American flyers
 

Does anyone have any info on CFI pay, tpyes of planes, hours you'll usually teach, Multi time, etc? Thanks guys.

... hahahah doh

I believe each office is a bit different, but the Fort Worth office has 172s, one 172RG and a couple of Dutchesses (Dutchi?). I'm starting this week, so take the rest of this post for what it is worth. You start part time, then go full time/salary after 90 day probationary period. Pay is negotiated individually, but I have heard nos. like $2000-2400/mo for the salaried guys. Work day is from 0800-1800 or so, seven days a week. Part time guys come in when they have a student, salary guys are day-on stay-on. I am told to expect 50-60 hrs/mo. I think the multi time may be hard to come by, but I can't say for sure since I am waining on reimbursement from Uncle Sam (G.I. Bill) before I get my multi ratings. Hope this helps.

I heard part timers start at 15 an hour, but they won't hire someone with just a CFI or just a CFI-I, you have to have both and while it isn't required, they encourage you to get the AGI. And they want their multi instructors to have loads of multi time before they get in the plane. Lots of their instructors are retired guys from aviation related fields. Not too many guys looking to build time. The organization at large is really...well organized.
Good Luck

I worked at American Flyers for a year in early 2000. I don't know how much things have changed but I really did not enjoy their management and way of doing things. The pay was $11 per hour...again this was 6 years ago. I can list many negetive things about the job but only couple things positive. I guess one of the positive was the new airplanes.

Bottom line, there are so many other places that are way better in terms of business and pay. I would not doit again or recommend anyone...even if they paid $30 an hour.

alright, thanks guys. I am at kinda a fork in the road, if you will, on what way to go. I appricate all your input.

Ditto.

It will be hard to get your twin time there also.

I've been working for them for a few months now part time as I finish grad school. My experience overall has been positive. I instructed for a major university for a year and a half, flew checks for six months, then went back to the instructing at Flyers. The company is well organized and run. I enjoy all of the instructors that I work with, and the management and chief pilots at my school are genuine. They want instructors with both CFIA and CFII, but even if you have either, go talk to them anyway. They are short on instructors because everyone is going to the regionals.

Pay is currently as indicated in previous posts. 2k-2.4k for salary guys, and starting out around $12hr for a wet ticket CFI part-timer in the probationary period. Pay goes up with experience. With a 2yr CFIA/CFII, I started at $16/hr.

Plan on working long days and being taken to your 8hr flying limit on some days. Average flight time per month is about 50-60, but some guys are getting 80/month at the busy schools.

All in all, it's not a bad place to fly compared with other CFI jobs. It's a good place to learn how to teach, polish your flying and instrument skills, and ultimately prepare you for the 121 world.

To the two posters who had a negative experience, would you please elaborate a little more so I know what too look out for.

PM me if you want more info.

It seems like there are not too much more for me to elaborate, as you seem to know them but just don't realize that they are negetive.
Let me share couple that I consider negetive and anyone elses opinion might differ. Below are the reasons.

1. PAY(biggest reason)
-$16 with 2 years of experience??? that is ridiculous in my opinion. I honestly don't know of any flight shcool from top of my head that pays less than $20 as a brand new CFI, and you have 2 years of experience.
So brand new CFI now gets $12??? that's like ONE dollar increase in last 6 years. WoW!!! I'm still shocked. A brand new CFI at my school gets $30 an hour. I'm thinking of going to IFTA(bakersfield) flight school. They offer $46K salary for brand spanking new CFI. YES, not everything is $$$ so please look below.

2. Multi time
-You need multi time to get into average to upperend regional. I forgot which American Flyers base had multi or how much have changed, but I don't think they have multi oppertunity in most of their bases.

3. When I was at the Flyers, We had to teach roughly 1 hour of ground before each flight. I do know that grounds are important but 1 hour before each flight? Bit too much if you ask me. MY opinion is that American Flyers was and maybe still is trying to squeeze every dollar out of students pocket...then again,which flight school isn't.

4. You have to wear a tie! (you still do right?)

Check out climbto350.com and findapilot.com
There are so many schools hiring right now with better pay,equipment, and multi oppertunity.

How is AF's CFI program? I feel like I fell a little short with my commercial, so I want to make it up by going to a good cfi school, and get the best training i can find... I've heard some good things about the 30 day program there.. What you guys think?