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MikeOH58 · March 17th, 2008, 15:24

I've had my CFI for less than a week, and only given a whopping 8 hours of dual instruction so what the hell do I know, but one thing I have already noticed that I love about being a CFI, and that I know will make me a much better pilot is always having to be 100% and flying your A game...Regardless of what you are doing, you should always try and be a 100%, but lets be honest...If you are out building time, or taking a weekend warrior ride for a hundred dollar hamburger, its easy to sit back and sort of relax the flight, especially on the trip home...As a CFI you cant do that. Not to toot my own horn, but to these primary students I am Aviation to them. If we were to go out and do maneuvers, and on the way back from the practice area I just relax and let my guard down I would be failing my students, and soon enough they would say "well Mike lets his guard down towards the end of the flight, thats normal", and they will start to do the same thing when they are off flying on their own because they will emulate how their instructor flys. Like I said, 8 hours, so what do I know, but I can already feel this attitude making me a better pilot.

I became a CFI because this was the career progression I was taught. I look at all the great pilots that I know, and all of them have told me that they have gotten to where they are because of the time they spent as a CFI and II. Thats what I want. I want to be as good, if not better as these guys I look up to, and for me, being a CFI is how I will begin to accomplish that. If you have 300 hours, and legitimately feel you are ready to fly jets, and can get hired and pass training than more power to ya...My only gripe is with people who makes excuses for not being a CFI. For example people who claim they aren't good teachers without ever having put any effort into it. Whatever though...

This topic is a dead horse, that will be beaten for a couple more days, disapear, and then come back in about 3 weeks.

Obviously this is an emotional topic, and the only thing I would recommend is that people watch what they say, and think with their head and not their emotion. Theres no reason to attack or burn bridges over something as stupid as this because you let your emotions get the best of ya...I hate to sound like a jerk, but if people skipping the CFI route pisses you off so much, keep your mouth shut, and one day when you are on a hiring board, when it comes down to the last two applicants who are identical aside from one being a former CFI, and the other who was not....well...Hire the former CFI. I guess thats a gamble that those who skip "this route" have to take. Skipping the CFI at 20 years old might get you an okay job at a regional now, but it very well may be the reason you don't get that great part 91 job in a couple years......

whatever floats your boat. Fly safe everyone, and don't let your emotions get the best of you!

March 17th, 2008, 15:24	#54
MikeOH58 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: CT Posts: 1,060	Re: Future regional hiring I've had my CFI for less than a week, and only given a whopping 8 hours of dual instruction so what the hell do I know, but one thing I have already noticed that I love about being a CFI, and that I know will make me a much better pilot is always having to be 100% and flying your A game...Regardless of what you are doing, you should always try and be a 100%, but lets be honest...If you are out building time, or taking a weekend warrior ride for a hundred dollar hamburger, its easy to sit back and sort of relax the flight, especially on the trip home...As a CFI you cant do that. Not to toot my own horn, but to these primary students I am Aviation to them. If we were to go out and do maneuvers, and on the way back from the practice area I just relax and let my guard down I would be failing my students, and soon enough they would say "well Mike lets his guard down towards the end of the flight, thats normal", and they will start to do the same thing when they are off flying on their own because they will emulate how their instructor flys. Like I said, 8 hours, so what do I know, but I can already feel this attitude making me a better pilot. I became a CFI because this was the career progression I was taught. I look at all the great pilots that I know, and all of them have told me that they have gotten to where they are because of the time they spent as a CFI and II. Thats what I want. I want to be as good, if not better as these guys I look up to, and for me, being a CFI is how I will begin to accomplish that. If you have 300 hours, and legitimately feel you are ready to fly jets, and can get hired and pass training than more power to ya...My only gripe is with people who makes excuses for not being a CFI. For example people who claim they aren't good teachers without ever having put any effort into it. Whatever though... This topic is a dead horse, that will be beaten for a couple more days, disapear, and then come back in about 3 weeks. Obviously this is an emotional topic, and the only thing I would recommend is that people watch what they say, and think with their head and not their emotion. Theres no reason to attack or burn bridges over something as stupid as this because you let your emotions get the best of ya...I hate to sound like a jerk, but if people skipping the CFI route pisses you off so much, keep your mouth shut, and one day when you are on a hiring board, when it comes down to the last two applicants who are identical aside from one being a former CFI, and the other who was not....well...Hire the former CFI. I guess thats a gamble that those who skip "this route" have to take. Skipping the CFI at 20 years old might get you an okay job at a regional now, but it very well may be the reason you don't get that great part 91 job in a couple years...... whatever floats your boat. Fly safe everyone, and don't let your emotions get the best of you!