Free Lance Vs. Flight School

Grabo172

Grabo172

Well-Known Member
Just wanted to get some opinions on whether it's better to work at the local FBO/flight school as an instructor or to spread yourself out and free lance at several different airports in the area?

If you do free lance, what kind of agreements would one expect if you want to instruct in an FBO's airplane?
 
I wouldn't expect to be able to instruct in an FBO's airplane as a freelance instructor, unless all of their instructors are freelance. Someone wanted to do that at my FBO, and all of us instructors said "HELL NO" (though somewhat stronger wording than that).

Instructing at an FBO/flight school will probably net you more students in the short term, going freelance allows you to charge more and pocket all of it, but then you have to handle your taxes.
 
Another thing to consider is that an aircraft to be used for flight instruction has to be insured as such, and many FBOs will only allow instruction in their aircraft to be given by their employees for insurance reasons. With that in mind, how would one go about free lancing in the first place? Is there insurance you can get for yourself as an instructor, or do you have to find a generous FBO, that has insurance that would cover you?

Its interresting this topic was brought up because I was just about to start a new thread to ask this.
 
You can get CFI insurance through Falcon (NAFI) or AOPAIA. It's nearly 7 benjamins for the max insurance though
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As far as I know, that insurance will cover you no matter where you instruct, only for liability; aircraft insurance is a different ballgame
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... however many FBOs will cover you for the acft (you'll pay the deductible, but you can be insured for that)
 
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It's nearly 7 benjamins for the max insurance though
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Ouch! How often would one be paying such a bill?
 
Once a year, and there's usually a discount if you haven't had any mishaps during the previous year.
 
I guess the freelance market would be for more of a BFR/periodic training area for people who have their own planes and don't need to rent through and FBO.

I looked into the insurance through AOPAIA and basic minimum coverage for liability ($250k) and a basic comprehensive ($20K) is $450 a year... not too bad, but still up there...
 
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I guess the freelance market would be for more of a BFR/periodic training area for people who have their own planes and don't need to rent through and FBO.

I looked into the insurance through AOPAIA and basic minimum coverage for liability ($250k) and a basic comprehensive ($20K) is $450 a year... not too bad, but still up there...

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That insurance would be tax deductable, so it would be a little less.
 
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Another thing to consider is that an aircraft to be used for flight instruction has to be insured as such, and many FBOs will only allow instruction in their aircraft to be given by their employees for insurance reasons.

[/ QUOTE ]The answer to this part of your question varies. In some parts of the country, CFIs are generally treated as employees of the flight school. But in others, CFIs are generally treated as independent contractors. Rephrasing your statement, in both cases, the insurance issue comes down to: most FBOs will only allow instruction in their aircraft to be given by CFIs who are approved by the FBO. It's also possible for an "employee model" FBO to allow some independents also. Whether it will or not depends on the FBO's general policies and whether the "independent" is bringing in new business or taking away business from the regular group of CFIs.
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Is there insurance you can get for yourself as an instructor, or do you have to find a generous FBO, that has insurance that would cover you?

[/ QUOTE ]As others mentioned, yes there is CFI insurance. As far as FBO insurance "covering" CFIs, that usually means that the =FBO= is covered if the CFI does something wrong. That's not the same thing as the CFI being protected. =Never ever= assume that someone else's insurance protects you.
 
I was wondering who here as taken flight instruction from a free lance instructor in his/her own airplane?

Does anyone know about this, and if it is viable option? I was thinking of buying my own aircraft, doing some form of leaseback with it and instructing in it also or just flight instructing in it without leasing it back to an FBO.

thanks
 
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I was wondering who here as taken flight instruction from a free lance instructor in his/her own airplane?

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I got my tailwheel signoff from a guy that did that. His plane, his airport (lol), his rates. It was great.

That being said, he was retired, and the planes (Champ and J-3) were paid for. He wasn't really in it for the money, just for fun.

The problem that you would run into would be flying the plane enough to pay for itself. As I'm sure you know, airplanes for hire or instruction cost more when they sit on the ground than they do when they're flying. Your best bet would be to lease it back to an FBO to keep it flying more. Then you could just instruct for that FBO and maybe a little in your specific plane on the side, if that was allowed (specified in the lease back agreement).
 
Well there are plenty of planes I have in mind for this, but one that sticks out is the new Diamond Twin Star when it comes out. I think that will be a wonderful multi trainer.

I am not quite sure how I will finance all of this, but I am sure the SBA could help out a little bit, and I would have to move to an area with lots of GA.
 
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