CFI shortage?

USMCmech

USMCmech

Well-Known Member
Is north Texas the only place where there are no CFIs, or is it everywhere?


My school just lost 3 to Eagle, I'm out the door in a month, and the rest are not far behind. Our nonexistant management has taken on WAY TOO MANY foreign students, who are getting royally screwed.

However they still pay us the same as they did 4 years ago, expect us to fly discovery flights for free, and work the desk for free.


Honestly, it dosen't matter to me much anymore since I'm 50 hours away from 135 mins. However it dirves me nuts to watch some of my students get royally screwed. I'm just trying to get out of here in one peice.


Does this story sound familiar, or is it just me?
 
i'm well taken care of, but i'm the exception not the norm.

i've seen many people get screwed for the reasons at your place, but we try to treat ours a little better - again the exception not the norm
 
you gotta really want to be a 'professional flight instructor'. listen, i spent seven years flying cargo, charter and int'l air ambo flying 20, 30and 50-series learjets (twin turbine beech 18's, mu-2's and king airs before that). i made 105k my last year as a captain/check airman, later turning down the chief pilot position in florida after i'd returned home to arkansas six months after leaving the company. but, i had to wear that damn pager all that time, 15 minutes to the airport, 45 minutes wheels up, responsible for all flight planning, fuel, w&b, customs documents, training the foreign fo's who were 'paying to fly' jets at our company and ultimately be permitted to work on the certificate. i was gone from home 1-2 weeks at a time..living out of hotels..working front/back sides of the clock at company discretion. i had no life.

i traded income for lifestyle. what will i earn this first year back doing basic flight instructing? 20k..that's about it. but i've slowed down, control my schedule, when i want to fly, etc. would i return to part 135? doubtful, even for the money. i probably should have gone 121 from the start, but i'd always loved lears, especially the old ones. i had one behind me holding short of runway 36 in little rock i used to fly for kalitta..n78ck. it did make me miss it for a moment and said hello to a crew i didn't know..flew for them a decade ago. i'd love to be a lear sim instructor, but there's only 4 locations in the country and doubtful little rock will ever become the fifth. a firend who's an asst. chief pilot at a regional flying delta and northwest connections has approached me about being a ground instructor, or getting typed in a regional jet as a sim instructor, but i'd have to move memphis. i don't know..a cushy part 91 gig flying a lear would be great,but nobody operates the 20 and 30-series for which i have most of my hours due to being to expensive to operate,especially the turbojet 20's. so anyway, for the time being, it's great to have 'been there and done it'..but i get to be home every night now..that's worth something to me. plus i love to teach..you gotta.
 
We had a guy here that got the job simply because he wanted to have a current flying job on his resume. He left after 2 weeks. I really wish there was another way for people to build time other than CFI'ing. It screws over everyone involved when:

A) They don't want to teach
B) They have no business teaching people

I hope this shortage bumps up the pay for people who like instructing. Fortunately for me, I work at a place that rewards people who want to stick around a while.
 
The group I work with got together and pretty much said we need a pay raise or we're going to where the grass is greener.

They bumped it a $1.50 with another raise in Jan. Not much, but it's a start.
 
whichwayisup said:
The group I work with got together and pretty much said we need a pay raise or we're going to where the grass is greener.

They bumped it a $1.50 with another raise in Jan. Not much, but it's a start.
Click to expand...

good for you guys. you're not sticking it to The Man, but you're advocating your marketability. It's a fine line, but you have to know when to toe it.
 
Most flight schools that cater to foreign students seem to allow too many of them over here, with not enough aircraft for CFI's to supply the demand.

And yes, there IS a CFI shortage.....typical stay at some of these busier schools is 2-3 months.
 
Our school just got a fourth part-time instructor. The guy flies for the local ANG unit almost full time.

In this environment nobody wants to teach primary students, and not have a multi engine airplane.

We pay 20/hour and my parents joke about running a country club instead of a flight school, and still can't find a full-time CFI.
 
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