Your first CFI job

Well, I made it through ATP's CFI portion of my career training!! I still have my II add on, but that should be easy. Hopefully I'll have that by next week.

I'm kind of stuck with a dilema. I don't know what path I should take as a CFI. I definitely want to have fun instructing. I'm really excited about teaching people how to fly. I wouldn't mind doing add-ons, but I've really got an itch to teach people how to fly from the beginning. I think it would be so much fun! Of course I want to get to the airlines, but I want to enjoy being a flight instructor.

Today I went to a few local flight schools and touched base, handed them my resume and I was surprised - they all want me to interview! Of the schools I inquired about, one of them really left a good impression on me. They are a small school, but very friendly, very professional, they have fairly new 172's and they really take care of their CFI's. The owner seems very interested in having me work for them. Their approach to flight training is very unique and personal and I think this really seems like a good deal. My dilema is whether or not to take this position if offered, or work for ATP. ATP is great organization and I've done all of my training there. Certainly working for them would be put me right seat in the airlines much faster.

My fiance and I want to buy a house soon and our wedding is June of next year. Instructing close to home, with good hours and certainly decent pay is really important. If I went the ATP route, I don't know when I could get my home location, I'd probably be working in Jax for awhile. I know what ATP pays, and its not very much. This other local school pays much better, but I wouldn't log as many hours per month as I would at ATP and it wouldn't be twin time. I've already got 140hrs multi-engine, so I'm thinking I'm pretty good there.

Does it matter where you work as a CFI when it comes to the airlines? If I chose to work at this local FBO and when I got around 600hrs did ATP's RJS program, I should be in a good position for an airline job right? Just want to get some opinions. I don't know what to do. Working close to home with a friendly, comfortable environment sounds appealing, but so does getting an airline interview in a few months working for ATP.

Sounds like a tough decision but for me (currently CFI'in) it seems like the grass is always greener on the other side. There are going to be pros and cons on both sides. If I was a student at ATP and had the chance to work there as a CFI I would take it in a heart beat. I say that because I'm on the other side of the coin teaching for an FBO with a 141 program, all single engine. Up here in Upstate NY multi time is damn near impossible to get unless you go out and pay for it. Although ATP might not pay much for their instructors the multi time is priceless. Up here in the Northeast you can split time to build your multi up for around $8k. It might be tough to tackle that on CFI pay or for some people its just another loan on top of the ones they already have from school or coming up through their ratings. As for the pay while teaching, don't let that make your decision because as a CFI you really aren't going to make a substantial amount of money anyway. For most of us we are there to build experience to move on (while still making a 100% effort) and in most cases after a year of teaching full time the pay won't really matter as much. Another plus for you regarding ATP is you came up through your ratings there and you know how they operate. This will most likely make your life easier and a more effective teacher at first. In my honest opinion, if you take the FBO job, don't go in there with the mindsight that you might be able to bail at 600 hours if you do the RJ program or something similar to it. When I first started teaching thats what I had in mind. But you get to 600 so fast that when it comes you feel like making the push to 1000+ will open up many more doors for you. Besides who knows what will really happen with future hiring. Sorry for being so long winded here.... but good luck in your decision making, its a tough one. And CONGRATS on becoming a CFI. The best thing about being a CFI is the respect that goes with it. Enjoy it.

I decided not to work at ATP because I can't live on $1000 a month. I chose to work at a school that pays $20 an hour; I average $1000-1200 a month and no multi. After three months of 152 time, I am going to send my resume in to Jim.

Amen about the lack of multi in upstate NY! We have one ME plane at my school... an Aztec that goes for 295/hr! Forget that!

Sure the multi time is a big deal. But graduating from ATP's program I have about 140hrs multi and that meets the mins of most regionals. While 500hrs multi would look great, but divorcing my wife before I ever marry her because I have to move to Florida for God knows how long doesn't sound too good.

I would have a heart to heart talk with your finance...lay it all out in front. If she earns a good income and you can afford to be a CFI longer, then hang out locally. Heck, you are already thinking about buying a house. That says to me you want to settle down there. Buying a house, especially in todays' crazy price swings, says to me you're there for the long haul.

If you both agree that getting your career on the fast-track is important (I would assume so or you would not have gone to ATP!) then getting your TT up should be your goal.

Once you hit 1200 or so TT, your options open up substantially. Not only are the regionals within your reach, but maybe there will be some good 135 jobs (such as Airnet; I've been told the floaters have a 8 on 6 off schedule, very condusive to commuters) with bases in the area your "home" is in.

I'd take the flight school that offers more money. You've already got a handful of multi time. No big deal there.

Give yourself some time to learn to fly airplanes now! Everybody is in such a hurry, than they don't take the time to enjoy what they're doing. Next thing you know, you're angry and bitter, complaining about your job and wishing that you'd "found something else to do".

Take time for yourself!!!

Thanks for the replies folks. I'm definitely in for the long haul with the fiance. I supported her through her college to get the job she loves, now she's doing the same for me. In fact, I don't think I could have found somebody more supportive than she is. She is willing to move to another state if need be, which is great.

I want to get in the seat of that jet no doubt. But all of my flying has been with ATP. Nothing wrong there, as my foundation of aviation has been built on, IMO, excellent procedures and practices. That being said, I haven't really had *fun* with flying. Every flight has been training towards a rating and you know how much time ATP gives you for ratings. Therefore you're always stressing out. Its nice to be done! I went and flew today with the gentleman that runs this other flight school - that was fun! No stress, just some good old flying around the block, checking stuff out around the area. I think I've pretty much got this job. Which makes me happy because the pay is good, the work environment is excellent and the airplanes are the best I've seen in this area from an FBO. I think working here I'm going to really have fun teaching others to fly.

I chose ATP because I didn't want to waste time training. I wanted to work as hard as I could, accomplish my ratings quickly and get a flying job. Well I'm done already and about to start what looks to be a fun flying job. I guess I can't complain too much. Plus like stated before, if I can have some fun building my time, and get around 1200TT, than my options open up for a good gig.

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm going to take this job once offered. I'm scheduled to fly again tomorrow with the guy and talk more about the deal. I have no instructing experience, so they want to make sure they ease me into their workload, that way I'm not overwhelmed with the thought of training students with the ink on my CFI still wet.

:yeahthat:


Dale it sounds like you'll enjoy the place you've interviewed at, so I don't know why you'd want to go work for $1000/month before taxes and have the ATP instructor schedule. Not to put them down but geez, do they work a lot. And if you'd want to work at TTN or any of the smaller locations there's test proctoring on the rainy days. At your FBO job you can probably watch TV at home on the rainy days.

I'm originally from your area, care to tell me which airport and FBO you're talking about? You can PM it if you want.