is it just me, or is denver the worst place to find a CFI gig?

P

Philip

New Member
I know there's a couple of guys around here that are local. Maybe they've got some words of wisdom or encouragement.

I've been here 2 years, keeping an eye out for something and the only things that seem to come up are things like ERAU training the cadets (something like 1000 dual required) or AIMS community out in greeley.

I even looked at the glider clubs to try and get some hours there, but I'm too darn big for the gliders. :banghead:


Well, on the brght side I'm over half done with my MBA, since the flying thing is working out so splendidly at least I'll have a "real" degree to fall back on! ;)
 
Stop by McAir Aviation and drop off your resume at. I know we are still interviewing for CFII positions. You need to have your CFII. I went through the same thing as you before I finally landed at job at McAir. Keep your chin up.
 
junior said:
Stop by McAir Aviation and drop off your resume at. I know we are still interviewing for CFII positions. You need to have your CFII. I went through the same thing as you before I finally landed at job at McAir. Keep your chin up.
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They're still hiring?
I've seen their add posted in a couple places, how are they to work for? Will they do part time? I'm not sure I can make the jump to full time right away, plus the commute! I'm in castle rock so I've sort of been holding out for a KAPA or KCOS gig. but I work nights 4 days a week so I'm available afternoons and all day sat/sun/mon/tues. (I work right between 35R and the XW runway a KAPA)

My other problem is I've been hanging out here doing nothing, I haven't actively flown since fall 2002 when I graduated (I do have a II, just need some recurrency and an IPC). Silly me, when you've just graduated college and are making 10 bucks an hour, and jepp offers you 35k and moves you to denver, it's tempting. I should have known better!

I've looked at the skydive clubs around here and jeeze, even the jump pilots seem to have 1000+ TT according to their website, crazy.
Haven't found any banner gigs either... but if it's got wings I'm down :)

Well, thanks for the heads up. Time to dig out the suit and spiffy up the resume!
 
The APA schools are busy, but a side-effect of that is that they tend to hire from within. With the exception of the older guys for whom teaching is a second or retirement career, most of the folks who teach at Aspen or Flights were taught at Aspen or Flights.

It a "family loyalty" system that can make it hard for someone from the outside unless you have something special to offer.
 
MidlifeFlyer said:
The APA schools are busy, but a side-effect of that is that they tend to hire from within. With the exception of the older guys for whom teaching is a second or retirement career, most of the folks who teach at Aspen or Flights were taught at Aspen or Flights.

It a "family loyalty" system that can make it hard for someone from the outside unless you have something special to offer.
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yeah, I've noticed.
it makes it difficult er, well impossible it seems, for a 141 guy with 0 hours of dual to get a foot in. Even worse when you're not proficcient and rusty.

I've considered just flying at flights a bunch and trying to network in, I think I can exploit a few contacts at work too. Plus their archer is cheap and I'll get comfy in an archer quickly, since I have like 3 hours of 172 time.


well hey, there's always key lime :o hahaha
 
Philip said:
I've considered just flying at flights a bunch and trying to network in,
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That's not necessarily a bad idea. You never know. If people get to know you, they powers that be might give you a break. That may be true in both locations, especially if you can show that you'd be a business getter instead of a business taker. You probably already know that both organizations use an "independent contractor" model which gives them a little more flexibility.

How about the new Jepp flying club? How's it coming along? I suppose they have more CFIs than sandwiches in the commissary.
 
MidlifeFlyer said:
That's not necessarily a bad idea. You never know. If people get to know you, they powers that be might give you a break. That may be true in both locations, especially if you can show that you'd be a business getter instead of a business taker. You probably already know that both organizations use an "independent contractor" model which gives them a little more flexibility.

How about the new Jepp flying club? How's it coming along? I suppose they have more CFIs than sandwiches in the commissary.
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dunno, don't work there anymore (thank god) Working as a dispatcher at the moment. Was hoping to weasel some SIC time when I took the job but it's not working out for me.

But anyway... yeah my department at jepp... oh, of 10 of us 8 were CFIs if that tells you anything.

I gotta hustle something together.. SOON. My CFI will need to be renewed again in Jan 07 and I'll be damn if I'm going to renew it with 0 hours of dual again :banghead: I really thought the glider thing was going to work out... at least I could get some time and help my odds at an airplane instructing job (and fly the living crap out of their towplane, if possible :D )

any instructors over at flights I should try to fly with and impress to maximize my networking return on investment? I need:
and IPC and a bunch of refreshing
to learn the area
to get comfy in the 172 (I hate 172s, shhhh!)
the flight portion of my BFR, assuming I can still use the CFI refresher from Jan 05 as the ground portion, I'll need a little ground anyway, I'm sure.
a complete refresh of all the maneuvers, I can't even remember the setups anymore without really trying, and coming from 141 land they probably do them differently anyway..
Probably good for at least 10 hours anyway.

I'll apply at mcair too still, but am not getting my hopes up. Think I'm too much of a fixxer upper to hire right now, not sure a UND degree buys me anything but a can of coke, just add 50 cents. If I thought I could make a go of it I'd head back to UND and just live in a crash pad and try to cover the mortgage(s) down here, but I just don't think it's feasible.


Wow, I've edited a few too many times to add thoughts and now I sound like a raving loon. Awesome.
 
i'm having a tough time working the denver metro area, too. i applied at mcair several times but they've not yet even had the decency to call me back and tell me whether or not they were still looking for instructors (applied twice in response to climbto350.com ads). i think the new CP doesn't like me because he's riddle and i am UND. :)

at any rate, there are freelancing jobs available if you're good at marketing. take the long drive out to front range and see what you can dig up. that's where i finally got a job. i prefer flying there to APA and BJC. APA is too busy. i can get from the ramp to the practice area in 10 minutes at FTG, whereas at APA sometimes it takes that 10 minutes to even get a break in the radio chatter to request a taxi.

PS - you're right. this is THE worst place to try to turn a buck as a CFI. i knew it when i came here (had other reasons than coming here, namely, the girlfriend), been kicking myself a lot lately. the good news is that there's money in the city and money is what makes planes fly. if you're a natural salesman, you can make it work. it's taking me a long time to switch gears in to being a marketer of my own services. word of mouth is great, but you have to establish a reputation first.
 
What year did you graduate?


Guy at work said pre 911 there used to be a ton of banner towing around here, now... you never see them. :(
 
Ah, dec 2002 for me.
winter grads are the best, short, and usually cold as hell. Plus the fritz > the alerus

How was hiring @ UND when you graduated? That fall I applied and I think they hired 11 our of 80 some applicants, I hope it improved quickly.
 
depends. when i got hired, they hired over 100. the next time around, they only took 12. the acceptance requirements supposedly are the same, but who knows. when i was hired, a few people i know who actually HAD experience outside UND didn't make it, but some people who've never flown without a G430 got in no sweat.

i've considered going back to UND. i hope i don't have to resort to such drastic measures.
 
Ditto. I'd have to get a cheap crash pad and funnel $$ home to cover expenses here and really try to scrape by, not to mention spend 9 or 10k to get my MEI and fly the ride with.... dana. ugh.

Did they ease up the written any? I think my hire group was the first of the "new" test that wasn't based on FAA questions. Their 5/5/10 grading scale still irks me to this day, all it does is ensure the kiss-asses get hired.
 
no, the written is still the hardest test i've ever taken in my life, complete with all the obscure facts that any normal person can barely even guess at.

as an aside, i sent my stuff to mcair a third time. maybe one of us will get lucky. maybe they'll even call this time. :) btw, from castle rock, i'd consider the AFA at Co. spgs.. don't let their published minimums keep you from sending an app. trust me.
 
roundout said:
no, the written is still the hardest test i've ever taken in my life, complete with all the obscure facts that any normal person can barely even guess at.

as an aside, i sent my stuff to mcair a third time. maybe one of us will get lucky. maybe they'll even call this time. :) btw, from castle rock, i'd consider the AFA at Co. spgs.. don't let their published minimums keep you from sending an app. trust me.
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Well, worth a shot I suppose, though i've applied in the past.
 
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