CFI job in GA

[montanapilot]

found this on Barnstormers


CFI'S NEEDED • WANTED IMMEDIATELY • CFI’s needed: 250 hours tt. Single and multi turboprop time available. Atlanta, GA. Gunn Air Corp. 404-234-7775 • Contact Eric Sellers - GUNN AIR CORP. located Cedartown, GA USA • Telephone: 770-684-7136 • Posted June 2, 2004

[aviategw]

Whoever you are, you are the man!

I cold-called and unexpectedly spoke with the owner, John Gunn, who seemed like a pretty good guy. I emailed him a resume, and hope to hear back soon.

I didn't expect an immediate interview, which is what my conversation turned out to be, so I don't think I sounded all that intelligent. I hope I didn't sound too stooopid.


Thanks!

[montanapilot]

no problem i wasnt even gonna post it but i thought oh what the heck maybe somebody out there can use it.

[GregCollins2]

Ahh yes. The booming metropolis of Cedartown, Georgia. Population 9500, with 20% below poverty level and an average income of $24,000. At least the cost of living is low!!!

[Tim]

But if the people are wanting to fly then a CFI and a small place could do really well.

[jtrain609]

That sounds like my hometown, only where I come from a smaller town (2,500 when I graduated high school). There was still enough interest in flight training to keep an FBO going, though.

Cheers


John Herreshoff

[montanapilot]

damn 2500 is like a big city to me. Where i come from back in MT there were 675 in my hometown.

[cime_sp]

I had 675 people in my biology class in college!

[GregCollins2]

Eastman Georgia, where I am, is 5000, and we have Georgia Aviation and Technical College on the field. We haven't been able to keep a rental plane busy enough to pay the insurance at the FBO though.

I wasn't knocking small towns! I just like to take a realistic look at all the statistics on Airnav for an airport, and the census for the surrounding area, when I see a job listing. Usually the more money, people, and education the area has, the more flying there will be. 15 local flights a day isn't many if any of the local owners are part of that 15 and there's more than one full time CFI at the school. It's also hard to get many students when a typical flight and ground lesson costs more than your average local resident makes in 12 hours of work.

On the other hand, if you're within an hour of a major city(Cedartown is a 1 1/2 hour drive from downtown Atlanta), and you don't have a bunch of CFI's to compete with, it could be a great deal. I've flown in and out of Cartersville, which is 16 miles north of Cedartown, and it's a fun, country airport with a nice little flight school. You're close to the Alabama boarder and it's pretty rural if you like the country.

[Tim]

Greg how is the program going down there. I understand at one point it was not in the best shape. Doesnt the state have a lot to do with it now also?

[GregCollins2]

The college is a Georgia State school. The Hope Grant pays tuition costs and the students pay for flight. $55.00 for a new, well equipped Skyhawk or Warrior, with instructor. The facilities and airplanes are first rate, and they have Citation 500 and Kingair B-90 series simms. Everyone here considers it a well kept secret.The program doesn't draw as many students as the administration would like. The only complaint I've heard is that the training is slow--18 months to go from zero time to CFI ASEL.

I did not do any of my flight training here. I'm actually taking time off from full time flying to get an A&P Certificate. The Aviation Maintenance Program is outstanding and Hope is paying all of my costs! Can't beat it. Most of the maintenance students are locals and plan to work at Warner Robbins Air Force Base when they're done. The flight students are from all over the place.

I have heard that the State is disappointed with the low enrollment numbers and the high cost per student to the State for the training. The staff works hard trying to recruit more students. I don't think they will close the place any time soon though as they are building a huge addition right now and the airport has a new 6000 foot runway, ILS, and a state of the art FBO building that will be completed in a couple months. Someone around here is really well connected in Atlanta because the airport statistics don't justify the amount of money being spent here. I've got a picture of the new runway on my website.

I'm heading to north Georgia after I get done here next fall.

[montanapilot]

damn that is super cheap. how do they do it? is that 58 an hour for a Warrior III include the instructor? do they accept you if you have your Pvt already?

[Tim]

Like I said I think at one time they had some problems and that turned folks off. 18 months can be long but they are getting an AS degree also correct?

[GregCollins2]

They get a "Diploma." The credits transfer over to Middle Georgia College and they can get the Associates with a few more liberal arts classes. The primary reason that I see for the program taking so long is that many of the students don't fly as much as they could. It amazes me when I see all the airplanes sitting on the ramp on a blue sky weekend day and all the students are at the apartments partying. From Friday evening until Monday afternoon most of the airplanes sit on the ramp.

The price is $55 per hour, that includes the instructor. The Seminoles are under $100, and the two helicopters are $125 an hour.

The Hope grant pays tuition but you have to be a Georgia resident to get it. Without the Hope Grant the tuition is about $5000 for the 6 quarters.

The program is only a few years old and I believe that most of the problems have been worked out.

[GregCollins2]

Yes they accept you if you have a private.

Georgia pays for all kinds of post secondary education and training for residents. It's all lottery money. The Hope Grant is available for any technical diploma and it pays for 100% of tuition, books, fees, etc. The instructors are State employees and they receive a salary.

I moved to Savannah, Georgia from New York in 1999 so I qualified after one year.

[Tim]

Thats the good thing about the instructors being on state salary. I dont think they are as under as much pressure. I dont know what the salary is but at least they know its a set amount.

[GregCollins2]

The salary is $36,000 per year plus full state benefits.

[jtrain609]

Ya'll hiring?

[GregCollins2]

No, it's pretty difficult to get a position. Instructors are considered to be professors and preference is given to Georgia State grads with either a masters degree or a teaching certificate.

Students that complete the program also instruct for a quarter as interns.

[Tim]

Not many instructors many 36 a year so that aint bad if you dont mind living in Eastman.....haha

[GregCollins2]

Not bad at all.

[GregCollins2]

So Aviategw, have you heard anything? How does it look? The job came up on the AOPA web site a couple days ago.

[aviategw]

Haven't heard anything yet. I think that he might be tunred off because I don't have my CFII. I'm working on it, and should have it sometime soon. If not there, I hear that there is a frequent turnover of CFIs at PDK and RYY. Something will come up, I hope.

I flew up to Cartersville yesterday, though. It is a neat little airport. They have some sort of operation there that uses Lears painted like they were USAF planes. It looks neat to see the all gray jets sitting on the ramp. Nice uncontrolled field to do some touch and goes.

[GregCollins2]

Cartersville has a nice ultralight school as well, Atlanta Ultralights. It's fun to see a little airport with so many different things going on.

[aviategw]

I was looking up the Hope Grant stuff. It's kinda a bummer that I already have my 4 year degree. Anyone know of any loopholes around that? I'd LOVE to have Georgia help me pay for my CFII and MEI