Cost vs. Benefit of obtaing a CFI Rating
02-18-2006, 04:05 PM
#1
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Cost vs. Benefit of obtaing a CFI Rating
I am a school teacher in California and a Private Pilot ASEL w/Instrument. I am having some trouble justifying spending hundreds of dollars a month flying, but I don't want to give up the hobby either. For this reason, I am considering earning a CFI ticket and moonlighting as an instructor. Assuming that it would cost me $10K to make the upgrade (110 a month if financed), my questions are as follows: Could I reasonably expect to cover this cost as a freelance CFI working weekends and summers? Do most instructors feel that instructing feeds the flying "fix"? Are there any other factors I might have failed to consider? Thanks for your time!
02-18-2006, 04:52 PM
#2
Prime Minister/Moderator
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Originally Posted by snu164
I am a school teacher in California and a Private Pilot ASEL w/Instrument. I am having some trouble justifying spending hundreds of dollars a month flying, but I don't want to give up the hobby either. For this reason, I am considering earning a CFI ticket and moonlighting as an instructor. Assuming that it would cost me $10K to make the upgrade (110 a month if financed), my questions are as follows: Could I reasonably expect to cover this cost as a freelance CFI working weekends and summers? Do most instructors feel that instructing feeds the flying "fix"? Are there any other factors I might have failed to consider? Thanks for your time!
You should be able to get a CFI (and a CFII) for about $4-6K.
If you are selective about your students nad the type of training you give, you should find it very enjoyable. Since you're not on a crusade to build hours, you can afford to be selective.
You'll probably still want to take your wife/girlfriend on the occasional weekend flying getaway...even I still have to pay for that.
02-18-2006, 06:44 PM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2005
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I don't think you can go wrong with the part-time CFI thing.
Once you develop a rep you should be able to command 30/hr easy and maybe more. Even better, buy yourself a little Cessna for 20K or so and free lance in that.
I think instructing should "feed your fix". The satisfatction from soloing a newbie has gotta equal doing what you are doing now.
Where are you from in Cali?
Once you develop a rep you should be able to command 30/hr easy and maybe more. Even better, buy yourself a little Cessna for 20K or so and free lance in that.
I think instructing should "feed your fix". The satisfatction from soloing a newbie has gotta equal doing what you are doing now.
Where are you from in Cali?
02-19-2006, 04:36 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: CR7 Capt
Posts: 1,621
where I work as a CFI there are maybe two or three full time CFI's including myself that are hour building machines. However the majority of the CFI's are just part timers. They do weekends and after work during the week and they all enjoy it. By the way there are about 12 total CFI's at my company so its very common.
02-19-2006, 05:00 AM
#5
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Buy a Plane
You could also buy a cessna 150 with an autogas STC and fly all you want. You could get a good one for around 20K. It could even reduce your costs to get a CFI. Life as a CFI can be ruff.
SkyHigh
SkyHigh
02-19-2006, 12:14 PM
#6
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de727ups- South of Riverside (Temecula). Fortunately there are plenty of airports for me to bounce between until I can establish a name.
Most of what I have heard sounds like this would be a good way to stay active in the hobby without ruining my finances. Now it's time to pick out the right school. Thanks everyone for the advice.
Most of what I have heard sounds like this would be a good way to stay active in the hobby without ruining my finances. Now it's time to pick out the right school. Thanks everyone for the advice.
02-19-2006, 01:52 PM
#7
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
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Originally Posted by snu164
de727ups- South of Riverside (Temecula). Fortunately there are plenty of airports for me to bounce between until I can establish a name.
Most of what I have heard sounds like this would be a good way to stay active in the hobby without ruining my finances. Now it's time to pick out the right school. Thanks everyone for the advice.
Most of what I have heard sounds like this would be a good way to stay active in the hobby without ruining my finances. Now it's time to pick out the right school. Thanks everyone for the advice.
02-21-2006, 09:21 PM
#8
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Posts: 44
Don't forget that to work as a CFI you must hold a commercial pilot certificate, so factor in the cost of getting that as well as the CFI ticket. You could be looking at close to $10,000 for those 2 certificates combined. I definitly recommend doing it if you have enough money though, being an instructor is a very satisfying job that very few people are skilled enough to master. Will it feed the flying "fix"? Absolutely!
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