No CFI
 

Another thing you could do is to skip the CFI and buy an old 150 or Aeronca Champ. To get your CFI plus AI and MEI costs a lot of money. If you were to use it to buy a small plane instead you could fly it to build time until the market recovers.

I was faced with the same situation when I graduated right into the recession of the early 1990's. I bought the ratings and a friend of mine bought a plane instead. He was flying while I was sitting at home doing nothing with a worthless instructor license. In no time he had 500 hours and was off and running.

I would pick one with a mid-time engine and an autogas STC. Ignore paint and radios. Just get a cheap junker with a strong engine and fly the snot out of it.

Skyhigh

Listen, bro, do yourself and everyone else in aviation a favor and don't teach then. The last thing we need is more mediocre flight instructors who just want to get out. I am serious.

I completely agree with bryris. People who just use CFI'ing to build time really annoy those of us who enjoyed it and took it seriously.

Another thing about aerial survey and traffic watch type jobs. When the going gets rough, employers don't only care about numbers (500 hrs in 7 mos), they also somewhat care about quality of time. WOW, contrats! you have 2000 hrs of VFR day flying a grid! Wow! you've got 3000 hrs at 15 minute intervals flying skydivers!

I'm not saying these jobs are completely useless. I'm training to be a jump pilot right now. However, there's definitely a quicker plateau to learning all you can at these jobs. Many more ways to kill yourself CFI'ing or flying night freight.

I agree and disagree with this. Don't do our entire industry a disservice and be a mediocre time-builder.

But the fact is that you are going to have to instruct, unless you luck into another job. Telling you not to do it won't work, because you will have no choice. If you approach it with a good attitude, that you are going to do your best for your students and try to learn along the way, it should be a positive experience.

Do understand this, If I do choose to become an instructor, which I most likely am, I will not provide sub-par instruction. I have never done anything in aviation half-hearted. I have two options that I am considering right now, either joining the ANG back home and flying for them or becoming an instructor. Thank you for your comments (those of you who had something constructive to say) and any additional input that you might all have would be helpful.