Any career CFI's out there?
 

Sorry I'm starting another thread about CFI jobs. Can anybody tell me if schools/FBO's treat career CFI's differently than CFI's that are clearly there just to get the hours to move on to their next job? Like, if I assured the school that I love to teach and I would be a great asset to the school, that I'm going to be there for a while so I will become very comfortable with the operation, yada yada yada.. will any of this matter? Do they eventually pay CFI's that have been with the company a long time more than they pay wet behind the ear pilots that are just moving through?

Luftansia @ Phoenix. Goodyear Airport. Starting pay is $41,000 up to $50,000 with health and flight benefits.

There are places, as the above post mentions, that treat career CFI's better than your regular FBO can. There aren't many of them, though.

Another way to do it is to work at a large flying club where you can free lance for $40/hr and set your own pace.

Also, buy your own Cessna 150 and start your own little informal flight school. I think, in the right place, a guy could do alright in that situation.

I hate to tell ya, though, I don't think your average school pays more for the guy who sticks around a while. Maybe a little, but not enough that it would matter.

Is the Lufthansa gig somthing a normal CFI/CFII/MEI can do or is it a job where airline experience needed? The website I found for it made it seem like it was all advanced pilot training operations.

It definatly is very advanced. I don't know about the qualifications needed but I have spoken to some Lufthansa pilots and former students and they said it was really high paced and tough for the students so I guess it's not easy to be a CFI there. I heard, they do noise abatement approaches in their Bonanzas.:p The Lufthansa program pushes students through the entire (European) training in two years. After two years students have their (frozen) ATPL and start with their line-training on either the A320(DLH, Germanwings, Condor-Berlin), the B737 (DLH), the B757/B767(Condor) or the A300(DLH). It starts out with half a year of theory in Bremen, Germany. Then comes the Phoenix part for about half a year. Then comes another, slightly shorter part of theory in Bremen, followed by the second part of actual flying. They flew twin engined, turbine aircraft around Europe then.

Just as a quick overview of how the training looks like. This is no information though, what qualifications you need in order to be CFI there, I simply don't know...:)

I know about this career path with Lufthansa, as I live in Germany and might apply there after finishing school here. But I probably won't as I want to move back to the States. If you have any other questions about the program, go ahead and ask. I know a little about it and I knoq people who I could ask. I'd be happy to help anybody out.

Cheers - Jakob

QOL at Luftansia isn't bad. You are assigned 3 students and you work a set schedule. I hear that you must work a Saturday every 3rd weekend or something like that. 90% off all airline tickets on Luftansia and partners.

I know a CFI there, he says things are going great!

Pan Am told all of their instructors if they are considering leaving and going to Luftansia let them know and "they will try to work something out" Everyone is hiring CFIs now. Luftansia sent a mass mailing to every registered CFI in the Phoenix area trying t get CFIs to work for them.

Find a good place, show them your CFI ticket and your set.

According to their website, (much of which is in german) you need a ATPL (frozen) to instruct. It might be incorrect though if they are asking all the CFI's in the area if they are interested. I guess sending a resume never hurts though.

All you need to get a job at lufthasia in goodyear right now is some dual given and to do good in an interview. I hear their new chief pilot is a real SOB though and people have been quitting.

If you can find a school with a corporate culture that appreciates career CFIs you can make a good living at it. I know of two schools where the CFIs are pushed out the door when they get to the 1,000 mark. Doesn't matter how many students you have or if you have other reasons for staying around (such as the wife's job is in the area). Sadly this school loses a lot of good CFIs because of this attitude. The saavy students take their business elsewhere because they aren't treated much better than the CFIs who are "easly replaced".

why would they push you out the door at 1000? it seems totally pointless. you don't HAVE to pay somebody more at 1000hrs.