The explanation(s) I got was at 800-1000 hours *ALL* CFIs develop "short timer" attitudes because NO ONE wants to be a CFI, it is strictly a timebuilding activity.

That's bogus. There's a guy around here who charges $55 per hour for flight and ground. He also has a 100% pass ratio. He can do it because he's good and there are plenty of people who will pay for the quality education. I think he has a waiting list. I'd love to be able to do something like that when I retire from the airlines. That's why I'm not in a rush to jump to the airlines.

I thought it was the low time CFI's that have the "short timer" additude. You should push someone out the door if they have that additude no matter how many hours they have. I doubt any school pushes people out indiscriminatly at 1000 hours just because. But who knows, maybe there is a school out there stupid enough to do that.

the schools I referenced prefer to hire low time CFIs because they are 'hungry' and willing to work for next to nothing (How does $7 an hour grab you?) One of the schools doesn't pay the instructors for ground instruction, only by Hobbs time. And they expect you to hang around at the airport all day to wait for 'walk ins'. The average stay for CFIs at that school is 3-4 months.

DANIEL WEBSTER COLLEGE in Nashua, NH

I would hate to think where the next generation of pilot's would be if the only ones who instruct were those who were timebuilding. I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a CFI and will probably go back to it when I retire from other types of flying - and I have over 1,500 hours of dual given with a 98% pass rate. For now though, I need to know exactly what I will make each and every week. Not all instructors are out there solely for the purpose of building time and moving on to "bigger and better" things.

I'll second that. I love the challenge and the flying, but pay is certainly an issue right now. I'm definitely building up a nice retirement account and then doing instruction on my terms.

I will hopefully continue to earn money on the side while I'm instructing, but I want to do it because I want to teach others how to fly. Other than losing my virginity, flying is the best experience that I have ever had. I will always remember my instructor for my private. I want to have a job doing what I love and share it with others. Plus I want home time with the family for a while. I strive to be the best instructor and maybe I will get an opportunity to have my own flight school. That is my dream right now.

Does Lufthansa hire line pilots from the CFI's that have worked for them, or do they only hire German nationals? Does being a CFI with them help your chances for employment there?

I would also recommend IFTA - International Flight Training Academy in Bakersfield, CA. They train All Nippon and EVA pilots. Also Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, WA. Both places treated me great and I always said if I was going to be a career instructor Big Bend was the place.