I'm a CFI on chicago's northside and things here are alright. I got hired at the begining of the slow winter season and I still manage to keep busy as a part timer for now and moving up to full time soon. We will be hurting for instructors soon and all the other schools on the field have instructors wanted signs up all the time so demand here is real high. The guys who have been here since last summer tell me we'll all be working 12 hour days 7 days a week and flying as much as possible come spring.

I do not think that becoming a CFI was a mistake at all. I could very easliy take out another loan or something to that effect and go to atp but I think that I am learning so much right now about everything that it would be silly for me to go anywhere right now. Being a CFI provides learning experiences almost daily. From interpersonal, (who has ever worked with the guy everyone else passes on?) to PIC attitude, (next time please dont pull the mixture on final) to IFR regulations and everything else.

I guess if you have the money to spend go ahead and take the short cut most people would but I feel like this is the place and route that works best for me. Not to mention that I have already paid enough for my training, why should I have to pay to learn how to fly a CRJ just to get an interview?

I second that as well. If we made more maybe people wouldn't be so quick to leave for mesa!