if that happens i can almost guarantee probably 75% of the CFIs right now would leave the industry. Before I got laid off by a very large florida based flight school, which (before covid) CFIs were logging 100+ hours a month and able to pay bills. In march after covid started, I was only flying about 20-25 hours a month. I was having to pull money out of my savings account just to pay rent and gas. No way this would be sustainable long term for most people

yup same here. I’m going to have to make a decision whether to keep instructing full time or find some other line of work. It’ll probably be the beginning of next summer give or take. Basically depends on whether or not the regional that I’m in a new hire pool contacts me with any positive info.

I know i am not the only CFI who has these same feelings. Many of my friends share similar viewpoints as me on this.

I guess the only positive thing with this situation with COVID is that pilot training pipeline is going to be decimated. My friends and I have seen a rapid decrease in the amount of new students. This means if this pilot shortage ever comes to fruition, it may be 10x worse than before all this crap started happening. Probably wishful thinking but it is what it is I guess...

This rollercoaster ride seems to happen every ten years and will happen again in another ten. Keep the faith it’ll turn around, maybe not the same landscape we’ve known for the last few years but it will come back it’ll just be different. I graduated college in 2009 with furloughed folks everywhere, not a great economy, and a ton of student loans. Two years later almost to the day I was sitting right seat in a regional... it ebbs and flows just try to remain positive.

Plenty of people did that in the 00s and came back when things got better in the mid 10s. It would be the smart thing to do once you reach 1500 - 2000 hours.

Yes, I helped a couple old buddies of come back to aviation from white-collar. As regional FO's.

Those of us who stuck it out in 00's are mostly legacy CA's. At least before the covid-induced downgrades.

95% of the pilots I know from the 00's are not legacy captains.

I'm talking about people who started around 2000, give or take a few years, and stuck it out in 00's. Several have been downgraded this year.

Sounds like you two run in different circles maybe.

the majority of guys I know from the 00’ area are at legacies, majority of them could hold captain but choose not to yet. Well at least prior to COVID

The amount of flight training at my small airport has gone up dramatically due to COVID. Most of the people have other careers and are just learning to fly for fun. They can’t travel, go to bars, movies, etc.. Learning to fly is a way to get out of the house and to learn a new skill. A couple airline guys that took leave are now doing it full time. A few others are doing as much as they want part time.

I’ll hit 1500 next month, hopefully get my ATP in spring, and will hope things recover around the time my daughter can drive. My wife gets her vaccine on Monday since she works at the hospital, so things should start moving soon once that gets widespread. I predict a repeat of the 1918 flu turning into the roaring 20’s.