Part-time CFI: obstacles?

Center_Mid

Center_Mid

Well-Known Member
What are the main obstacles to working part-time as a CFI (at a non-academy FBO) while holding down a more stable and lucrative job three days a week, say Mon-Wed? Is it realistic, generally speaking? Do employers expect CFIs to have second jobs, especially jobs with health insurance? How would you discuss your availability with students? Do students shy away from CFIs who aren't available 24/7? Do employers?

I've got a stable gig as a lawyer here in the Pacific NW, but I've also got a modest 225TT and am considering getting my CSEL and CFI(I) tickets punched in the next 12 months, with the ultimate goal of teaching part time. I am not planning on a 121 career. I am well aware that CFI hiring has flatlined at many places lately, but I expect the wheel to keep turning and hiring to improve eventually in the next several years. I would want to maximize my utility to both students and potential employers, so knowing the potential pitfalls of being a part-timer would be very useful.

I appreciate your advice.
 
It is very do-able.
If you want it bad enough, make it happen and roll with the punches.

My current flight school has six full time guys and 5 Part-time.
My last flight school had 3 full time guys and 6 part timers.
 
I agree with Douglas, it's actually pretty common to have part-time CFIs that also hold full time jobs. At my old school there were at least 2-3 guys/girls doing this...
 
Biggest obstacle is the more lucrative job taking over and limiting the time available to teach. Depending on what that lawyer gig is, it can easily take the rest of the week's time.

When I started teaching, my non-flying job was for a company where the workload was relatively manageable. I could even get away for a long lunch 1-2 days a week for a lesson. Then I moved back into private practice and the teaching tailed off considerably.

Whether that's manageable or acceptable depends on your goal. Me, I'm content to keep my hand in teaching and wait for retirement to get it back to the levels I'd like.
 
Probably the one thing many part time CFIs overlook is insurance. I would venture to guess that the majority of CFIs- part time and full time- fly without coverage. For the 22 year old with no assets this is probably not a problem. In your case it could be.
Figure about $1000/year for CFI insurance. More if you teach in MEL.
 
Blackhawk said:
Probably the one thing many part time CFIs overlook is insurance. I would venture to guess that the majority of CFIs- part time and full time- fly without coverage. For the 22 year old with no assets this is probably not a problem. In your case it could be.
Figure about $1000/year for CFI insurance. More if you teach in MEL.
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You need CFI insurance apart from the employer's insurance on the aircraft?
 
It all depends on what flight school you teach at. At my last CFI job, I had to get insurance. It was $200 a year. Part 61 school.

The CFI job I have now I do not need insurance. They cover all the instructors. Part 141 school.
 
Blackhawk said:
Probably the one thing many part time CFIs overlook is insurance. I would venture to guess that the majority of CFIs- part time and full time- fly without coverage. For the 22 year old with no assets this is probably not a problem. In your case it could be.
Figure about $1000/year for CFI insurance. More if you teach in MEL.
Click to expand...

Mine was about $400 for $10k hull. Not sure about liability. This is for single or multi. I make sure the airplane has insurance as well.
 
mojo6911 said:
Mine was about $400 for $10k hull. Not sure about liability. This is for single or multi. I make sure the airplane has insurance as well.
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That's not too bad on a monthly basis. Were you considered an independent contractor or a regular employee?

Also, I've read in other threads that CFIs sometimes get a break on aircraft rental or sim time, maybe 10% per a/c hour or free time on a Frasca or PCATD. Is that common?
 
My schedule right now is 0800-1900 4 days a week on the line at our FBO and then I have 4 days off to flight instruct as much or as little as I want. I instructed 45 hours through April all while working full time on the line. I work a lot but the paychecks I keep getting are very motivating. All of our instructors here are part-time. Has almost always been that way.
 
Center_Mid said:
That's not too bad on a monthly basis. Were you considered an independent contractor or a regular employee?

Also, I've read in other threads that CFIs sometimes get a break on aircraft rental or sim time, maybe 10% per a/c hour or free time on a Frasca or PCATD. Is that common?
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That's $400 per year, but you have to pay it as a lump sum. As far as I know, they don't take monthly payments.

I am a regular employee, but that doesn't matter. Our CFIs get free use of our FTD and I always give free instruction for my co-workers if they are working on additional ratings.
 
I like full time instructors because they are available all the time, while I always run into problems with part time CFI's, since they work during the day time and don't want to fly on the weekends and usually that pisses the students off sometimes.
 
SFCC/UND said:
I like full time instructors because they are available all the time, while I always run into problems with part time CFI's, since they work during the day time and don't want to fly on the weekends and usually that pisses the students off sometimes.
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With a minimal amount of planning it typically isn't an issue.
 
mojo6911 said:
Mine was about $400 for $10k hull. Not sure about liability. This is for single or multi. I make sure the airplane has insurance as well.
Click to expand...

That is the other thing some do- under insure. A gear up in a single would probably run $60,000. I carry enough to cover me if I wreck the most expensive airplane in the fleet. Heck, even wrecking a 152 would probably run about $20-30K.
I would not take a flight school or FBO at their word about insurance. Look at the policy. Also, even if the school has insurance there is nothing that prevents an estate from going after an instructor as well as the school. Since the OP is a lawyer, I'll assume he has assets that other lawyers would like to get their hands on. Finally, as an independent CFI if you are not carrying insurance because you are covered by the school, be careful about flying other people's airplanes. In most cases their insurance will cover your instruction... but I don't know enough about insurance to know if this is true in all cases.
 
Blackhawk said:
That is the other thing some do- under insure. A gear up in a single would probably run $60,000. I carry enough to cover me if I wreck the most expensive airplane in the fleet. Heck, even wrecking a 152 would probably run about $20-30K.
I would not take a flight school or FBO at their word about insurance. Look at the policy. Also, even if the school has insurance there is nothing that prevents an estate from going after an instructor as well as the school. Since the OP is a lawyer, I'll assume he has assets that other lawyers would like to get their hands on. Finally, as an independent CFI if you are not carrying insurance because you are covered by the school, be careful about flying other people's airplanes. In most cases their insurance will cover your instruction... but I don't know enough about insurance to know if this is true in all cases.
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Good advice, but I know our flight school's insurance bill gets paid, and I know I am covered on it. If I was on my own, I would pay the extra money to get enough insurance.
 
I work Fri - Mon at a very large computer maker.. then instruct tue,wed, and thursday.. Seems to work out pretty well for me, Most people want to fly on the weekends but I don't miss much business.
 
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