DontLookDown

Unfortunately, a majority of flight instructors are just as interested in building time as they are concerned about providing quality instruction. Some only care about building time.

As flight schools got busier and CFI’s became more valuable it got tougher to screen out the bad instructors.

Some of those “only here to build time” flight instructors have prob existed at every busy flight school. That may be reflected in the reviews. You’ll prob also see a lot of negative reviews about how it’s too expensive. That’s also true everywhere.

cons

Now is NOT a good time to take out a huge loan for flight training. DO NOT sign on the dotted line, run away!

flybub

I agree with what most have said here, do not pre-pay a school. If you have money put away for your training, good for you, use it as your training moves along. If something happens in the industry, or you personally, and you cannot continue your training, at least you still have money in the bank.

Douglas89

I work in construction management and am training at a 141 school. Every company that we work with (Architects, Engineers, G.C's, etc.) have sent out some kind of memo/plan for dealing with the coronavirus.

A small airplane seems like the perfect place to contract the virus. I asked one of the staff at my flight school if they have seen anything come from management and they said no. Think about all the people flight instructors are exposed to in close proximity and then people touching the flight controls.

I think I am going to wait to keep flying until at the minimum the flight school issues some kind of plan showing how they are keeping the planes/environment cleaned to help prevent spreading the virus. There are lots of healthcare professionals at my flight school who could easily be exposed to the virus at the work and spread it to others at the school.

Just something to think about for everyone else doing training right now. The majority of the people I have been dealing with seem to be pretty lackadaisical in their approach to staying healthy against the virus. Everyone I know in healthcare has said this virus is no joke and they have seen healthy people in critical condition.... not just a 90 year old or someone who has smoked for 40 years.

Skychicken17

I’m wondering the same thing. I’m a cfi at my flight school with 850 hours. 150 hours away from the airlines... I’m wondering if I should stick around there for a while and keep instructing? Or start looking for a new career choice...

DontLookDown

Thats not your choice to make. It’s really up to the economy and the airlines.

If the airlines are hiring in a few months when you’re ready then go for it. If not, then you’re stuck.

You’re a CFI. If you’re at a typical school you have a fluctuating paycheck and an overall salary less than $40,000 a year, no health benefits, no 401K and no paid time off. You also probably work your tail off for the money that you do make by working long days and eating quick 10 minute meals during preflight inspections. You might be the exception to this, but that applies to most.

Some people might want to think twice before sacrificing their current lifestyle to pursue the unstable career of an airline pilot. CFI’s don’t have much to lose as far as lifestyle goes so in my opinion if CFI is all you have going for you then it’s still a pretty easy choice

rickair7777

Short-term: stick it out and see what happens.

Long-term: if it drags out, then you have to consider your financial situation. There will still be excellent long-term career opportunities, retirements numbers don't lie and COVID has a finite time-line.

You could seek greener pastures while you wait, but if it's a drawn-out situation, hiring will be more selective with preference for currency. They may not be accepting rust career changers for a while, your prospects might be better if current.

LondonLad

Do you think flight training, in general, will come down in price? Guess its all supply and demand right? Fewer people training, price has to come down?

sourdough44

If someone(prospective pilot) is 1 year or more out, I’d just keep on trucking(flying).

Of course, near term, flight schools may be shutdown​​​​​​.

Did we cease to exist after the ‘Spanish flu’ in 1918? That was pretty bleak. There were some dark times during WWII.

Yes, sprinkle in a little faith. I just don’t think we’ll put up living like this. We are much better equipped that we were 100 years ago.

Just going by averages, this won’t take us under. That’s my story & I’m sticking to it.

DontLookDown

It won’t get cheaper.

Should it get cheaper? Yes. CFI’s are now plentiful since regionals won’t be hiring, so supply is going up. Demand is going down as hobby flyers are less apt to jump into something so expensive after watching their portfolios plummet/potential unemployment on the horizon. Not to mention- gas is extremely cheap now compared to what it has been in the past.

Unfortunately, this will just prevents schools from increasing prices. Once it goes up- they never decrease the price.

Similarly, airline pilots are warning their new peers to not give any concessions on pay. Once the pay is taken away- it doesn’t come back, even when it should.

It isn’t fair, but that’s been the historic reality.