Part Time CFI

[futurepilot1]

Question. When I eventually get my CFI, would it be hard to get a part time CFI gig? I know every place is different, and the market is down and all that. I guess I am just asking if I went into an FBO and said "I can only instruct after 4 during the week and all day Saturday and Sunday" Would they rid up my resume and send me packing?

Thanks.

[shdw]

Originally Posted by futurepilot1

Question. When I eventually get my CFI, would it be hard to get a part time CFI gig? I know every place is different, and the market is down and all that. I guess I am just asking if I went into an FBO and said "I can only instruct after 4 during the week and all day Saturday and Sunday" Would they rid up my resume and send me packing?

Thanks.

Your location is certainly more optimal than mine, we have about 10 airports here with in 1.5 hours of my house. I have applied to them all with no luck. I am in the process of applying in your area and various others in the country now and planning a move early next year. The places by me are sitting on between 10 and 20 resumes with a full load of CFIs.

The job I had I left, possibly poor career choice or possibly a life saver, because of maintenance. I left a couple weeks after watching one of our planes go down with me in the run-up area, a student, on solo. One of the ones I had written up 3 separate times for engine issues and watched the owner crumple the paper up and throw it in the trash after a smirk grin. Figured my life was worth more than that.

He handled it beautifully otherwise we I could have been attending a funeral. He was at 200 feet when the engine quit and he did a 180 into a field at MCA with the stall horn blaring and me repeating over the radio, "don't let her stall." On a plus side, that damn aircraft is totaled and can't risk anyone else's life. Though one of their other aircraft can't get over 300 feet a minute on a hot day, it doesn't have a working stall horn, along with 3 of the others on the line.

[Heavy Duty]

The after work and on weekends schedule works just fine for some of us. If the FBO has a problem with it thats a different story, but I don't see it being a deal breaker. Just remember a large number of your clients are going to have that same schedule also. That's not going to be a problem with them unless they decide to do some training on the odd day off. My advice then is to know who you work with that would like to fly with them when you are'nt able to. Everybody wins and you keep a student happy.

[jrh]

It totally depends on the FBO/flight school.

At my school, we're not really interested in part time CFIs, but that's just us and the way we run our operation. I know of other places where you'd be perfectly welcome.

The best thing you can do is get your CFI ticket and see what happens.

[Douglas]

And just the opposite for us!

If another evenings and weekend guy walked in right now, all of us CFIs would really want the Boss to bring him on. Why? I don't want to work seven days a week.

If you were another full time guy, now those would be fighting words.

[Chuck]

Prop Heads Flight Center is hiring CFIs. If you do your training there you will automatically get a CFI job. Part time CFIs are fine. Contact chuck@propheadsflightcenter.com for more info.

[futurepilot1]

Thanks for all the info. I will check out propheads. I am just starting out, so it may be awhile. I just want to be able to keep my day job while I work towards 1200-1500 hours. That way i won't have to take that major paycut until I have my ATP and 135 mins.

[Jbroz04]

Ever consider being a independent CFI? I dont know what it is like in your area but if you have been networking you may be able to get BFRs and IPC and if your a smooth talker you can even talk some private only guys into getting their IFR with you in their plane. Then work you way up from there.

[Easton14]

I've applied to numerous schools, made/handed out business cards and even made a website. I think part-time work is there if you search hard enough. The Savy CFI book was helpful to me as well...great ideas and tips in there.

[African_Swallow]

Hey,

I'm in the same busy area as Shdw. I feel fortunate to have my part-time gig, but I actually started out full time before being diagnosed with a disqualifying medical condition for which I can now only get a special-issuance 3rd class med.

So...I agree it depends on the area and the school. With our school, the dispatcher (rightfully) fills the plates of the full-time guys first, even though I'm technically more senior. I try to fill my own schedule. The advantage to part-time is that you can do just that. When I was full-time, I was expected to be around 6 days a week.

No doubt, get the CFI ticket if you're motivated to do that now. Keep it current even if you don't work for a couple years. ANY additional training is worth the time put in.

-A.S.

[African_Swallow]

Originally Posted by shdw

Your location is certainly more optimal than mine, we have about 10 airports here with in 1.5 hours of my house. I have applied to them all with no luck. I am in the process of applying in your area and various others in the country now and planning a move early next year. The places by me are sitting on between 10 and 20 resumes with a full load of CFIs.

The job I had I left, possibly poor career choice or possibly a life saver, because of maintenance. I left a couple weeks after watching one of our planes go down with me in the run-up area, a student, on solo. One of the ones I had written up 3 separate times for engine issues and watched the owner crumple the paper up and throw it in the trash after a smirk grin. Figured my life was worth more than that.

He handled it beautifully otherwise we I could have been attending a funeral. He was at 200 feet when the engine quit and he did a 180 into a field at MCA with the stall horn blaring and me repeating over the radio, "don't let her stall." On a plus side, that damn aircraft is totaled and can't risk anyone else's life. Though one of their other aircraft can't get over 300 feet a minute on a hot day, it doesn't have a working stall horn, along with 3 of the others on the line.

Damn! Good choice to leave; I wish I could offer you a gig (I'm just a lowly part-timer.) I enjoy your posts...

[Douglas]

Shdw, i thought you were working DWC?

[zach bird]

Originally Posted by futurepilot1

Question. When I eventually get my CFI, would it be hard to get a part time CFI gig? I know every place is different, and the market is down and all that. I guess I am just asking if I went into an FBO and said "I can only instruct after 4 during the week and all day Saturday and Sunday" Would they rid up my resume and send me packing?

Thanks.

I have been doing it for over three years now- first year looged over 550 hour instruction- locations have switched and now down to about 300 hour a year. I am available after five and anytime sat and sun. A guy at my old fbo tried to discourage me before i got my cfi, i didnt listen and billed more time than the full time guys- go for it- all you need is one

[saria19]

I moved over half-way across the country just for a job, and I was initially in a very flight-friendly environment. You'll need a little luck.

[Cessna Driver]

Originally Posted by shdw

The job I had I left, possibly poor career choice or possibly a life saver, because of maintenance. I left a couple weeks after watching one of our planes go down with me in the run-up area, a student, on solo. One of the ones I had written up 3 separate times for engine issues and watched the owner crumple the paper up and throw it in the trash after a smirk grin. Figured my life was worth more than that.

He handled it beautifully otherwise we I could have been attending a funeral. He was at 200 feet when the engine quit and he did a 180 into a field at MCA with the stall horn blaring and me repeating over the radio, "don't let her stall." On a plus side, that damn aircraft is totaled and can't risk anyone else's life. Though one of their other aircraft can't get over 300 feet a minute on a hot day, it doesn't have a working stall horn, along with 3 of the others on the line.

They should be shut down. Good job you left.