Any part-time CFI's?

PGT

PGT

Well-Known Member
Just wondering how the work/life balance is? Preferably someone with a FT job who teaches students on the side. Is it doable?
 
I have a full time job, and teach part time. For gliders, I would say that is the norm. BFRs/checkouts, pretty easy. Primary students, it is hard to have more than one or two at a time. (My first CFI was a part timer too)

Airplanes are a bit easier, as you are not as dependent on the weather.
 
That's what I do and it's the best of both worlds as far as I'm concerned. I make real money, have good insurance, home every night, get paid to fly and only teach as much as I can handle given my other obligations during any given time of the year. I fly little enough that I still appreciate and get excited with each student and flight lesson, which makes it really fun for me. There are definitely times when I am envious of people who get to fly every day and who are racking up lots of flight hours, but I know that I could easily go do that if I wanted but there would be a huge cost to my quality of life and my family and I'm not willing to accept that cost, so then I find I'm very content with where I'm at. If you have a family you have to be careful and decide in advance how often and when you are willing to fly and make sure you're making quality time with your family so that they feel loved and appreciated when you have free time.

Do you have any specific questions about it?
 
Just if there are people out there who do CFI for fun, without considering it a career and how often you actually get to fly. Is it something wroth pursuing if someone already has a CFI?
 
PGT said:
Just if there are people out there who do CFI for fun, without considering it a career and how often you actually get to fly. Is it something wroth pursuing if someone already has a CFI?
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As for how often I get to fly, it is pretty much whenever I want. Reality of a full time job though, it gets in the way. Would end up flying much more if I weren't on the road working :)
 
PGT said:
Just if there are people out there who do CFI for fun, without considering it a career and how often you actually get to fly. Is it something wroth pursuing if someone already has a CFI?
Click to expand...

Anywhere from 2-10 hours per week for me, that's about as much as I can handle and still have time for other interests and my family. Of course you need to maintain some minimal level of activity over time if you want to be very useful as a CFI... there's just a lot of stuff you need to keep in mind and stay "up on" to be effective in my opinion.

I know several other part time CFI's who work full-time as professionals and most of them just keep one or two students. It's really up to you as far as what your personal schedule permits and how much you want to fly and how well you market yourself. Having access to a suitable airplane also is a big stumbling block for some. Not every FBO will let you use their airplanes, some might be very welcoming. Make sure you know your insurance situation regardless, there's some real liability.

Is it worth it? Strange question in my opinion. I guess it depends on what you want to get out of it. If you want to teach and fly for fun but aren't interested in or otherwise cannot make CFI'ing your primary job, then it just makes sense.
 
Sure why not. I actually find teaching fun again now that I get to do it when I want to not because I have to.
 
I teach part time, weekends only. I log about 4 hours/week on average. I could get more time if I wanted to. But not sure if I could do less (meaning I don't think the FBO will be ok with that)
 
I am a full time student and then teach part time, It works out alright but my students have to be flexible with me. A lot of flights on the weekends.
 
I also work full-time (non-aviation related industry) and instruct on the side. Now with daylight savings time that ended and winter weather descending upon us, my availability will be pretty limited for the typical student in this area. I feel bad for my students at times because of my schedule but they have been willing to work around my availability thus far.
 
It's what I want to do. As a respiratory therapist, FT is only 3-12 hour shifts / week. I just have to get back in the seat and obtain the ratings.
 
Yup. Full time job flying a desk during the week and instructing on the weekends and weekday mornings in the winter, evenings in the summer. Fortunately I manage my own schedule, so I set my own pace. It's doable, but there were times over the summer I was a week behind laundry let alone just having a free moment to myself. I suppose in the end though it's up to what your goals are. Mine is to change careers in 2013, so I'm trying to fly as much as possible. At the height of the summer I was building about 12-14 a week, and now in the new england winter around 4-5 a week (mostly weekends only). I try to keep around 4-6 students at a time. Once I'm debt free I'll move to instructing more and going part time at the day job. I got the job teaching at my club because I did all my other ratings there.
 
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