freelance instructing operational costs?

[wolf]

Does anyone know what the operational costs of flight instructing from your own Cessna 152 would be? Is it possible in the first year to make any money at this?

 

[Flyingmariner]

Freelance

Depends on how many hours and whether you can get insurance. The short answer is yes, you can but a 152 will probably cost around 3K a year for insurance therefore 300 hrs would be a minimum time on the airplane. I've been doing this for 4 years but not with my own plane, had access to others. The important thing is not to sell yourself short on your rates. I charge close to what other FBO's are charging and sell my personal attention as the reason why students should fly with me. I assure you even with charging the going FBO rates for your CFI time you will end up with only about $10/hr in your hand after all the unpaid time with students.

 

[Timebuilder]

Unpaid time with students?

What's that?

 

[de727ups]

152

Does anyone know what the operational costs of flight instructing from your own Cessna 152 would be? Is it possible in the first year to make any money at this?

I've let some guys use my 152 to instruct in. Full commercial hull coverage will cost you at least 5K a year. You'll have to do 100 hour inspections, too. The other FBO's and flight schools will try to have you kicked off the airport if they hear about what you are doing (I've been kicked off a couple of airports in my time).

Not only do I think you can make better than average CFI money by doing this but I can't understand why more guys don't go for it. It would help a lot if you could find an A and P mechanic who wants to get his PPL and will trade you for wrenching time. A good mechanic who will work with you is a big plus.