cl601pilot

Go get your initial instructor rating while you are proficient. Then add your I and ME to it as soon as you can. Then never let your instructor certificate lapse.

Go find a slot at an aeroclub where you keep 100% of your fee. Charge your students for Ground & Flight time. If you go cheap on your rates, the kind of students you will attract will not be anything more than bottom feeders.

Gajre539

As said before, it really depends on where you work after you get your CFI-A. My flight school charges $40 an hour and CFIs get $30. This is the same rate for basic, advanced or multi instruction.

Get your AGI while you are working on your CFI-A written since it is the same written test bank. It helps to get your CFI right after your Comm-SE since everything is fresh in your head. I got my CFI-A, got one student and then kept working towards my CFII and MEI in 1998.

Don't EVER offer to provide flight or ground instruction for free, regardless of how desperate you are. Having a website and business cards will help you promote your "business" regardless of which company you work for. Check this out, if you need some ideas - Flyintallahassee.com.

Rebuilt

I worked for two flight schools and they operated differently.

At one school, the student paid the owner and then I received a weekly paycheck after the owner took his cut.

The other school I was paid directly by the student and the owner did not get any of my money. They made their money off the rental of the airplane.

Jeffro

The instructor rating will open doors for you. Don't wait, get your CFI/II as soon as possible after you finish the commercial.

How far a long are you in the commercial training? If you still have to do a fair amount of flight training, consider doing the commercial from the right seat. You'll spend less time making the transition when you start the CFI.

As far as pay...the school I work at charges students $50/hr and I get $17. When I freelance, I charge students $35/hr and keep it all. I prefer freelance

- Jeff

SkyHigh

I would hold off unless there is a flight school that will promise to give you a job once you finish. Currently there are over 90,000 flight instructors in America. Many of them are getting laid off from airline jobs and will be looking to instruct.

Buying CFI training is a bargaining chip. It is important to use it only when you think there is a job waiting at the end. Otherwise you be just another unemployed instructor when you are done.

Skyhigh

Ewfflyer

I was making $20/hr for basic, $22/hr for complex/instr. They charged $35/37/hr respectively. That business still almost crashed when I was in the air 600-700hrs/yr, and charging who knows on the ground.

jsfBoat

The other gentlemen who've posted here all have told about the pay, but the CFI is also good for another reason. One of my CFIs is flying for a 135 company. He said that the guys who didnt have the CFI were some of the worst pilots and ended up washing out of training for the company for the simple reason that they couldn't keep up with the book work. Being a CFI allows you to be proficient with the material and studying. Flying jumpers or hauling banners, book work isn't really involved. Besides having the CFI will help explain things to other pilots that you may end up flying with in later career stages. I'm going through it now, and it's all about staying up to date with knowledge, studying, and being able to explain things to some one who has no background in aviation. I used my girlfriend to practice teaching ground, and she has a good understanding of the basics.