How many hours are you flying, or did you fly as a CFI per year?

[KChristian]

I'm trying to plan my future and figure out how long I'll be building time. I've searched but if there is another thread that answers this question, I'd love to be directed that way. Thanks!

[r22butters]

Kinda sucks that career instructors are so hard to find! I guess that's a shortage nobody really cares about?

[Spike]

Roughly 600 hours my first year. However, that was working for HAI back-in-the-day and you’d be hard pressed to have another operator operate at that level ever again…..

[WolftalonID]

What do you mean Spike?

[Eric Hunt]

Most I did instructing was 900 hrs in a year (1989), more recently 200 hrs air time with similar amount teaching in the IFR sim.

[Spike]

What do you mean Spike?

 

A flight school that operates approximately 20 machines which launch every 2 hours day-in and day-out and, where its graduates fly in just about every sector of the industry all over the world. Then approximately 20 years into it, sells the school for millions….. Wouldn’t happen today…

[Azhigher]

800 my first year. Then when I started teaching CFI candidates that number jumped off a cliff.

[rotormandan]

Ya. I was about 800 as well. We were a small school. Only 2 instructors plus the chief pilot doing stage checks.

 

Depending on where you work and how busy it is it could be 200-1000/year.

[ridethisbike]

I flew about 200 hours of instruction in the last 12 months. The other 200 hours I got were flying tours and photo flights. I'm hoping that number will go up in the near future.

[UH60L-IP]

As a civilian instructor I flew between 15 and 100 hours per month. As a military instructor I fly an easy 50 per month. I still keep close track of my hours, but I do appreciate not having to care (about the hours) anymore.

 

Assuming you get hired on at the right school, it'll take you 24 months after your ratings to reach that magic 1000 hour mark, and at least 36 to reach the real hour mark of 1500. Anything less and you'll be very lucky.

[WolftalonID]

A flight school that operates approximately 20 machines which launch every 2 hours day-in and day-out and, where its graduates fly in just about every sector of the industry all over the world. Then approximately 20 years into it, sells the school for millions….. Wouldn’t happen today…

Except for the selling part...sounds alot like the school I teach at. Very well scheduled, organized, busy everyday every two hours we launch ships or instructors are doing ground. Previous graduates are current pilots all around the world in just about every sector you can imagine.

 

Still happening today Spike.

[KChristian]

Except for the selling part...sounds alot like the school I teach at. Very well scheduled, organized, busy everyday every two hours we launch ships or instructors are doing ground. Previous graduates are current pilots all around the world in just about every sector you can imagine.

 

Still happening today Spike.

What school is that, if you don't mind me asking?

[WolftalonID]

Listed right under my avitar.... Silverhawk Aviation Accademy in Caldwell Idaho.

[Spike]

Still happening today Spike.

For over 25 years?

[Jaybee]

For over 25 years?

 

and from 20 to now 74 helicopters ?

[Spike]

 

and from 20 to now 74 helicopters ?

 

Correct, and I was just sticking with “back-in-the-day”….. Funny, but not surprising, how folks view the training industry. Basically, HAI had a formula which succeeded -big time. If that formula was that simple, it would be repeated by others. However, it is not. And, yes, I have the recipe but not at liberty to divulge…..

[Christophhh]

I flew a little over 500 hours each year as an instructor at Leading Edge Aviation which had me onto the next "real" job in less then two years. It is definitely still possible to fly that much or more as an instructor especially at schools that are training veterans.

 

Someone above mentioned that it was a bummer instructors don't keep instructing for very long. For a contradicting viewpoint check out this blog.

 

http://www.besthelicopterflightschool.com/how-experienced-should-your-instructor-be/

[Extreme Recluse]

An UP in my unit in Korea just got out of IP course and racked up over 1200. Many accused him of padding his books. If it is available, take it.