Originally Posted by
CFI Guy
I'm not sure if I'm a career CFI but I've given several thousand hours of instruction over the past few years. I've finally landed a part 135 gig but it's part time. The CFI gig has always been my bread and butter. I've worked as an independent contractor and built up my own business. I'm not sure exactly where I rank in the order of CFI's but I'm probably in the top echelon as far as pay.
I don't see what a union would do for me. I work when I want and fly what I want. I charge whatever I can get away with. True, I don't get benefits but that's the story with anyone who is self employed. I've worked hard to create my business and treat it as such. I spend time generating new business, marketing, following up with old students, getting referrals, etc.
Most of the flight instructors I've run across come in three flavors. The younger ones are only looking to build time so they can fly for ABC regional. The next type have other careers and teach on the side around their primary occupation. The third type are career CFIs (or ones who have been around the patch a few thousand times) and are already established making decent earnings.
If you pay your dues and are good at what you do it will payoff. Most instructors I meet aren't all that great and don't stick around long enough to get better. It makes my job easier as the competition isn't that stiff.
CFI Guy, I was once a freelance CFI myself. I did also work around another profession while instructing. Like you, I did build up my own business, and I did OK with it.
You did mention the benefits! You said you didn't get any from your CFI job. That is one area the unions are strong at. Benefits!
My benefits added up to thousands a year, and believe me, I needed all of it.
You did seem to be saying that having a union is of little use to you as a freelance sort of guy. That may be true what you are saying, though I am certain that you are capable of seeing what an advantage it would be for Instructors at the foreign airline academies to have a union.
I have read a CFI union contract, and there are many great clauses negotiated by the union on behalf of the membership. Paid Vacation, sick time and more. I even read an article in the contract that allowed a CFI who lost his medical to continue working as a sim instructor. That's job security built in to the contract that everyone may some day need. The people represented in this contract also were allowed comp time for time worked on their normally scheduled day off. That was paid time!
I see your point that you may not personally think that having a union is relevant towards what you do as a CFI. It may be relevant towards any CFI working for an academy, such as Phoenix or Bakersfield. Their circumstances are different.
How about hearing from some Instructors in Phoenix or Bakersfield?
It would be interesting to hear some of your thoughts.
Last edited by outaluckagain; 11-26-2013 at 05:47 PM.