Teaching as a new CFI provides a fantastic opportunity to really learn about aviation. For those of you now 121, after how many hours of dual given did you reach the point where you really were not getting any more out of the teaching? Did it make a difference whether you were teaching primary students or instrument students?
Diminishing Returns - Dual Given Hours
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swakid8
Well-Known Member
There is always something to learn from giving dual in terms of communication, different ways to mentor different pilots, maintaining situation awareness, multitasking. My recommendation, get the CFII and MEI as well.
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chrisreedrules
Master Blaster
I know this is just wishful thinking, but I wish that being an instructor was a truly viable way to make a living as a pilot. It would draw those who are passionate about teaching what they love to stay in that segment of the industry and those who are simply there to build time can move on.
swakid8
Well-Known Member
Constellation
Well-Known Member
I’ve had instructors that were simply content with teaching PPL maneuvers in the same practice area to build their time, and others that sought to vary their teaching and aviation experience by becoming a CFII, MEI, spin instructor, etc.
If I were to ask my first instructor if he plateaued, he’d say definitely and should have been at an airline hundreds of hours ago.
The same question asked to the latter pilot (my last instructor), he’d say no way as he still has much to learn. I imagine most here have flown with both types of instructors at some point in their career.
Not saying the first instructor is necessarily in the wrong, as I recognize additional instructing opportunities are not available everywhere, but some treat instructing simply as a means to an end and others treat it as their profession.
If I were to ask my first instructor if he plateaued, he’d say definitely and should have been at an airline hundreds of hours ago.
The same question asked to the latter pilot (my last instructor), he’d say no way as he still has much to learn. I imagine most here have flown with both types of instructors at some point in their career.
Not saying the first instructor is necessarily in the wrong, as I recognize additional instructing opportunities are not available everywhere, but some treat instructing simply as a means to an end and others treat it as their profession.
chrisreedrules
Master Blaster
And which one do you think probably makes a more well-rounded pilot?
bLizZuE
Calling for engine starts en français
Variety helps. 1,850 of dual given but I taught private, commercial, instrument, multi, instructor, and did stage checks. I volunteered for every opportunity to fly a different aircraft and teach in different programs (same plane different syllabus or teaching style).
If you’re “bored” then do something different but don’t waste a customers (or your) time.
If you’re “bored” then do something different but don’t waste a customers (or your) time.
RetiredATLATC
Well-Known Member
Sorry, not to sound ignorant because I honestly don't know, but from everything I read on here being a CFI or double II at this time in aviation is pretty good financially. Or am I mistaken?
Karnage
I-am-a-pirate. I do not need credentials!
Well, even on year two pay at a regional I am still (according to my W-2) about $20k short of what I was making as a CFI, so I would say yes IF you instruct at the right place. I figure I won't best my CFI pay until I upgrade, since it would take a pay rate of about $56/hour and 90hrs credit per month to top what I made my last year as a CFI.
Jordan93
Well-Known Member
If you are an independent CFI with something special to offer I’m sure you can make a decent living. If you’re working at Joe’s Flight School in the sticks it’s tough. Even the big box 141 schools have pretty bad pay. I grossed about 40K at a relatively busy 61 school in Long Island but I was working 6.5 days a week
Screaming_Emu
Well-Known Member
I only instructed for about 450 hours, but they were the most formative 450 hours of my career. I planned on instructing for longer, but I could see the music at the regionals starting to slow down so I checked out early. If you're not getting anything out of it, you're doing it wrong.
A150K
Well-Known Member
I have 1200 dual given, another 500 or so teaching in sims I never kept track of and some time as a part 135 company instructor. I never felt like I got even remotely close to running out of opportunities to build and learn from teaching. It truly is one of the most challenging flying jobs out there
thevideographer
Well-Known Member
I thought I knew my job really well when I went to a regional. Then I got in a turboprop flying 121 and felt like I knew nothing. There's a ton of stuff you're just not going to learn instructing nomatter how many hours you have. Something to think about depending on what your goals are.
Richman
JC’s Resident Curmudgeon
There are always more rungs on the CFI ladder...CFII, MEI. After a while you can do other CFI students or do stage checks (if 141). Well into my 3rd year instructing I was "troubleshooting"...taking guys and gals who were having a rough spot and figuring out what was what. It was always an interesting challenge.
That experience served me very well when I was an IP in 121.
That experience served me very well when I was an IP in 121.
RetiredATLATC
Well-Known Member
Again, and this is no disrespect, but if this is what you've chosen isn't this a path you've decided to take?
hook_dupin
Well-Known Member
I've been teaching on the side now for a bunch of years... I still haven't reached the point of diminishing returns. There's always a client with a new airplane or a guy who isn't learning well from the younger guys. Next goals for me are teaching primary with a tailwheel, teaching Sport Pilots, and perhaps becoming a BPPP/CSIP instructor.
Jordan93
Well-Known Member
For sure. There’s money to be made obviously. Like I said in my other post, if you have some sort of specialty, I think you can make a decent living as a CFI.
This is exactly what I was wondering about. If a diligent and conscientious CFI/I is doing the job to become a better pilot and build experience, while putting full effort into turning students into safe pilots, is there a point where more CFI’ing won’t help the transition to a regional jet?
Roger Roger
Bottom of the list
That applies regardless of what the job transition is. New gig has me flying the same approaches to a lot of the same airports and talking to the same controllers as my last one-and I’m still making, uh, “learning experiences” every trip. Whether it’s logistics of backside of the the clock flying in winter to remote airports or getting in/out of Large Class C Airport when vis is shifting above and below mins, any new job is going to bring new things to learn.