Part-Time CFI Work With Professional Career

C

Counselor

Well-Known Member
For those of you with a full-time career (outside of aviation) who part-time CFI, how do you make it work? Does it quench your aviation thirst? Seems like there are a few law enforcement and nursing types who also part-time CFI.
 
My thirst for aviation is unquenchable, but it does make me easier to live with. It took a while for me to find the right balance between work, family and flying. I really enjoy teaching others to fly, and I'd do it full time if it paid what my J-O-B does. I made the decision long ago to go for quality of life first and flying second, and I'm happy with my choice. For me, I would rather have a job that allows me the excess income to afford my own plane than to earn a living working in a plane without that extra income.
 
The answer is "it depends on the situation". What the family life is like, what the full time job is, and what the training requirements are.

I know people whose life revolves around aviation but they hold down a "real" job for the money. I also have a good friend who let his aviation hobby and time away from the family become a major factor that lead to a divorce. It is a balancing act, but each situation is unique. However, whatever you do, be very sensitive to what it takes away from the family.
 
I agree with Guy. When I started teaching I had a corporate job that gave me time to do some teaching, even if it was only 1-2 students and some transitions and checkouts. With one student, I even was able to take 3-hour lunches to teach once or twice a week and still get all my work done.

Then I moved back into private practice and the demands on my time increased (it feels) exponentially and I now do very, very little training.
 
I work a corporate job from 0600-1400 Mon-Fri. Usually teach from 1400-1700 weekdays and one flight each morning on the weekend at 0600. Works out pretty well.
 
I found it to work out great. I was staying current and proficient while making a extra money. And if you like teaching, even better. I don't think that it totally fills an aviation thirst, unless you got in to it for the stall recoveries and turns around a point :laff:
 
Guy said:
The answer is "it depends on the situation". What the family life is like, what the full time job is, and what the training requirements are.

I know people whose life revolves around aviation but they hold down a "real" job for the money. I also have a good friend who let his aviation hobby and time away from the family become a major factor that lead to a divorce. It is a balancing act, but each situation is unique. However, whatever you do, be very sensitive to what it takes away from the family.
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Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner.

I hold down a "real" job and I Instruct part-time. I have managed to balance this, a wife, a kid, a house, and extended family drama for a little over 2 years. Sometimes it becomes overwhelming, and you need to take a small break. Sometimes you are ache to get out of the house and fly for an hour. The key is to find a flight school that will work with your schedule or obtain your own plane somehow. Your time is valuable and the last thing you want is to be at the FBO all day for free on a day off. I currently work at a place that allows me to teach when I want to, the way I want to, dress the way I want to, and won't interfere or nickel and dime students (the last two are both HUGE pet-peeves of mine). This is after trying to make it work at a place that was the exact opposite and the last straw was the fluctuating charges to my students. What is it about some flight schools that are never 100% up front with costs? Anyway, if you need more info feel free to PM me. Thanks
 
This thread is from a few years ago, but would love to hear about folks with full time "regular" jobs who CFI part-time on the side for the love of flying or to quench the aviation bug. Does it work for you?
 
I work in research and am stuck across the pond with a part time passion to keep occupied.

Of course there is little FAA demand here so teaching online for ERAU keeps some of the grey cells going. FAA only ops will disappear soon, as most people require you to be dual qualified.

I'm keeping my eye on simulator opportunities, and UAV happenings as I think that could be an opportunity. Of course if CAE or whoever came calling from Phoenix that'd be great too.
 
I work full time for a financial firm and teach part time. Typically it's 4-5 hours on the weekend and 2-3 on weekdays after work or early mornings before work.

The better half isn't super happy about my schedule and now she wants kids so it would have to change soon.
 
The busiest CFI at our flying club used to work day job at GE Engines and fly after work and weekends. He had quite a successful accelerated program offering (Private / Instrument) and would get folks from all over the country to come in.
 
This is totally my goal. Hopefully I'll get my check ride finished up this weekend or the next. Weather isn't cooperating. Hopefully it'll quench my aviation thirst with adding money to my pocket instead of draining it.
 
I drive a tractor trailer on. weekdays. Weekends I cfi.
@pilot1288. Sometimes you need a break and kind of just relax. We all have that aviation quench but my advice is try not to go crazy over wanting hours and doing 8 hour days. Few hours on the weekend is good enough. I found myself getting burnt out after a while working a regular job and than trying to fly for 8 hours.
 
daydreamer said:
I drive a tractor trailer on. weekdays. Weekends I cfi.
@pilot1288. Sometimes you need a break and kind of just relax. We all have that aviation quench but my advice is try not to go crazy over wanting hours and doing 8 hour days. Few hours on the weekend is good enough. I found myself getting burnt out after a while working a regular job and than trying to fly for 8 hours.
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The regular job is too good to leave, but I need something to quench the desire to become a full-time professional pilot. Was wondering if a part time (4-5 hours/week) CFI gig was enough to keep you guys happy while advancing your non-flying careers.
 
I work overnight 5 days a week in the ramp tower then CFI during the day. Though once I get my CFI-I I think I'm going to have to either drop the ramp tower job to part time or all together.
 
Counselor said:
The regular job is too good to leave, but I need something to quench the desire to become a full-time professional pilot. Was wondering if a part time (4-5 hours/week) CFI gig was enough to keep you guys happy while advancing your non-flying careers.
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It depends on your goal. For me as of now I have no immediate plans on going to the airlines so I am just taking it easy and enjoying my time. Unless, if I happen to find a flying job that's pays as much as I am making now I may jump ship.
 
I've quite enjoyed being a CFI on the weekends. I'd like to think I deliver better instruction because I value delivering a quality lesson over smashing in the hours.

It's even built into a part-time 135 gig for me in SR-22s.
 
I have always instructed part time with a "real job" for money and benefits. When I first started teaching I was pretty active, was renting out my own plane, and was instructing 5-6 days per week after work and on the weekends. It was fun for a while but that got old after a couple years and I realized I was sacrificing too much time with my kids. So, I sold my plane and now I just keep a couple owner-students on and its just enough to keep me satisfied. It's obviously a terrible way to build time if you're chasing shiny jet dreams. For me, it's perfect for this stage in my life as I get my flight fix, I stay interested and motivated to serve the students, it provides walking around cash, and I still have lots of free time to spend with my kids and do other hobbies.
 
rframe said:
I have always instructed part time with a "real job" for money and benefits. When I first started teaching I was pretty active, was renting out my own plane, and was instructing 5-6 days per week after work and on the weekends. It was fun for a while but that got old after a couple years and I realized I was sacrificing too much time with my kids. So, I sold my plane and now I just keep a couple owner-students on and its just enough to keep me satisfied. It's obviously a terrible way to build time if you're chasing shiny jet dreams. For me, it's perfect for this stage in my life as I get my flight fix, I stay interested and motivated to serve the students, it provides walking around cash, and I still have lots of free time to spend with my kids and do other hobbies.
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That sounds like a perfect scenario for someone who has a non-aviation primary career. How many hours do you teach per week?
 
hook_dupin said:
I've quite enjoyed being a CFI on the weekends. I'd like to think I deliver better instruction because I value delivering a quality lesson over smashing in the hours.

It's even built into a part-time 135 gig for me in SR-22s.
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What kinds are part-time 135 gigs are there that can accommodate non-aviation primary careers? Air ambulance? Weekend freight? Thanks.
 
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