Arrowsmith Posted November 18, 2007 Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 Folks, It seems some new pilots are seeking CFI status as a means of earning a living. However, from what I had heard, working as a CFI was a way to accrue hours not dollars. Can someone please clarify the different circumstances in which both hours and dollars can be banked as a CFI? Regards, Arrowsmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparker Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 (edited) CFI's don't make much.... there is no way around it. As a student will you pay extra, maybe double, for a more experienced pilot? I would.... but not too many others are in that boat, so here we are.... I don't know of any other way to build hours without paying for it. You will probably get better answers with these questions in the training forum, and check out the FAQ section there as well. Welcome to VR! Edited November 19, 2007 by Sparker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big_z Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 CFI's don't make much.... there is no way around it. As a student will you pay extra, maybe double, for a more experienced pilot? I would.... but not too many others are in that boat, so here we are.... I don't know of any other way to build hours without paying for it. You will probably get better answers with these questions in the training forum, and check out the FAQ section there as well.Welcome to VR! I make do. It's not rockstar pay but it's something, and most importantly, I'm getting flight time. It will pay off later when I'm reayd to go do commercial stuff. Meanwhile, I am becoming well versed in the art of making a great meal out of ramen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icarus Posted December 1, 2007 Report Share Posted December 1, 2007 IMHO I would take the CFI job, find a way to make ends meet and work on CFII to make a little extra. Accumulate hours! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloskypilot Posted December 2, 2007 Report Share Posted December 2, 2007 It is probably the same every where you go, you will first answer the phones, get some demo flights and maybe the owner will give you a student or two to get you started. Week on of my first cfi work week was 1.5 hrs dual instruction. Week 2 was about 3.5 hrs dual flight instruction. and Week three has been excellent with about 6.5 hrs dual instruction given. (Although i put in about 60 hrs coming and going, making phone calls and trying to get the word out that i am at the local airport.) There has not been a cfi here for a few months. Maybe at a very well established school with 10-12 helicopters you will have lots of work at the beginning. But starting off rather slowly has helped me establish my own ground curriculum, (having given about 3.5 hrs of actual ground now)(Not including the mutiple hours with the chief cfi during my own instuctor ground training.) The hard part is getting the first cfi job at 200 hrs flight time, not too many companies will insure you and there are fewer schools that are willing to take the risk on you either. So here i am at 225 hrs , employed, building time and loving it. Money, you do the math, i am definitely going backwards, but am living simple and keeping expenses down. In a year and a half or so, I should be upwards of 800- 1000 hrs. Dont let this get you down, this is the industry and everybody has to pay their dues at some time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icarus Posted December 3, 2007 Report Share Posted December 3, 2007 Of course, if you don't mind brisk morning jogs, some guy in a silly hat screaming at you and a little sand, you could always fly for the Army. LOL! They'll get your hours up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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