I'm a new working CFI..need some advice

[huskerfan]

Hey FOlks,
I just got a part time job as a CFI. The downfall is that I am the only CFI at this school. I had a few questions. When I log time in my logbook now do I put down 1 hour of pic too? Also what kind of ground school do you recommend for your students? What books should I have mine buy. Also how do you keep track of you income and expenses. Are there any posts lor links with what you can write off.. how to record income etc. Thanks

 

[Cardinal]

If you're giving instruction that time goes in the PIC column, as well as the Dual Given or As Flight Instructor column. You are the man in charge, and you get the blame when it all goes wrong. The Jepp Private Pilot books are pretty good, though you'll find they are tailored to the Part 141 environment. They have a "Kit" that includes their big texbook, a written study guide, a practical test guide, a syllabus, a current FAR/AIM, a logbook, a plotter, E6B and some other stuff that we retail for between $120 and 140, can't remember which.

Edited to add:

Do your best, but when you look back on the first couple/three months of instructing you'll cringe. I'm reminded of a fish flopping about on dry land. I felt just about that effective.

 

[bobbysamd]

Introduction to Flight Instructing 101

Yessir, every second of time you log as a flight instructor you can log as PIC. 14 CFR 61.51(e)(iii)(3).

The best ground school you can recommend to your students is a formal ground school class. If you don't want to teach class yourself, try to find them a ground school at the local vo-tech or community college. Some people might suggest John and Martha. Alternatively, as Cardinal suggests, you can get them the Jepp books, but be sure you tell your students to get every FAA pub stated in the PTS. All writtens are drawn primarily from the FAA's publications (some Commercial questions used to be pulled from Aeronautics for Naval Aviators).

While I'm on the subject of books, bear in mind that the FAA is the final word on everything aviation. You might disagree with the FAA's way of doing business, your students might disagree and your favorite DE might disagree, but as long as your students execute procedures and exhibit knowledge as set forth by the FAA, they have to be passed.

You might use a receipt book to keep track of your income. Maybe open a separate checking account to receive revenue and disburse expenses to ensure you do not comingle your personal funds with your business funds. Your best, and most authoritative, source of business advice will come from your accountant.

Good luck with your business.

 

[Vik]

Being the only CFI at a school is *not* a bad thing. You get all the students, all of the time. How can that be bad?

 

[generaltso]

that is what i am thinking

 

[Float Pilot]

If you want some really good advice on how to log time, I recommend jumping over to Doc's FAR Forum web site. Doc is an airline pilot that really knows this topic. Here's the address: http://www.propilot.com/ Good luck with your instructing.