mcis987

I am a CFI/CFII/MEI who is looking to get a new instructing job. I was curious if anyone could tell me more about the Purdue program. I have looked at their site, but there is more information that I would like to know. How many students does a full-timer usually get? How many days per week do they work? What's the pay like? Any other info about the job would be greatly appreciated!

Brendan

One of the full timers just left, but a huge preference is given to Purdue grads. Full timers generally get 6-8 students a semester, which includes mostly instrument/commercial students (both are completed in the same semester). You have virtually zero chance of EVER getting multi students unless you plan on waiting about a decade. Expect to work 5 days a week with your two days off probably being back-to-back, but not necessarily the weekend. Also, you have to work night duty at least twice a month. You will have part time instructors that you are responsible for, and will do a lot of phase checks. The pay is salaried, in the low 20's. Benefits are supposedly above average.

If you're young and single, it can easily be done in this town. Feel free to ask anything else, I'll try to give you the most honest and accurate answer I can.

BTW, I'm a senior right now and a part time instructor. Like anywhere else there are definite positives and negatives, but all in all it seems to be a pretty good CFI job.

Ewfflyer

I don't know about the possiblities of the multi work, but I'm an 04' grad. I think Brendan nailed just about everything. Pending your age, the campus life is pretty good, plenty of hang-out spots from the obvious bars to other items. As an employee you'll have acess to the Co-Rec to work out and all sorts of sports leagues(I assume it's still there, there was word of some changes when I left). I never worked as a full-timer there, so I can only speak of what I experience almost 5 yrs ago(damn I'm feeling older)

whatthe6789

Which full-timer left??

Holbiedmb914

Fifer! What's up. It's Holbrook. I am trying to figure out who left as well. What are you up to? (I am trying to get my post count up so I can PM).

In response to the question, Brendan hit the nail on the head. I am from Indianapolis and I previously believed that big cities were where I would live my life. However, after 4 years in West Lafayette, I now love the feel of a smaller city/college town.

Brendan

Initials T.B. He pretty much just got burned out.

I'm the same way. I came from San Diego and love it here. I don't even complain about the cold weather!

whatthe6789

Holbrook, I'm good, working back in the Fort at a flight academy, what are you up to nowadays?

Where did T.B. leave for? Did he find another job or what? I thought he was working on his Masters or higher...

Brendan

I'm not sure if he left for another flying job, but he just had a baby last year so I'm guessing that has something to do with it. Unless you need the benefits, the job really doesn't offer much reason to stay around. The Aviation department here is treated like the ugly step-child of the University.

BoilerUP

Isn't that the truth...

I get the feeling that the reasons it continues to exist are 1. tradition, 2. the die-hard commitment of faculty (most of which are north of 50 years old), and 3. the administration loves them some TFO airplanes for their travels.

Beering was the last President that actually gave a F about the Aviation Technology Deparment...Jishke was a CEO-style toolbag who cared far less about students and academia then he did donation money, and couldn't/wouldn't look you in the eye if he flew on your airplane.

I've gotten REAL tired of the university sending John Purdue Club donation envelopes my way...if/when I'm able to donate I'll help AT but NEVER the general fund.

NuGuy

Heyas Boiler,

Good comments. When I went up to Purdue to check out their graduate program, I asked about teaching part time in the aviation program.

The looked at me like "why in the heck would you want to do that??". Granted that they were already going to have me full time in grad school in a completely separate program (and paying me to do it!), but I thought their reaction was kind of odd.

The Purdue flight program has a metric ton of history behind it, and I would have liked to have been a part of it, even part time. Since I didn't wind up going to grad school, it's a moot point I guess.

I know how you feel about the "contributions". The President of Tulane, where I went to undergrad, used Katrina as an excuse to kill the School of Engineering (one of the oldest parts of the university), but somehow managed to find the money for a non-performing Div I football team. It was a Tulane engineer that designed the first non-fouling pumps for New Orleans back in the 1900s, and one of the founders of Yahoo was a Tulane engineering grad, and made the largest donations in the schools history.

When they called grubbing for money, I told them that they'd never see another dime from me, EVER, and just scratch my name off the list until they got their priorities straight.

Nu