As others have said, this is both illegal and standard practice.

You could find a new job.

You could just put up with, if you're getting enough hours...this will prepare you for all the unpaid time you'll spend sitting around at a regional not getting paid, which will drive your effective hourly rate below minimum wage.

You could also document every minute, and then when you leave after a couple years go to the state the labor board to force back-pay. Of course your former employer would probably not give you a good reference, and your career would be off to a bad start.

Absolutely! One day, while CFI-ing during senior year in college, I was lounging about the flight school. Just finished up a Flying magazine article about A36 Bonanzas (and thought, "I"ll never get to fly a fancy plane like this") when a 29 year old customer walked in. I took him up for his intro ride. Turns out he owned the largest internet provider in Hampton Roads at the time. Two weeks later, we were up in NJ buying an A36 for me to train him in. This opportunity got me into the Bonanza Professional Pilot Program.

I also washed planes for extra cash while I was sitting around. If you are happy with the amount of flight time you are currently getting, stick around. If not, move on.

The business of teaching flying is truly terrible in this country and it makes little sense at all unless you assign a dollar value to flight hours and consider that the real pay. If it does not even make sense that way, then consider doing something else altogether like aerial surveys or pipeline. If not, stay there and pay your dues cheerfully. It's a raw deal on the financial side no matter what you do in entry-level aviation.

This. ^^^^^^^^^^ Most above-board 141 schools have enough students right now to make you worry about 8 dual given in 24 hours. You shouldn't be wasting your time answering phone calls.

If it were me, I wouldn't complain. I would be thankful to get paid to fly, not everyone can experience that. I'm not a CFI yet, but I would paid my dues doing w/e it takes.

Well, unfortunately, most flight school owners DO ASSIGN A DOLLAR VALUE to flight time for each hour you are "lucky enough to instruct at their flight school and take full advantage of the need to instruct to move on.

US Aviation Academy is looking for instructors. We'd be glad to have you and won't have to sit and answer phones or take out the trash.

But, I doubt the janitor will complain if you do take out the trash, so feel free to if it makes you feel like you're getting the real CFI experience.

I was an independent contract instructor and spent many a day at the airport for free when I first started--trying to get students. The difference was it was voluntary. Also, as an independent contractor, I charged whatever rate I wanted (I always charged for ground and flight time) and kept every penny. Once I established a client base, I relied on my reputation and didn't need to do it anymore.

I made a pretty good living this way, actually a little too good as it made me reluctant to move on and take a pay cut. 16 years later (after 12 in the AF) I'm making less my first year at US/AA than I made per year as a CFI.

This 100% makes sense as being the best option to me. I'm just now becoming a commercial pilot but this has been my mindset all along. Im going through ATP so I am set for the "mill" so to speak but ultimately it's the "assigned students" mentality which helps everyone involved if your the motivated instructor students need.