Demand For CFI's?
 

I'm just wondering what the current demand for CFI's is right now? Future outlook? Anyone got 2 cents?

I don't know how the demand is personally have not CFI in a year but I think that places are always looking for CFI the last place that I instructed at could not find enough CFI expescially if you where A CFII

If you are going to be an instructor, find a job NOW. I'd be willing to bet that in a few months flight instructing jobs are going to be a lot more competitive and harder to find than they are now. Considering how many airlines are furloughing pilots and Airnet (which has never furloughed a pilot prior to 2008) is going to furlough 40-55 pilots later on in Oct, I think the demand for flight instructor jobs is going to increase because those furloughed pilots will be looking at anything to keep food on the table and will go back to instructing just to keep busy. So, my advice is to find that instructing job that you want NOW before it is too late.

As a new pilot just out of flight training- I am definitely finding it harder to find a CFI gig.

The jobs are still out there, you're probably just going to have to move (and maybe a considerable distance depending on your current location) to find one. Lots of the bigger foreign-student training centers are always looking for guys. As for local FBO jobs... I had to wait 4 months to find a decent CFI job close to home in the midwest.

I was very furtunate to be in a position to free lance instruct with a fresh CFI. I fly as much as any other instructor I know, and I am my own boss. I don't think I could ever work for an FBO or an Academy now. Point of the post is...If you get the chance to freelance, go for it.

Freelancing is tough, even in the best of times. I tried it for a little while, but it's a lot of work, time and effort.

I m still pretty busy flying now....log almost 90 hrs as CFII-MEI in our school with only foreign students from Euro.

What did you find so difficult about freelance instructing???

I haven't freelanced before (although it may be in my future) but I imagine these are some of the common problems:

1. Finding students. Larger academies and schools simply assign you students after they seek the school. Freelancing often its the other way around.

2. Finding consistent students. Everybody knows the weekend warrior student pilot isn't always the best to put food on the table.

These are both major issues affecting a freelance pilot, if I'm wrong or if people have others, feel free to speak up.