7Xdriver

Give me a break You sound like the guy who was working for a company I wanted to work for who told me not to bother applying because I just didn't have the cred. Well, I ignored him and not only applied, but got the job, got my first type, and lasted 15 years upgrading to Captain and gained enough experience to propel me into my current Fortune 50 job.

So dlb4a, I say again, don't listen to any bozo who tries to talk you out of success. Just keep going cuz you have a lot to offer. As long as you keep improving your skills and don't give up, you will be a success!

Kevin

Herb Flemmming

Probably will luck out and get in on this next hiring spree, Slingin the gear on a barbie jet soon.

MoonFallsDown

I had a very hard time finding a job with 215 Hours with CFI, Now I am at the border line of 400 and still struggling to find my self a CFI job. But recently I sent an update resume to a flight school I spoke to few months back and now they are willing to hire me since my resume stated part 91 employed to fly a hawker....this flight school is not looking for a CFI at this time, but still willing to give me a start.....what a difference

congrats on finishing up with low time and good luck on your check-ride

14CFR

My recommendation(s) for acquiring the seemingly illusive beginning CFI job is to hunt down the Chief CFI, get to know him/her and bug them. That's how most of the low-time CFI's that I hired within the last four years got in...also, be very professional in appearance (shave) and demeanor and take any piercings out!

rdneckpilot

Both of you paid a ridiculous amount of money for your training. At some point in the near future you both will deeply regret what you paid for training, unless of course someone else paid for it and there is no debt to service. If you have loans for that amount all I can say is good luck.

I will agree that teaching is the best way to build time. When you get the CFI job you should network and get to know the pilots flying corporate and 135 on your field. You never know what opportunities you will find.

I also agree that regardless of what training program you have participated in you have very little to pass on to a student with your level of experience. I'm not implying you should not teach, more to the effect you should realize how little you know and work your butt off to be the best you can be. I know that your situation is not unique in the world of university training programs. That would be the reason why I chose not to goto one. The idea of paying a premium for flight training that is provided by some of the most inexperienced instructors you can find really baffles me.



Nothing personal, just my opinion.

blade120

remember its not what you or how much you paid for it, but who you know and how good you are.

snoopy

Just keep asking around different flight schools, I got hired as a CFI with 170 hours, and they were paying me $26 an hour.

Great Cornholio

I have read pretty much every reply and only have little bit to add. Just like everywhere this thread has had some good advice and some bad advice.

The 168TT doesn't really bother me. Amount or (lack of) flight time does not kill people in airplanes. Attitude and "size of ego/balls" kills people in planes. The only thing that concerns me about this guy was when he was talking smack about being able to take on more demanding flights than we give him credit for. This is a dangerous road to travel down and has ended up in more than a few smoking holes in the ground. Maybe it came across different than he meant when he typed it, but to me it made him come across as he thought of himself as a skygod. Now get the attitude fixed and no matter what you do CFI, traffic watch, freight dog, etc never ever fly out of your comfort zone.

Now for the advice...

Get CFI CFII and MEI. If you can't instruct in all of the planes the school has then you will lose out on flight time and students.

At first realize that as a new CFI your teaching style will be rough and that your first few students will not get the high quality instruction that your later students will get. With this being said it may be good for the first few students to be sent on more often flights with other CFI's. IE 1/2 way thru the stage and then the stage check instead of just the stage check. After the student flies with the other CFI talk to the other CFI and see what they thought of your student. This will add amazing insight from a 3rd party about your teaching skills and can show your strengths and weaknesses.


Does anyone of the OP ended up passing the CFI ride?

dlb4a

First and foremost I want to clarify a certain statement they may have resulted in negative feed back. In no way shape or form am I a quality instructor, quality pilot, or experienced. The remark I made about not receiving credit was merely because the gentlemen met my question with such negative criticism. Instead of supplying me with honest, encouraging words; I read replies of total disbelief followed by a few derogatory post.

Please forgive my statement. It was NOT intended to be taken as arrogant or cocky. I understand that not being humble MAY potential lead to a NTSB reporting an accident or fatality.

The check ride was initially scheduled for 12-21-2010 but due to wx and aircraft problems (battery dieing while attempting to start it after preheating in below freezing temp) delayed the taking of the ride. I did indeed pass though.

I appreciate all of the advice and also the negative post because it keeps me humble. I know, I have a tremendous amount of knowledge to learn and experiences to experience before I will be satisfied with calling myself a Certified Flight Instructor. I passed the CR. That does not mean I can instruct several students with quality and w/o failures.

AtlCSIP

Congrats! The CFI initial is a tough ride, and anyone who passes it deserves some credit regardless of their flight time! Keep looking for that CFI job, and make sure you keep networking and meeting people. Who you know is everything in this business!

Your first 25 hours of Dual Given are the toughest. It gets better from there. Keep plugging along and you will get there!