Originally Posted by
tsimmns927
This is why I think the independent Cfi might be cheaper and maybe better for me in the long run, just so much to think about. The block package training would be in a Grumman AA5 at 180 an hour and 60 with a CFI as compared to 120 for a cesna 150 and 45 the cfi time. Just in that alone I’d save almost 4k if I need an instructor for every single hour flown past the 44. Just a lot to process for someone who doesn’t really know anyone else in the aviation industry to ask besides you guys.
I advised a cousin (older career changer) to consider an independent CFI instead of a puppy mill. The CFI then flaked out on him and he lost his enthusiasm for aviation.
With an independent, you need to evaluate their stability and reliability... how long have they been teaching at this location, how many students do they train each year, how old are they, and do they have other career aspirations beyond CFI?
Too many students could mean you'll have trouble scheduling when you need to. If you're training full time and can fly whenever that will maximize your scheduling opportunities. Too few students might mean they have other jobs or businesses which might be a priority to them.
Young, airline-oriented CFI's will not stick around for long at all. If you work with one, need to know how close they are to ATP/R-ATP mins, because they'll be gone the next day when they hit that threshold. They might have R-ATP eligibility at 1000 or 1250 hours based on where they went to college.
That also applies to a small school where Mom & Pop are instructors... they might lose their young CFI's to the airlines, but does it appear that the owners will stick around?