Freelance?

[unreal]

Anyone ever done any freelance instructing? Before I get fully back into instructing as a full-time job, I was thinking about lending my services for BFRs, IPCs, etc. on a freelance basis to make some extra money and knock some rust off.

There are a ton of airports around here (LA area), but I really don't have much of a clue as to how to go about advertising. Word of mouth seems like it'd take too long to get going.

Any tips or suggestions here? Thanks.

 

[charter dog]

Wow unreal, that's a tough one. Years ago, I picked up alot of freelance instruction work around my local SoCal airports because I knew some people who instructed at schools that were open to freelancers. Because they were desperate to sell airplane time for their leaseback owners, the proprieters were willing to tolerate freelancing. If you don't allready know some people working out of such a school, then perhaps you may consider going around to a bunch of places and introducing yourself. You might get lucky. Even though there seems to be an over abundance of CFIs these days, sometimes the one standing there ready gets the opportunity. Or you can take out ads in the local aviation rags. I would guess the former to be more effective than the latter. Hand out some business cards too. It's all about being known.

Best of success,

charter dog

 

[tracearabians]

Freelancing

Get some business cards printed and leave on the counters at the fbo's. Normally they will allow it.

Anyone ever done any freelance instructing? Before I get fully back into instructing as a full-time job, I was thinking about lending my services for BFRs, IPCs, etc. on a freelance basis to make some extra money and knock some rust off.

There are a ton of airports around here (LA area), but I really don't have much of a clue as to how to go about advertising. Word of mouth seems like it'd take too long to get going.

Any tips or suggestions here? Thanks.

 

[jtf]

Get some sharp business cards printed up- like with an airplane landing somewhere beautiful and have your name and info printed on a place in the picture that is noticable- but a sharp picture covering the entire face of the cards will stand out and get picked up to be looked at. I did this when I was getting started. You should be able to do this on a home computer and print them out on a color printer with store bought business card paper. Put the cards out on the FBO desks and pin them up on aviation bulletin boards around schools and FBOs also. Make sure you also call around to find what schools will allow you to freelance like the other guy said. Putting in face time with the schools owners can help for acceptance and could possibly get you quite a bit of help from some of them. Ask if you can hang around on the weekends and answer the phones for them- that's what got me going back in '99. Good luck.

 

[Doozer]

This is one of those "it takes money to make money" things, but have you considered joining any of the local flying clubs and getting on their approved instructor (or whatever they call it out there) lists?

I've been freelancing for two clubs in East Tennessee for the past eight years or so, and it's been fairly lucrative for a part-time job -- and my advertising has been nothing more than pinning a few of my cards to the bulletin board at the local grass strip.

When my work schedule was regular, I instructed 200+ hours per year; it paid for my son's college (while he was going). Now, I'm working one week on and one week off, so it's not so regular. Still, I usually have one or two "regular" students and an occasional flight review, tailwheel transition or instrument proficiency check for fun and profit.

 

[jaxpilot]

this guy has some pretty good ideas. looks like fun too. http://www.cfidarren.com

I might look more into freelancing after I get some more experience in higher performance planes.