Freelance CFI Help

[Jfk-Pilot]

Hey Everyone,

Not to long I was contacted by a gentleman that had his own Cessna 150f, who needed a CFI to take him from his Instrument rating all the way up to his CFI, CFII.

Being an un-employed cfi, this is a really great opportunity for me to keep teaching and also network a little.

But, What I'm more worried about it, is the fact that I have never done any freelance CFI work, so I really do not know what legal precautions i should take that will save me from having any legal issues if god forbid there would be an accident/ incident. Aside from that I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to maybe a set up a small contract that clearly spells out how I bill and what I charge, and other issues like no show's or cancellations.

So I would greatly appreciate it, if some of the veteran CFI's who have done freelance work before maybe chime in with some advice.

I'm meeting with the gentleman on Monday to go flying with him, just so that he can get a feel for how it is flying with me and vice versa.

Thanks for any help in advance.

-Stan

 

[bdhill1979]

get your own CFI insurance coverage, it is not really expensive, but way worth it if something goes wrong.

Also a cessna 150 wont work for Commercial and CFI, those need to be in a complex airplane

 

[shdw]

get your own CFI insurance coverage, it is not really expensive, but way worth it if something goes wrong.

Also a cessna 150 wont work for Commercial and CFI, those need to be in a complex airplane

Just to note here, he cannot rent an aircraft and have you teach him in it. You would have to be employed by the place he rents the complex aircraft from, unless of course he purchases something.

Good luck

 

[flyingmaniac]

I've never had any problems (yet) with free-lance work. Basically the student pays me after every flight or week. I just keep a log of the hours flown in a book that I keep in my back pocket. Also make sure that the student with the airplane has an insurance policy that pays a lot.

Pretty sure that by the time you finish Instrument training, the both of you will be tired of bouncing around in a C150. So your student might be interested in training in a larger aircraft by that time.

 

[IslandFlyer]

Just to note here, he cannot rent an aircraft and have you teach him in it. You would have to be employed by the place he rents the complex aircraft from, unless of course he purchases something.

Good luck

Is this because of the holding out and all that stuff or what?

 

[mooneyguy]

Is this because of the holding out and all that stuff or what?

No, it’s just because most schools will not let a non-employee fly their plane. Most flight schools charge X amount for the instrction and then pay their instructor a portion of that! There are also the insurance requirements.

I know of a couple places near me that will let a freelance cfi use their plane, but someone pays the extra $15 per hour to the school.

 

[esa17]

Just to note here, he cannot rent an aircraft and have you teach him in it. You would have to be employed by the place he rents the complex aircraft from, unless of course he purchases something.

Good luck

Not true.

A lot of part 61 outfits will allow someone to teach in flight school aircraft. Especially if the outfit itself only uses freelance CFI's.

I can think of a few small airports in the DFW area where this is the case.

 

[wjmiller3]

Just to note here, he cannot rent an aircraft and have you teach him in it. You would have to be employed by the place he rents the complex aircraft from, unless of course he purchases something.

Good luck

The way it works here (not me) is the CFI rents the airplane in his name and teaches the student in it. The student cannot rent the airplane due to insurance requirements unless the schools CFI is in the plane with them. But the CFI who is insurable, can rent the plane and teach in it. Happens all the time.

 

[Jfk-Pilot]

thanks for the responses so far.

In regards to the cfi insurance coverages, are there any good companies one can recommend.

As far as the whole complex airplane issue, we already discussed that, and there a few places in KDAB that let free lance cfi's instruct in there airplanes, the one place i know of makes you pay $8/hr for every hour you fly with the student.

-Stan

 

[MidlifeFlyer]

thanks for the responses so far.

In regards to the cfi insurance coverages, are there any good companies one can recommend.

You can always check with an independent agent if you know one, but the two most common ones are Falcon Insurance, which does the policies for NAFI and AOPAIA. The policies are similar with roughly equivalent premiums. Avemco offers a CFI policy but the last time I checked (about 2 months ago) it's coverage was limited to when the CFI is in the airplane, so I would avoid that one.

 

[at1024]

Not true.

A lot of part 61 outfits will allow someone to teach in flight school aircraft. Especially if the outfit itself only uses freelance CFI's.

I can think of a few small airports in the DFW area where this is the case.

This was true for me during my commercial training. I was in a 141 program that had lost their complex aircraft so we had to drive 15 minutes to another small airport that had a 61 program, if you would even call it that. The owner was just happy to have the business. And I was happy to have a plane. The downside was that someone outside my program could take it out of town for a week, as was the case on a few occasions. It was frustrating but I eventually got it finished.

 

[imatworkallday]

Just to note here, he cannot rent an aircraft and have you teach him in it. You would have to be employed by the place he rents the complex aircraft from, unless of course he purchases something.

Good luck

Unless the place he rents from will allow that. The place I am at will. It actually give me come options. I bring in a student I can have them as either a freelance (benefits the student more than me i.e. no pay but cheaper rate for the student) or as a student of the school (benefits me as well as the student i.e. i get paid by the school)

P.S. Who would want a red commie sunthin or other teachn em...damn commie...

 

[anglerquest]

But, What I'm more worried about it, is the fact that I have never done any freelance CFI work, so I really do not know what legal precautions i should take that will save me from having any legal issues if god forbid there would be an accident/ incident.
-Stan

Someone told me that I should go established a business name before doing any freelance/contract work, so that if there is a lawsuit they would sue me by the business name and not my personal name. He said the proceess is to go to your local courthouse and fill out a DBA form (Doing Business As).
Have anyone done this? Please elaborate. Thanks.

 

[Zero1Niner]

Someone told me that I should go established a business name before doing any freelance/contract work, so that if there is a lawsuit they would sue me by the business name and not my personal name. He said the proceess is to go to your local courthouse and fill out a DBA form (Doing Business As).
Have anyone done this? Please elaborate. Thanks.

Only works if you actually establish a corporation of some sort (LLC, C or S Corp), and even then, you still have some exposure. Its not a guaranteed level of protection. Many variables to consider. Depending on the state you are in, its usually not cheap to incorporate, and cost a decent chunk to keep it going each year too.

DBA really doesnt offer any protection whatsoever. Your still a 'sole proprietor' whether you are Joe Blow, or JB Flying Services.

 

[moxiepilot]

Someone told me that I should go established a business name before doing any freelance/contract work, so that if there is a lawsuit they would sue me by the business name and not my personal name. He said the proceess is to go to your local courthouse and fill out a DBA form (Doing Business As).
Have anyone done this? Please elaborate. Thanks.

Do you have anything that needs protecting? My guess is...no. If you get sued what's the most you can be taken for? If it's less than a whole lot, you prob. don't need to incorporate.

 

[Jfk-Pilot]

Unless the place he rents from will allow that. The place I am at will. It actually give me come options. I bring in a student I can have them as either a freelance (benefits the student more than me i.e. no pay but cheaper rate for the student) or as a student of the school (benefits me as well as the student i.e. i get paid by the school)

P.S. Who would want a red commie sunthin or other teachn em...damn commie...

 

[MidlifeFlyer]

Someone told me that I should go established a business name before doing any freelance/contract work, so that if there is a lawsuit they would sue me by the business name and not my personal name. He said the proceess is to go to your local courthouse and fill out a DBA form (Doing Business As).
Have anyone done this? Please elaborate. Thanks.

Wrong. In so many ways.

There may be be good reasons to set up a separate legal entity, but avoiding getting sued for what you do as an instructor is not one of them and filing a d/b/a certificate is not the way to do it in any state I'm aware of.

 

[MidlifeFlyer]

Only works if you actually establish a corporation of some sort (LLC, C or S Corp), and even then, you still have some exposure.

Even then, you have 100% exposure.

This is probably No. 1 on the hit parade of things people don't understand about setting these things up.

Setting up a corporation or a limited liability company does NOT protect you from a liability lawsuit for what YOU do. Period.

They are designed to protect you from contract liability when the people you deal with agree to make their deal with the company, not with you. They are also designed to shield you to a large degree for "bad things" that your employees, associates, partners, etc might do.

But they are not designed to shield us from responsibility if we run a red light or crash and airplane and hurt someone.

 

[escapepilot]

You'll definitely want some form of CFI liability insurance. If your student goes on to do something stupid months after you last flew, but you were the last to fly w/ him, then you could be liable. Judgements against you could lead to wage garnishment for up to 30 years (or so I was told by an attorney friend). AOPA's leagal services plan is also cheap insurance if you do need legal help (being sued, FAA issue, etc.).

 

[minitour]

Wrong. In so many ways.

There may be be good reasons to set up a separate legal entity, but avoiding getting sued for what you do as an instructor is not one of them and filing a d/b/a certificate is not the way to do it in any state I'm aware of.

:yeahthat:

If something goes wrong, they're going to sue (at a minimum):

• Your "company"
• You
• The plane manufacturer
• The avionics manufacturer
• The FBO that fueled the plane
• The person that fueled the plane
• Your estate (if you're deceased)
• Your insurance company
• Their insurance company
• The mechanics that have/are worked/working on the plane.

No, they won't win a lot of them...but any lawyer is going to make sure they sue as many people as possible. Money talks.

-mini