Full time CFI

[Foobar]

Its my first day as a full time CFI. I quit the 50K a year desk job to fly full time. I’ve already been a part time CFI for 4 years so I’m starting out burnt out on instruction. I’m hoping I don’t have to do this for more than 6 months or so. I’ve already got just over 900 hours, so it’s a short trip to 1200 or 1500. Hanging out at the airport all day isn’t bad, not getting paid for it is lousy though.

I'm still reading flightinfo all day, just from a new computer.

All in all, its better than the desk job!

 

[mar]

Logging 'Airport Appreciation Time'

Hey man, as far as I'm concerned, you passed the first test.

You quit your well paying job to hang out at the airport.

I'm serious! You have just separated yourself from thousands of other CFIs.

It's really harsh that this industry requires drastic, risk taking from the ones that should exhibit judicious and temperate decision making.

Oh well.

When I was a full time CFI I got real good at making coffee, doing crosswords, arguing the finer aspects of the FARs and AIM and--most importantly--making future contacts.

This is probably the most important part of being a CFI but nobody ever mentions it.

Forget about Turns About a Point and Traffic Pattern Entries and Holding Patterns.

The keys to succeeding (relative term, I know) in this industry is to be willing to make the required sacrifices *at the right time* and to be connected better than the next guy.

I have ten bucks that says you get your next job because of someone you meet while working as a CFI.

Good luck.

 

[Foobar]

I hope you are right about that job! I suppose I can only move up from here.

I'm banking on the job market improving by summer of next year. I'll have a master's degree and almost 1500TT with about 200 Multi. I suppose we will see though.

 

[labbats]

You'll be pushing pretty hard to get 600 hours by next summer. But more power to you if you can.

You should be proud to have taken the plunge to full-time pilot. I think that is why more people don't become pilots. It takes some caj0nes to jump out of a comfy paying job to the murky waters of low pay and high risk. Welcome to the club!

 

[Foobar]

It should be easy. I'm figuring 60 hours a month for nine months. I've got 900 now. Even if I have a slow month (December) I'll have well over 1200. I actually think I can fly 70 a month which would put my right at 1500. As long as I hit 1200 I'll be happy, and I think thats an easy goal at about 35 hours a month.

 

[MYFpilot]

I’m hoping I don’t have to do this for more than 6 months or so.

I said that exact same thing three years and 2100 hrs of dual given ago. All I can say is you better like flight instructing...

 

[generaltso]

It should be easy. I'm figuring 60 hours a month for nine months. I've got 900 now. Even if I have a slow month (December) I'll have well over 1200.

"It should be easy"... I've heard that before. I've had CFI's that say yeah I will do 50 hours a month and be out of here in 6 months. Two years later, they are still there.

You just never know what life or your career has in store for you. The only thing I can say is try not to plan your aviation career out like that. Just work hard, and keep at it. Better things will come.

However don't forget that while you may be using instructing as a stepping stone, your are training students that will be pilots (hopefully) for the rest of their lives... make them capable and safe pilots.

 

[banned username 2]

However don't forget that while you may be using instructing as a stepping stone, your are training students that will be pilots (hopefully) for the rest of their lives... make them capable and safe pilots.

EXACTLY... Too many CFI's out there that fly with only one instrument in their scan...

The Hobbs Meter...

Pretty sad...

 

[fulcrum]

Flight instruction is not about you
It is about the student,
when you realize that it will not be just another job.
It is about you making a difference
Good Luck

 

[bobbysamd]

Its my first day as a full time CFI. I quit the 50K a year desk job to fly full time. I’ve already been a part time CFI for 4 years so I’m starting out burnt out on instruction.

I remember when I left my day job for full-time instructing at ERAU. I had already done some part-time instructing in CAP. I had always associated flying with leisure time, so, when I went to work at Riddle I never felt that I was "working"!

It's all about attitude.

 

[Timebuilder]

The keys to succeeding (relative term, I know) in this industry is to be willing to make the required sacrifices *at the right time* and to be connected better than the next guy.

Gee. Mar and I agree.

Again.

I had planned on flying 70 hours a month when I took a full time CFI job. I never flew more than 60 in my very best month.

I predict that you will find yourself instructing longer than you are anticipating. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, either.

 

[mar]

TB and mar: from the same mold?

Wow. TB...what are we up to now? Twice? Thrice?

Yeah! <pumps fist in air>

So, like I was saying, networking is the hidden treasure of flight instructing, but I agree with all the posters who assert the first priority is the student and the lesson.

Your career aspirations should take a back seat during that very expensive 1.2 or 1.5 hour lesson.

Sorry if I wasn't perfectly clear about that.

I just hate it when someone feels that instructing is a 'last resort' type of option.

There are many benefits besides the free coffee.

 

[Timebuilder]

Yep.

You get to read the paper, find neat places on the net (like I did when I was shown the old flightinfo board by a student) and go over lesson plans. I'd do it again if I had the chance, but neither myself nor my old instructor can find teaching jobs.

If you have a flying job, ANY flying job, consider yourself fortunate. After all, you could be a voice over actor.

Or a paralegal.

 

[WrightAvia]

Two of my most positive flights where I recieved instruction, were a rental checkout in an old Aztec and a rental checkout in a C-182.

The kid really made me feel at home with that old contraption of an Aztec. It was one of those short nose, apache looking Aztecs, with all the bells, whistles and levers in all the wrong places.

And a Cfi that I knew in GRB, that knew I had a ton of 182 time flying jumpers, but realized we had to go up and do SOMETHING to make the 182 checkout worthwhile.

Both of these guys were really great. I wish the best of luck to them.

I have also had some really good experiences with the PanAm sim people down in MEM. Those guys are full time CFI's and are very professional. I always look forward to flying with them.

Now those jaggoff CFIs at the 141 school I went to...hahahaha. One of my crappy instructors eventually went to Florida Gulf Airlines and washed out in training. Another one of those son of a major airline pilot, born to fly heavy metal jerks. He could tell you what page number every FAR was.

 

[Foobar]

Yeah man, screw the students, just log time no matter what. Thats what I was saying!

Or could it be that the pay stinks but its ok because the hours and prestige make up for it.

I don't punish my students for a crappy system. I have run a few off though explaining that the training will be 20 to 30 thousand dollars. Then you can work as a CFI for 12,000.00 a year, then you can work as a FO for an airline for free or 20,000.00 a year if yer lucky! And then maybe you'll make a livable wage if you picked an airline that stays in business long enough.

 

[bobbysamd]

Aviation employment

If you have a flying job, ANY flying job, consider yourself fortunate. After all, you could be a voice over actor.

Or a paralegal.

True. As I wrote above, I enjoyed what I was doing at ERAU, and I could hardly believe that I was "working." Moreover, consider that there are tons of people who would love to be in your shoes, working as a pilot, which you still are as a CFI. As we all know, some would even pay for the privilege.

Be happy you are finally employed full-time in aviation.

 

[wickedpilot]

Its my first day as a full time CFI. I quit the 50K a year desk job to fly full time. I’ve already been a part time CFI for 4 years so I’m starting out burnt out on instruction. I’m hoping I don’t have to do this for more than 6 months or so. I’ve already got just over 900 hours, so it’s a short trip to 1200 or 1500. Hanging out at the airport all day isn’t bad, not getting paid for it is lousy though.

I'm still reading flightinfo all day, just from a new computer.

All in all, its better than the desk job!

RIP, is that you?

 

[BoDEAN]

Its my first day as a full time CFI. I quit the 50K a year desk job to fly full time. I’ve already been a part time CFI for 4 years so I’m starting out burnt out on instruction. I’m hoping I don’t have to do this for more than 6 months or so. I’ve already got just over 900 hours, so it’s a short trip to 1200 or 1500. Hanging out at the airport all day isn’t bad, not getting paid for it is lousy though.

I'm still reading flightinfo all day, just from a new computer.

All in all, its better than the desk job!

You and me are in the same boat as a full time CFI. Got one INTRO FLIGHT at 4pm today...showed up at the airport at 9am. hehe. I'll be a weather channel whore today I guess and post on here =P

 

[Foobar]

Nope, I'm not RIP. My goal is to be at a regional airline next year sometime. It might happen, it might not. It mostly depends on the industry and how much hiring is going on. I suspect things will stay the same for some time to come though.

I've got a few years of part time CFIing under my belt so if I stick to full time for 8 months its probably about the same as having instructed full time for 2 years or so.

 

[Riddle momma]

I'd recommend a non-aviation degree, but see if you can't do an aviation minor. take a couple of aerodynamics courses, some meteorology, systems, performance, navigation, airline operations, aviation safety, CRM... Whatever the school offers, see if you can't negotiate a minor.

I started instructing about in may of 02 thinking I'd maybe do it till September... HA HA HA... Then I thought, well maybe by November I'll have something.... OH NO... A year and a half later I'm thinking maybe by November I'll hear something... SIGH... PLEASE?!?! Keep your hopes up, leave at least one toe on the ground.

But you know, I've met really great people. I've instructed amazing pilots, and not so amazing ones. I don't think I can even begin to say how much I have learned from my students. I have had a lot of fun instructing, sure it's tough in the winter, and the 14 hour days are hard, but in the end it's worthwhile.

Good luck to you!