First Flight Instructor job
 

Hey everyone, I did my CFII as my initial, finished my MEI last week, and plan on earning my CFI this Monday the 14th. My question is where are some of the better paying, or better CFI Jobs? I know Arizona, and Florida are 2 really big places along with some places in Texas. I had a plan, and was looking at a place in Arkansas, but me and my significant other are done as burnt toast, so there really isn't a reason to move there, so at this point I'm looking for some places where they pay is decent. I really don't know what to look for as far as CFI pay as being this is my first time, but I'm not looking for anything ridiculous that doesn't exist, but decent, and somewhere where the working environment isn't hostile because of management or other factors, if anyone has any ideas or leads it would be greatly appreciated. I've been waiting for this forever, but now that im close to getting my CFI, relationship issues in the past days have thrown my plans off as far as moving, and made me feel lost as far as where I want to move.

US Aviation Academy is pretty much always hiring and also has the American Eagle Pipeline Program (as does Transpac and Skymates I believe?).

US Aviation Academy Careers | 866-383-2400 | US Aviation Academy | 4850 Spartan Drive, Denton, TX 76207
US Flight Academy Partner Regional Airline Pipeline Program | 866-383-2400 | US Aviation Academy | 4850 Spartan Drive, Denton, TX 76207

Also make sure you look at the cost of living differences between your different opportunities; $20/hour in CA is not much better (if at all) than $15/hour in TX.

What is the possibility of your current flight school hiring you after you finish your CFI?

I did my CFI at a school with the intention of going to Florida or Arizona because I saw those pilot mills looking for instructors and heard that the instructors were doing 100 hours a month. Before I finished my CFI, the school where I was training asked me to work there and I flew 100 hours a month and got paid twice what Aerosim was offering. It turned out to be a much better deal and I am grateful for it.

I would strongly suggest choosing a school with a pipeline program. Flight instructing ends up being a 'weeder' where not everyone who starts goes any further. It's not this why by design, it's just that way right now because there aren't as many students as there are instructors, and hiring in the entire industry is poor. Choosing the right school makes a huge, HUGE difference. If you think you can make it on sheer determination and aptitude, you're wrong. I started instructing full time after the crash, and I'm the only one out of the six people I went to instructor school with that was actually able to keep moving. I'm good, but I hold a few of them that dropped out of flying because they couldn't make it work in very high esteem, and consider them better than myself.

My suggestion? transpac. I've never worked there, but the foreign students aren't drying up for now and they have an interview agreement.

it's not like it used to be where you could reasonably expect or plan on having a shot to interview at a regional. It's better than it was last year, but CFIs are having to fight it out with 5,000 hour jet pilots for entry level regional jobs.


I wish you the best of luck. Please post the schools you have chances with so others can give you reviews.

I heard about US academy, i'm in Oklahoma and really want to get out the south, but I do realize that at this point I can't really be picky like that. I also have heard of Transpac, their on my Facebook page and it looks like they have a lot of activity or students, and was thinking about that place also. One of my fears is dealing with students with strong language barriers. I've never really instructed so I don't know how it is. I've heard horror stories, but I can always use some insight because some people are just dramatic.

You could just call up the schools and ask to talk to one of the current CFIs about teaching foreign students. I'm sure they would be fine with that.

US Aviation also has a large number of foreign students, Chinese being the largest group, but you can think of it as a positive experience as well. Learning to deal with many different cultures and people from all different backgrounds could be quite valuable as an airline pilot.

Teaching foreign students will make you very good at communicating effectively in the cockpit, if you care about what you're doing and want to be a good instructor.

The Chinese students are evaluated on their English before they come. Some slip through the cracks, but generally speaking they work very hard.

It can be very trying at times, not because of the language barrier but because of the cultural differences in thought processes. If you want to do more than 20 hours a month, you'll probably need to be instructing Chinese people.

Of note: sometime within the next few years all the Chinese students will go away. GA is booming in China, and they are opening schools there.

Once that goes away from the US, the number of students will plummet, and there won't be enough students to sustain all the CFIs.

I would say it is extremely optimistic to say that all the chinese students will go away in a few years.

1. China doesn't have near as many CFI's floating around.
2. Infrastructure is being built but as far as number of airports not being used by airlines goes, they are WAY, WAY behind the US.
3. Some of the schools they have had struggled to provide quality training.

I think I am gonna call around and talk to some instructors who have had foreign students and talk to some instructors at my school since we used to have a Chinese contract. I would instruct at my school but we've been getting rid of people left and right because we don't have the students to sustain it. We have gotten a Chinese contract but I don't know when they are going to start. I have been looking around and Ive gotten an interest in Transpac aviation, and like someone said before it's nice they got the pipeline programs, and a little extra perk with me would be having the flight benefits. I'm a delta employee currently and it's something I really don't want to give up. But the position at Transpac is part time. Has anyone worked there before? That can give me some insight on pay, working conditions, etc. I just want to know can I live off of it, or would I need a second job.

You think hell is hot...wait till you get in a parked plane in Phoenix in the middle of a summer day.

Most schools only hire 'part time' because they won't give you benefits, or they just consider you a contract employee.

Schools like transpac give you the chance to easily exceed regional pay, and them some.

Pick a name brand school to instruct at, and pick one with a pipeline.

I've been working at Transpac for about 6 months now and would be happy to talk with you. PM me and I will give you my phone number.

The position absolutely will not be part time at Transpac for long. basically, the next time a class starts (every few weeks) you will be assigned 4-5 students and will work more than you could ever want. You can always pick up randoms on your weekends if you want more flight time! Though you won't get paid any more for doing that.

I instructed at a very small school and a local FBO for about a year before Transpac, and there are advantages to each situation.

Transpac
-Steady flight hours: 80-100 per month
-Steady pay: Salary
-Large fleet: Few cancelled missions due to resource availability
-Amazing flying weather
-Great dispatch and scheduling: In my mind the biggest advantage of working here
-Networking: Previous hiring relationship with all the regional carriers, pipeline with Eagle and Skywest, and CFIs leaving to the regionals all the time
-Advancement: if your goal is to stick around and such you can do Ok here

Independent
-Set your own schedule: a double edged sword as you don't get paid to be a scheduler and dispatcher
-Higher hourly pay

Transpac as well as other flight schools have been discussed a lot on the forums and a quick search can reveal some information. A lot of things have changed here in the last few years though, so read older stuff with a grain of salt.

Ultimately it depends on your goals. If you want to go to the regionals Transpac (or other "name brand" school) is probably the fastest way to get there.

..............and have a professional experience Flight Instructing. When you teach professionally oriented students, it's very different than teaching around the FBO, and far more beneficial.

Except transpac has air conditioned airplanes!! They watch the rest of us sweat for hours.

Again, depends on your goals.

I miss sharing the fun of GA aviation with my FBO students. Some people never get that. Its pretty fun flying low and slow to some cool little airport, getting the crew car and eating lunch in town, talking to the locals in the hanger and coming home at sunset.

The professional attitude of the school definitely has it's advantages, and its disadvantages (paperwork, for one)

Pilot mills are great because they keep you working constantly. Your flight times will increase quicker, but they pay crap. The part 61 schools I worked at paid up to $40/hr and most times I made a living and paid the rent. Try NS aviation here in S. Florida, great environment and boss; I heard last week they needed more CFI's.

Anywhere you consider applying/working, simple ask the guys what they've been netting and make a financial plan to make due on that or less. As far as relationship issues stopping you, don't let them.

GOOD LUCK ON THAT CHECKRIDE! Just be cool, and do what your CFI has prepped you for.