SongMan

I don't know man... Average around my neck of wood is 80 hours with 1 in 30 students getting it done under 50 hours.

CRM114

Wow! That's really surprising. It's been 25 years since I was an active instructor and I know that the PTS is ever changing, but wow!

Why do you think it's taking so long?

ClarenceOver

70 hour may be considered a failure to you. But how many cfi's are there to build time and don't care versus actually loving to teach? 30k zero to hero? Not on your life. Its not possible. 50k if you are good. 60k is average. i also love that question. How do YOU prepare for my lesson? Most don't.

CRM114

And that's my point, those "CFI's" who are trying to go zero to hero on someone else's nickel should be avoided at all costs. There are experienced and professional CFI's that can work with students to earn ratings on time and on budget.

PRS Guitars

Part of it could be the economy. People probably have to take long breaks in training from time to time and basically have to relearn a lot. I stopped instructing 12 years ago, but the average at my airport was high (though not 70 hours) because it was a very busy airport and students could count on waiting .2 or more extra hours every sortie for takeoff.

I disagree with your assessment of new CFI's. We all had to start somewhere. Sometimes a new CFI can actually be an asset...they aren't burned out yet, they still have a passion and excitement for flying, they recently have been studying all of the material, etc.

But yes, given the choice I'd probably pick experience if possible. Just realize that experience comes at a price. Personally, I was charging a lot more my fourth year instructing ($50/hour vs $20) than my first year as an independent contract instructor.

You touched upon another warning sign of a CFI though. I'd watch out for guys that are purely in it for time building and view instructing as punishment to get to an airline.

DanTheSasquatch

I disagree with those saying $30k is unreasonable. Depends on where you live. My local FBO rents the 172 for $98/hr and the 152 for $75/hr. The Seminole is a tad bit steeper at $235/hr wet. Instructor is $30/hr. If one worked hard and got everything by 250 hours at an average of $130/hr that would be $32.5k.

Obviously I am quite lucky to have such affordable rentals at my location, and not everybody will be so fortunate. Of course I think that, in order to be realistic, one would want to budget a few extra thousand dollars, because odds are not good that one would get their rating right at 250 hours. Plus checkrides are not cheap, nor are books.

EDIT: I assume $130 average because I'm just too freakin big for a 152. Could be cheaper (or more obtainable) if one flew the 152 for a large portion of their hours.

Another edit: I got my private at just shy of 80 hours. I had to change instructors several times, and due to money issues, I had to frequently stop flying for extended periods (took me 4 years!). I would say my first 30-40 hours I learned almost nothing. Just enough to solo and plan a simple xc flight. My last 20 hours I finally had to money to really buckle down and go at it, and I learned almost everything in that last 20 hours. Moral of the story - save up and fly frequently, you will save a ton of time and money that way when compared to flying only "when you can afford it."

full of luv

Join any of the services or ang with your degree and chose aviation. Use time to build skills and contacts and see the world. By the time you can go rsv you'll know what you want to do debt free with ratings. And you'll get a chance to serve your country instead of a CEO for 5 yrs. luv

JamesNoBrakes

Ahh, so all one has to do is move there, get an apartment, job, etc?

DanTheSasquatch

As I said, I realize not everyone can be fortunate enough to have the rates that I am able to get. And since OP said he lives somewhere expensive, he probably won't be able to make it in under $50k. $30k is wishful thinking in most parts of the country.

Engineer413

I had to different instructors for my private and still got it at around 50 hours...