Thinking about being a cfi

Sir_Captain

Sir_Captain

New Member
Hey guys, I wanted to ask people's opinion of the Delta Connection Academy and the idea of being a CFI for them.

I have been with them since the start of my training and am considering shopping around for better rates on the seminole for my multi. But if I go somewhere else to do my multiengine add on then DCA will not allow me to interview for their flight instructor job when the time comes around. The only reason I am considering going to another place for the M.E is because I am down to my last few bucks.

Now I have read the posts on what it's like being a CFI and what to expect from that kind of job. That's why I am not too thrilled about taking that route but if I do decide to I do not think it would be wise to go against DCA policy.

Do we have anyone here that works as a CFI for DCA? What's the pay average and hours logged. I have seen a few guys at the school move up to the stans class and some not. Is it a good company to instruct for?

Now please don't mistake me as it has happened before. I am not looking to irritate anyone or cause controversy. I would just like to know people's honest opinion on this academy, their program, and the outlook for working with them further up the ladder.

Thanks in advance for any replies and feel free to pm me or use my email address.

Thank you.
 
OK Fine since you're gonna post again and complain how no one wants to talk to you...

Pros and Cons of academy flight instructing
Pros -
Good student load
Decent Equipment/Operation (Especially Comair Academy)
Decent flow through to Comair/ASA

Cons -
I can't think of any right now but my brain is mush. I don't think there are any. I mean, come on...dedicated students, new/decent equipment, solid operation and low time flow through to Comair. Oh did I mention as a Comair Academy instructor you get flight benefits on mainline Delta?

Food for thought.

Don't #$%
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OK Fine since you're gonna post again and complain how no one wants to talk to you...

Don't #$%
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????? (sigh) people. Well thanks for the info anyhow.
 
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Cons -
I can't think of any right now but my brain is mush. I don't think there are any. I mean, come on...dedicated students, new/decent equipment, solid operation and low time flow through to Comair. Oh did I mention as a Comair Academy instructor you get flight benefits on mainline Delta?


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I can think of plenty of Cons.
1) You work when they tell you to. No flexibility
2) You have to wear that stupid uniform in Florida Summer Heat
3) You get paid CRAP if you get paid at all!
4) You are associated with a school that has a questionable reputation, which you will always be explaining.
5) You get in trouble if you instruct outside the school (but only if you get caught.)
6) You are often pressured to fly equipment that is poorly maintained.
7) others which I will leave alone for right now.

I got my CFI in April 1990. I started charging $15/hr. I immediately raised it to $20 because I found too many students right away. It was shortly thereafter I made $25.

Today I charge $50/hr and I still fly more than I want to. I am seriously considering charging $75.

What's a Comair instructor make? Back in 1990 it was $7.25/hr. What is it today? $12?
 
LMFAO $12!!!!! I doubt they bank even that much. The instructors don't like to tell us how much they make but once in my private days I asked him and it was pittiful. At times they make $500 a month. I agree with you on the points you listed but I'm really stuck on finding options. How did you get your operation running? What about competition against the academies? They are overabundant here in south florida.

Would you happen to know much about helicopter training and careers?

Thanks man.
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OK Fine since you're gonna post again and complain how no one wants to talk to you...

Pros and Cons of academy flight instructing
Pros -
Good student load
Decent Equipment/Operation (Especially Comair Academy)
Decent flow through to Comair/ASA

Cons -
I can't think of any right now but my brain is mush. I don't think there are any. I mean, come on...dedicated students, new/decent equipment, solid operation and low time flow through to Comair. Oh did I mention as a Comair Academy instructor you get flight benefits on mainline Delta?

Food for thought.

Don't #$%
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Hmmm, smells a lot like Comair Academy Marketing to me. (I refuse to acknowledge their unethical name change.) Be careful when you read something that says there are no cons. There are always cons, even for the best decisions.

Take a good hard look at any school before you make a decision. Ask them difficult questions, and don't let them give you a line of crap like this guy.

Grayson
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I wouldn't get too hyper about pass benefits because when you couple your low pass rider priority and trying to get out of a state with some of the highest loads in creation, it's easier just to buy a ticket!
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Believe me, non-revving in and out of Florida was mentioned in "Dante's Inferno" as another level of purgatory.
 
Philosopher, it's too late for me, I'm already Commercial rated through COMAIR . I just decided I want to save a few thousand and go to another place for my ME add-on but am weighing it because of the stupid flight instructor opportunity clause. I am not too thrilled about COMAIR and wish I had done my research when I started, I was clueless when I stepped into training.

Doug, I could care less about pass benefits, it's not like I plan on going anywhere anyhow. Thanks though, it's important to hear stuff like what you say, keeping the main points in mind.

Philosopher, I agree with you on the marketing comment ( I think he's one of them)
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Thanks guys.
 
BTW Doug I didn't mean to sound bad in the last post, I am just thanking you for pointing that out; and that I never even consider the pass thingy.

Thanks man, great site.
 
I just found out that Comair CFI's make $10/hr. Wow - makes Burger King look pretty darn good!

Doug is right about Delta pass privileges in Florida. Don't even think about going anywhere during holiday season.

As far as how I got my "operation" going, well it was a pretty big club. We had over 100 members. But mostly I just asked people I saw "out and about" if they ever thought about learning to fly. I took up a lot of first-tme-flyers that way.

At least two are now airline pilots (that I know of.)

The key is networking and marketing (but not Network Marketing LOL) your services.

I used to have "Mastermind Meetings" with 3 or 4 other CFIs in the club. We would trade students around so they got to fly with multiple CFIs. We had a great referral network going as well. The more we pleased our students the more we got.

It's about delivering good service, maintaining integrity, and keeping your hat in the ring!
 
Problem with Florida is that in the summertime, it's tourist season and flights are oversold. In the winter time, it's tourist season and the flights are oversold, in the 'off season', it's discounted so fights are oversold. If you don't book your jumpseat three days in advance in/out of Florida, you're not getting to work or home.
 
Doug I didnt know Florida had a travel off season. Seems to me the flight are always full going and coming. Pass privileges not pass benefits is how the company describes them now. Anyway you would be so low on the non rev list that you might not get out until sometime next month. If you dont know how to work the system and find others cities to get to then you are totally screwed down there.
 
Well, the 'off season' is supposedly August I hear because of the humidity, thunderstorms and torrential rain.

I used to live in MCO and was based in ATL and that had to be the absolute worst commute on earth. No jumpseat booking, no ride to work! My worst nightmare is when the plane would cancel that I had a jumpseat on and literally the entire rest of the afternoon/evening would be oversold and all of the jumpseats gone.

I spent lots of time in the "C" concourse begging for a ride from the Air Tran guys.

Non rev benefits I wouldn't exactly advertise as a bonus because anyplace you want to go you cannot get to without an enormous hassle and absolutely FORGET about it unless you've got S2 days left as a backup.
 
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OK Fine since you're gonna post again and complain how no one wants to talk to you...

Pros and Cons of academy flight instructing
Pros -
Good student load
Decent Equipment/Operation (Especially Comair Academy)
Decent flow through to Comair/ASA

Cons -
I can't think of any right now but my brain is mush. I don't think there are any. I mean, come on...dedicated students, new/decent equipment, solid operation and low time flow through to Comair. Oh did I mention as a Comair Academy instructor you get flight benefits on mainline Delta?

Food for thought.

Don't #$%
bandit.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmm, smells a lot like Comair Academy Marketing to me. (I refuse to acknowledge their unethical name change.) Be careful when you read something that says there are no cons. There are always cons, even for the best decisions.

Take a good hard look at any school before you make a decision. Ask them difficult questions, and don't let them give you a line of crap like this guy.

Grayson
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Heh, I'm pretty sure Tallboy isn't marketing for DCA. He used to instruct at the flight school I'm at right now (not DCA), and I'm pretty sure he's at Mesa now. Let's all just relax and put away our torches and pitchforks.
 
Yeah and quit bashing pass benefits I'm gonna be commuting OKC-PHL pretty soon.

I thought about it some more and ground school has completely numbed my brain and I forgot how lame flight instructing was so I'd avoid it if at all possible, but the benefits in my mind do outweigh the cons, like learning as much as you do and being a role model to someone that may really care as much as you do about aviation. Those were the perks I found.

I'm with Tenney though...charge $50 plus an hour. Otherwise, the threat against your life is not worth it.

Thanks Riddle pilot, tell everyone I said hi
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