Can I afford to teach at Van Nuys?

djh1007

djh1007

Flying Squirrel Trainee
I have ~400 hours, CFI, CFI-I, AGI and CMEL. Through a connection I have the opportunity to move out to VNY and teach at a busy school. I am currently teaching at two schools and doing independent instruction as well at a small class C airport on the east coast.

I would love to be in VNY, as my long term goal is to get into corporate aviation and stay part 91 my entire career. I know that world is all about who you know and the relationships you are able to cultivate, and it would seem as if there are many, many, many times more opportunities in LA than there are in North Carolina.

I'm 24, have no debt, and my family might be willing to help me out until I get established on my own.

Checking craigslist it appears that I can rent a room in a nice house for 600-900/month, which is MUCH cheaper than renting an apartment. I'm ok living in a nice bachelor pad with other people my age for a few years. I also own my car outright.

I've never even been to CA, so this would be a huge move for me. Can a CFI expect to live in the San Fernando Valley? I would work hard to get the next job after I build up my experience.

Any thoughts?
 
I can't imagine how far you would have to go to find suitable training areas. Every time I have been there it's very busy especially north as all the jet traffic funnels from NNW through the pass to get in. There is a ton of jet traffic and networking opportunities would abound. The game there though is 135 charter. It's the charter hub of the west coast which entails both good ( Clay Lacy ) , and plenty of bottom dwellers too. I don't think there is much of a 91 presence other than transient traffic. I can't tell you anything about living expenses. I do know that the surrounding area is the porn capital of the world.
 
There is an opening for a full-time CFI in Fresno, CA right now. This can get you to the west coast plus we have a fantastic training environment for teaching (easy practice area access, class C airspace). We have enough demand to get you ramped up full time quickly.
 
Inverted said:
If you think Lacy is one of the good ones, I would hate to see who you think a bottom dweller is.
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That's what I was thinking since he was a scab at United...

To the OP, it sounds like you already have the job lined up which is much better than coming out looking for one. SoCal is expensive but I wouldn't let that stop you as the weather is flyable more often than many places, which may make up for it. Sounds like you have a good handle on housing. You'll find gas will be .50 cents a gallon or so more and I've found nice bars charge more for beer. For example, I paid $7 for a pint of Stone Black IPA at Rock n Brews in El Segundo the other day. You could probably get a six pack on sale for that at Safeway. But it's an upscale sports bar. I think generally groceries aren't that much more expensive than anywhere else.

You don't mention where you're from. LA can be a pretty bizarre place but there is something for everyone. I rode my bike through Venice beach a few days ago and left just shaking my head about how grungy and weird it is. But people come from all over to see that and I go back time and again like having to watch a train wreck. If Hollywood is anything like Venice, well, you'll get an education...
 
Have you considered Florida? I made the move as a flight instructor from SoCal to Florida and it was quite a dramatic change in QOL and disposable income, which I had none of in California.
 
Inverted said:
If you think Lacy is one of the good ones, I would hate to see who you think a bottom dweller is.
Click to expand...
I stand corrected. Thought he had a good reputation despite his Jurassic fleet. Now that I think about it, most charter is bottom feeding. VNY is always one of those places where you see lots of G-IIs, G-IIIs, Lear 35's and the like.
 
cezzna said:
I stand corrected. Thought he had a good reputation despite his Jurassic fleet. Now that I think about it, most charter is bottom feeding. VNY is always one of those places where you see lots of G-IIs, G-IIIs, Lear 35's and the like.
Click to expand...


Come stop by the signature ramp, or the Maguire ramp. Yeah, there are some.old dogs here, but there is also 3 or 4 BBJ's based here. It's a melting pot. But it's mostly a "good 'ole boys" club. The only operators that really hire here have me back at flight instructing is that says anything.
 
at1024 said:
Have you considered Florida? I made the move as a flight instructor from SoCal to Florida and it was quite a dramatic change in QOL and disposable income, which I had none of in California.
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You can live on next to nothing in Florida. And there are a lot of airports.
 
A Life Aloft said:
Really? Based on what exactly?
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From what I've seen, I would tend to agree. I'm sure there are good charter outfits, but most of what I see is what I make now or less to fly a lot more airplane with you're typical charter schedule(min days off per quarter).
 
drunkenbeagle said:
You can live on next to nothing in Florida. And there are a lot of airports.
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True, after moving out of Florida and even making a lot more $ then I use to make there as a CFI I was never able to get the same QOL. But even in Florida there are expensive places, location is everything, and if you get the wrong habits you can drain your paycheck really fast, at some point I would drive down to Miami every weekend (2 hour away from my house) and it got very fast out of hand.

My gf just bought a condo in the Ft Lauderdale area, I was blown away by some of the deals out there, getting an apt in a very nice gated community for the price of a car!! blocks away from the beach.
 
swisspilot said:
My gf just bought a condo in the Ft Lauderdale area, I was blown away by some of the deals out there, getting an apt in a very nice gated community for the price of a car!! blocks away from the beach.
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The deals are starting to dry up on housing, but there are still a few out there. But you can pretty easily get by here. Ask DPApilot (if he ever leaves KEYW)
 
cezzna said:
I stand corrected. Thought he had a good reputation despite his Jurassic fleet. Now that I think about it, most charter is bottom feeding. VNY is always one of those places where you see lots of G-IIs, G-IIIs, Lear 35's and the like.
Click to expand...

Most charter is NOT bottom feeding. The company I work for pays well, fantastic QOL, they don't work you like a dog 24/7 and I don't have to pay for my type ratings. Lacy can't say any of that.
 
Autothrust Blue said:
OP, I am living fairly well on first year regional pay in Camarillo, with one roommate. But your experience may vary.


Yes, but you're still living in Florida... ;)
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It`s a big state, difference between towns can be huge, there are many gems around...do you hate snow birds that much ;)?

To be honest the only thing that bothered me while living was some of the bible belt craziness, bars closing at midnight...
 
drunkenbeagle said:
Ask DPApilot (if he ever leaves KEYW)
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That`s actually a place I don`t like at all, I still have to figure out what is so great about it, and after living in the South Pacific there are no waters that can impress me as much. I dunno I think Key West is kind of lame...I flew down for the Lobster fest last year, I dunno I wasn`t impressed at all, next time I would rather fly up to Apalachicola, I love that place.
 
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