Originally Posted by
saxman66
I've been CFIing for about 4 months now. Just a little past the 100 dual given mark. Now I got an offer doing aerial surveying starting in October. The pay is much better, I'd build a ton of hours, and its something I wanted to do in the first place before I started CFIing, yet they just weren't hiring. I'm just wondering how it would look to an airline, if I left my current job so soon. (5 months) Like it shows, I can't commit to a job long term or something. The other issue is telling my current Chief pilot. Although it was after I got hired, he asked that we stay at least 8 months to a year. So I want to make sure I leave in good terms. Also would an airline look more highly at a CFI? Although tedious, my skills are forced to be very sharp when teaching. Surveying, I'd have to make sure to keep my instrument skills sharp on those long XC flights. This is an opportunity I don't want to miss, yet I want to make sure I leave here on good terms and make sure future employers look at it as a good choice, and not a "I just wanted to quit being an instructor" type deal.
Generally at your level a flying job is better for your QOL and may allow you to build time faster, but the CFI thing is better for your career in some ways:
You stay up on the regs & theory
Exposure to more aspects of aviation
Networking
Traffic watch/pipeline folks who do not have a CFI certificate often flunk airline training because they get really rusty on a lot of stuff (not that they even knew half of it to begin with). Since you already have some dual given, the airlines would probably be OK with you. If I were in your shoes, I would probably take the job and do some CFI/MEI on the side to stay in the game.
However you need to carefully judge your current employer as to how he will treat you on future background checks...this is crucial! You are the only one who has an exact feel for the situation. Unfortunately, unscrupulous employers have a lot of coercive power over pilots in this situation. Perhas you could agree to work part-time for him?