stick and rudder flying back into your life. Plus you will inevitably learn some new things which you can pass on to your students. Or maybe a vacation....the beach, a rumdrink, etc...

 

[labbats]

Instructing sucks. Why are you still doing it? Move on with your life.

 

[Lead Sled]

Now, I know good and well that most every CFI gets tired with instructing, so don't take this post as a rant or a plea for a pity party because it is NOT THAT, I’m looking for constructive statements...

It's probably time to get serious about moving on. There are some guys who can make an entire career out of flight instructing. My hat is off to them. For the rest of us, there came a time when it was simply time to move on. It sounds to me like you're there now. Don't burn any bridges, just start networking and sending out resumes.

I have no idea how much total time you have, but assuming your have somewhere between say 1000 to 1500 hours it's time to put the ATP in your wallet and get on with your career. I believe that most guys get all they're going to get out of instructing after 500 to 1000 hours.

IMHO, being an active CFI for a while is almost a prerequisite when it comes to establishing a viable aviation career. Remember, in any teaching situation, it's always the teacher who learns the most. The same thing applies in aviation. Getting your CFI and actively instructing for a while will teach you things about flying that you will only learn through instructing. However, there is a big difference between 1,000 hours of experience and 1 hour of experience repeated 1,000 times. CFI's tend to fall into the latter category.

Most potential employers look for a pilot who has "been around the block" a few times. We're talking someone with significant single-pilot IFR time in multi-engine airplanes. How do you get that initial experience? There are as many ways as there are pilots, but unless you’re military or very lucky it will mean that you’re going to spend some time flight instructing, then on to flying freight or charter, single-pilot, in clapped out Navajos or twin-Cessnas. Although these are definitely not the glamour jobs, those guys quickly learn what it is to go around the block a few times. A few years of that kind of flying and they're ready for almost anything else that comes along. It only gets easier from that point.

Good Luck

'Sled

 

[nosehair]

I do the EXACT SAME engine kills, instrument approaches, maneuvers and whatever else day after day after day after day and I'm losing the enthusiasm I had two years ago and I’m worried that I’m getting careless in the cockpit which could lead to disaster.

Get outta the PTS, Man! You sound like you are only teaching PTS maneuvers.
Did you know that when you sign off a student for a checkride that you are not just saying he/she can do the PTS maneuvers, but that you have trained all the maneuvers in the Airplane Flying Handbook (which are more than the PTS) and that you consider this person proficient to act as a Private Pilot anywhere in the country. It is not possible to become bored with a student whom you are training for the real world. Get away from the PTS rut.
Quit doing the exact same engine kills. Sheeesh!