Pilot Shortage
 

Hi!

From another website:

Many flight schools are facing problems with:
Can't find instructors
Can't find students
Turning away students as no instructors

Quote:

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...one flight school in Chicago that lost 15 instructors in one week.

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cliff
YIP

I'm tryin to fill the position which I am leaving at my flight school in lubbock. Instructors are becoming less common.

Still having no luck with that? Lubbock is no-man's land, thats for sure.

We had such a hard time the owner of our company had to come out and start flying.

It's simply the fact that nobody wants to fly anymore. That is somewhat of an overstatement, but it's not far off. Many part 61 schools have found it is simply not feasable to operate anymore. This holds especially true if they are into charter, sales, maintenance, or FBO services.

The demand for instructors is falling with the number of student pilots. The few exceptions are those who are seeking aviation as a vocation. Many instructors are choosing not to renew because of this as well.

We are having a hard time finding instructors as well. Between the low regional hours and everyone moving on after 2 months and the fact where some even hire with simply a CMEL rating no one wants to instruct anymore.

My flight school recently changed the whole payscale and scheduling to make instructing a more attractive option. I hope it helps to attract CFI's because as of now my students have to book weeks in advance to even get a 2 hour block. Not very conducive to business

Desperation is starting to set in!
 

Pan Am International Flight Academy in PHX is now offering for all those willing to sign a one year contract, their CFI for free and both your CFII/ MEI at half price. Not bad when you think about how much it cost just to gain those ratings that you're likely never to use after your first 121 job. It cost about $10-$14K for your CFI, II and MEI; if you sign on for 1 year you can basically get all three for less than $3K and with all that time building you can chose the regional of your choice. When I was instructing there I was flying over 100 hours a month and teaching around 40 in their ACE program (72 hr CRJ-200 basic systems and 30 hr level 5 FTD program).

Now they have a King Air program that I'm sure one could work their way into. The King Air program is 40 hrs of ground, 10 hours Level D Sim and 10 hours in the a/c. This program is for their Chinese students, which they are pushing about 400 through a year. If you think each student has to complete this program, then an instructor could gain quite a bit of Turbine PIC time.

http://www.panamacademy.net/

if anybody needs a cfi job in tx pm me. you can get multi in a 310 also.

Not yet, just trying to help out the owner find somebody. Hes a really good guy.

I tend to agree with this statement. The cost of training is simply outpacing the salaries that are to be expected right now. Many are beginning to see flying as just a hobby, plain and simple...Wow, I'm starting to sound like SkyHigh, here...maybe it's time to get some rest...But I stand by my statements.

Wow! Makes me wish I was 19 and free to move to AZ. I just started instructing at a nearby school which has 5 instructors already. Two are retired corporate pilots that never seem to come to the airport. One is a full time nurse who has time for only a couple of students. The fourth is a full time fireman who seems to have the most students because he has the most time off from his other job (3 on 4 off or something like that). The fifth instructor is the flight ops mgr. who takes students when he has to. I've had 4 intro flights in the last week and with the cost of training, I'm not sure any of them are likely to follow through with getting a certificate. As far as I can tell, instructing doesn't pay enough to keep most people doing it full time and it's hard for students to want to spend a fortune on certificates and ratings to get a job that keeps them in the poverty level.

But I still love it ... poor or not :D

"how much it cost just to gain those ratings that you're likely never to use after your first 121 job"

I don't know, man. Some of us love aviation. I've been doing 121 since 1988 and have maintained my CFI. During that time I've signed off 50 or so IFR ratins, ran a flying club, and currently own three GA airplanes. For those that love GA, the CFI can really be nice to have.

I’ll always keep my CFI's (CFI, II & MEI) current and I’ll use them whenever possible. Currently I fly for SKW and still instruct at Pan Am in there ACE CR2 FTD as well as pick up when instructors at Glendale Aviation need some time off.

I was speaking for the other side, those who did it as a means to an end. I'm passionate about my profession and will always jump at the chance to mold young eager minds. It also gives me the chance to speak to potential 121 pilots and educate them on life as a career pilot. That way they understand why friends don’t let friends fly for MAG or GO and I try to educate them on unions, there history and our professions future so they can make more educated decisions when the time comes. I try not to be bias and give source so they can continue to read and learn.

I also feel that being an instructor helps prepare for life as CA. After all, airlines are hiring future CA's and in my opinion it's part of a CA's responsibility to help mold the CA of tomorrow.

Hi!

172Capt:
Associating Hilary with Communism is like saying a pig farmer's experience qualifies him to sew prom dresses.

Communism is a utopian ideal that never existed in real life. It was a stupid idea. Communism is also a very conservative idea, as it is old-fashioned and out of style.

Hilary is as Capitalist as can be. Just like the Republicans, she believes in taking donations from big corporations and rich people, and in rewarding them with our public tax dollars.

I hope, if she becomes president, that she would actually try and help out the common "little people" in the US, like all of us pilots, mechanics and flight attendents.

I would prefer to see a ticket of Edwards/Obama or Obama/Edwards. I think Clinton would be somewhat better than Guiliani.

Anyone will be a drastic improvement over GW.

cliff
YIP

pilot shortage- big laugh!
 

Good- As I read all these posting about there being CFI shortage, I am finally excited that pilot wages might go up. Pilots are a dime a dozen and unless there truly is a shortage of regional pilots then wages and QOL will continue to get worse. There are so many flight schools out there pumping low time pilots into industry that all airlines realized that they can cut pay and QOL down to the bone because they realize there are 100 more pilots behind them willing to take the job for less pay. Regional are not lowering mins because there is a true shortage, they are lowering the mins because those are the pilots willing to take less pay for more work. Airlines are making pilots dance to there tune and we continue to dance and drink all there Kool Aid. Lets pretend there is a pilot shortage, that would be good too if some of the crappy regional that treat their pilot horrible went of of business sent the message out to the others that they need to take care of there employees or else they may be next. There is no pilot shortage right now. I watch majors turning away qualified pilots by the dozens and low timers are lining up to take a job whomever thay can get a job with. Disagree or not, that is just what I see going on in the industry.

Taking my CFII ride on Wed. (Thunderstorms forcast all week:eek: ) I'm still keeping you in mind.

Good luck, it's not as hard as the initial. I've got another week left at my job here. If somebody shows up in the next week, I can train them in the 310 before I leave and get them on the insurance.

LOL...it is the initial. :D

Oh yeah, its gonna suck. The oral is hard, the flight shouldn't be too bad. Where are you taking your checkride at?

Fort Worth FSDO. My inspector seems like a pretty decent guy. He gave me the run down on the phone. I don't think he's gonna be one of these 7 hr oral guys....basically said just answer and move on. Doubt we'll get to fly though. How deep did they dive into FOI on yours?

FOI was really long and hard (haha). Like probably at least a third of the oral was FOI. Know that stuff cold. Hard to remember, it was like 2 years ago. Just memorize it, none of that stuff really matters, you will forget it fairly quickly. I've got some pretty good study guides that I made for mine and for guys that I have sent for their initial. Pm with your email and I will send them to you.

Why flight instruct when you can go to a regional with a commercial mutli right now, make a little more money and you get to fly a shiny jet? CFI's are going to be in very short supply until pay increases. Sadly this is going to be passed on to the students which will begin a vicious cycle. Funny thing is most flight schools are charging $30-45 an hour for dual but only paying their instructors about half that and also making money on the plane.

I'm on my second CFI job. The first one sucked, the second one is much better (better pay, health insurance, etc). I like instructing but I'm going to move on soon because I can't afford to do it.

I don't think I'm ready to jump into a 121 job just yet. I would like to finish up my instructor ratings and learn some more first. It seems I am now the minority around here but thats how I feel.

our school is at $48/hr for dual

instructors make half that which I think is decent for instructor wage compared to what I have seen elsewhere. Its better than a regional so im hanging around for a bit

The school I just left was charging the student $40/hr and giving me $15/hr. The also had the plane set at $135/hr wet. The student was paying $175/hr and I got $15. I hope that school burns to the ground the greedy SOB's

That sounds like the school I'm flying at. They pay CFI's 17/hr and charge between 100-180 for a/c. There's no way in hell I will work there when I'm done.

Mr. Squak,

YOu may be in the minority, but you are making good decision to finish atleast your CFI. Pilot in command experience is extremely important when you upgrade at the regionals. No offense to the guys that go at 250 hrs but I believe you will be a better Captain with that experience. A 250 hr pilot has only the experience he got competing his initial ratings and will be behind the curve for awhile if they go straight to the regionals. You will have the experience of training someone with no experience to a private pilot or higher. The experience you get with that is invaluable. I did it and most pilots did it but I guess its a new trend not too. We will see how it works out. Someone has to fill the shortage. I have some FO's that are unsure how to do a visual app. Their only experience after the ratings is ground school and sim prior to the airline. You cant teach experience, and good decision making skills. Hopefully these guys/gals will be able to fly with good Captains that will help them with what they lack in real life experience in the airlines.

Hi!

Pinnacle now pays in training.
Chautauqua pays a $2500 bonus to those already RJ trained.
USA Jet raised their training pay to regular 1st year pay.
Piedmont pays a $5k bonus.

Pinnacle, PSA and USA Jet have no hourly minimums.

Virtually ALL the regionals now ended scheduled interview days-they now interview whenever someone can come in.

Many regionals now run a new hire class every Monday for whoever shows up.

USA Jet dropped their pool, and asks new hires when THEY would like to start class.

Ab-initio pilot training is coming.

cliff
YIP

Are you with USA Jet? Don't they fly DC-9's and Falcons? There's no minimums for that? Whats the catch?

I admire that theory, but if you are able get on and airline go ASAP, get your ratings on the side if you want, seniority is a wonderful thing

I see what your saying but at the same time I am also building hours for a "quality" job, not just a bottom barrel job. Probably Republic or XJ

it's only going to keep getting better

How are you able to still instruct and work for SKW, I heard once you work 121 you can not instruct because it eats into your 100hrs a month.

sorry wrong thread

Hi!

USA Jet lowered it's mins to get enough guys. They are taking a max of 1 low-time guy per 4 person class, as capt upgrade is 3000 TT and DC-9 FO is normally 2000TT.

The pilot shortage Tsunami is beginning to hit the shores.

cliff
GRB