6 years ??? Typically a CFI can get 600-700/year...more if you can relocate for the best opportunities.

 

No kidding. Either this guy didn't WANT to fly or was doing it on the side. I made almost $28k my last year instructing and flew 968 hours in that time (I instructed longer than almost everyone I know, at 1 year 10 months). Cops in my area start around $34k.

For those that think it's a "struggle" to become a pilot, here are my past and estimated income figures:

Training costs - ratings: $35,000
Instructing, first 10 months: $16,000 income on my W2's
Instructing, last 12 months: $27,500 income on my W2's

Year one at regional: Will show about $28k on my W2, ~14 days off a month
Year two at regional: Will show about $42k on my W2, ~14 days off a month
Year three at regional: Will show about $44k on my W2, ~14 days off a month. Those figures include per diem.

That's all without upgrading, just as an FO. Upgrades are slightly less than 3 years right now, but I don't want to speculate what they will be when I get there. Yes, you could make a little more money eventually as a cop, firefighter, teacher, etc. rather than a regional FO. Once upgrade hits though, it's not horrible income. And the more senior you get, the better trips you get, etc. etc.

The catch is if your airline goes down, and you start over. I don't think I would start over at a regional, no way Jose.

 

Wow, those are some good hours instructing. I have done around 400hrs in a year and half. Just lack of students and WX in the NE.

 

Man you can't really count per diem. If the Army could count per diem then they would make more than all of us.

SkyHigh

 

guy in my class was 41, he got all his ratings ass a hobby, his 60K job screwed him so he quit and went back to flying. Man i feel bad about guys that have to start from the bottom and support families, i cant even support myself!

 

That is the most sobering comment I have heard in many years of flying.

 

When you have been chewed up and spit out by airplanes, you get big dose of about what the 'real world' is about. Everyone has to put in their time in general aviation in order to reach the majors. It is a fact of life. While I was doing it, the lie I heard was "The drive to the airport is the most dangerous part of the trip." The statistical truth is that the death rate per passenger mile in G.A. is that same as the death rate per passenger mile for riding a motorcycle without a helmet (ask Gary Busey)........anda motorcycle rider WITH a helmet is thirteen times more likely to be killed per mile of interstate travel than a car passenger.

I have never heard of an accountant getting killed in an auditing accident or a veterinarian being mauled to death by a kitten.

Statistis and dead friends will sober your a** up real quick and can turn you into a bitter old S.*.B. like me.

On the other side......ain't the view of all the sparkly lights at night spectacular??????????

 

<spit coffee all over desk>

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!

 

In 13+ years in aviation(and a lot of dudes would have to pack it in over the next seven years to come even close to tipping the scales), I know far more pilots that made it to the majors than dead pilots. There's two sides to that coin. Sorry your journey sucked! How's that for sobering, ERAU?

 

Are they still working?

SkyHigh