Originally Posted by
Twin Wasp
There's no requirement to have a Ground Instructor certificate to teach in a 142 school or airline. They tend to be more concerned about having the type you will be instructing on. The GI certificates just allow you to sign off ground instruction. The OP would have to pass the same FOI written to get a CFI. With a CFI the OP could sign off ground instruction too. Granted a GI can sign off stuff that isn't on their pilot certificate but how many times have you been asked to sign someone off for their airship commercial written? Save the money.
Save the money? The CGI is virtually a freebie and as you said, one of the writtens counts for the CFI! It's a resume enhancer for professional instructing and you don't need a medical. The OP holds an ATP which will work for teaching at the airlines and an A&P which is definitely a plus for teaching systems. I would certainly go for the CFI but it takes a couple months of expensive training. The CGI is a no brainer and with the OPs background he could probably land a "Pro Instructor" job right now and actually get a paycheck versus the dismal pay of a CFI. Just showing the options!
https://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=simula...+instructor&l=
https://careers.flightsafety.com/go/...-Jobs/3675500/
"Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) rating or Aviation Ground Instructor Certificate (AGI) with an Instrument rating or prior experience"