flyinguitar
Well-Known Member
I'm coming up on my 1 year anniversary of starting work as a CFI. I've wanted to fly since I was 6, and after a few stabs at other careers, I'm proud that I now work as a professional pilot.
However, I never got into flying to teach. While I was getting my ratings I looked forward to teaching, and imagined that I would enjoy it. The reality has been that I find it tremendously frustrating. I've had a few students that have been successful, and who have been rewarding for me to watch grow and eventually get the certificate/rating they were working on. The majority, however, bring nowhere near the motivation, dedication, or talent that I myself brought as a student, or that I believe a student of flying should bring. I have become extremely tired of teaching these students day in and day out.
This has been disappointing, because I wasn't expecting instructing to be this frustrating. I tell myself that once I move on to the next step (I think I'm really close!!!), actually flying myself (and not teaching) will be a much better fit for my personality.
The problem is this: I have found that, with many things in life, one can look with hope from a frustrating situation to the future - only to be ambushed by a whole new set of difficulties once one does find themself in a new situation. I.e, "the grass is always greener."
Which leads me to my question: has anyone found instruction to be particularly frustrating, and when they made it to the next step (regional, freight, charter) they actually felt a significant improvement in their job?
I hope so! I could use a little inspiration!
However, I never got into flying to teach. While I was getting my ratings I looked forward to teaching, and imagined that I would enjoy it. The reality has been that I find it tremendously frustrating. I've had a few students that have been successful, and who have been rewarding for me to watch grow and eventually get the certificate/rating they were working on. The majority, however, bring nowhere near the motivation, dedication, or talent that I myself brought as a student, or that I believe a student of flying should bring. I have become extremely tired of teaching these students day in and day out.
This has been disappointing, because I wasn't expecting instructing to be this frustrating. I tell myself that once I move on to the next step (I think I'm really close!!!), actually flying myself (and not teaching) will be a much better fit for my personality.
The problem is this: I have found that, with many things in life, one can look with hope from a frustrating situation to the future - only to be ambushed by a whole new set of difficulties once one does find themself in a new situation. I.e, "the grass is always greener."
Which leads me to my question: has anyone found instruction to be particularly frustrating, and when they made it to the next step (regional, freight, charter) they actually felt a significant improvement in their job?
I hope so! I could use a little inspiration!