Trying to get a feel for this. What do I need a CFI for? Do I really need to keep it?
Background:
Retired military, obtained the CFI from the FAA's military equivalency test. It was one more checkbox filled in for airlineapps.com. Made the transition to a regional to get some recency of experience and have been fortunate to be picked up by a mainline carrier. I have never instructed as a civilian, all military IP time.
Pro for keeping it:
1) Better to keep than lose it since maintaining it is simply a weekend seminar. Lose it and it's a check ride.
2)
Cons:
1) The only way to 'use' it would be to moonlight as an instructor.
2) Student failure, despite the best work of a CFI, reflects on the CFI's record.
3) In house instructors for a carrier are not required to have a CFI? That is taken care of by the company? I am not sure if that is true.
Is there a reason to keep a CFI if there is no likely reason to instruct? The last seminar I attended to renew it is best summed up as a weekend I won't get back.
Comments? Thoughts? Advice?