Originally Posted by
CBreezy
I disagree in principle with what you are saying. I learned an incredible amount between 250 and 1500 hours as an instructor. At 250 hours, you've barely been in the airplane alone without an instructor. Additionally, flight instructor pay has gone up significantly. At my old flight school, instructors make between $25-32 per hour with an endless supply of students. I made more there than I did on my first year at a regional.
I taught many commercial candidates and flown with many brand new 121 pilots with 1500 hours fresh off IOE. I can state, without a doubt, that I would much rather have someone in the right seat who instructed for a year than someone with a wet commercial. It's apples and oranges comparing the experience of the two. If you don't think a CFI is flying the airplane just because he isn't touching the controls, then you really don't comprehend what the job of a CFI is.
Agreed 100%. If Im ever on an interview board, I will take the CFI over the other guy. I learned more about aviation as an instructor than I could have otherwise. Actually controlling an aircraft doesnt take long to master. Even in crummy conditions. No at a 121 it is 80% cerebral. ADM, knowlege, and sound judgement are what dictates the safe outcome of any situation. I feel that most of these skills are developed while instructing when you have low hours. Agreed that after so much instructing then it is time to get a different experiance. Is over 1000hours of instructing the best? No, but say over 500 is!