Quote:
Originally Posted by iahflyr
All the 1500 hour rule did was shift those poverty wages down to CFI and Part 135 level. Instead of getting on with a regional at 500 hours and being done with regional crap first year pay after one year (At maybe 1,000ish hours TT), now you get crap pay from 250-1500 hours, and get marginally ok pay 1st year at a regional (when before you would be at 2nd year pay by then).
So don't sell yourself short as a CFI for crappy pay. I started as a CFI at $20 an hour and was charging $30 per hour by the end of my first year. When I quit to join the Air Force I was charging $55 an hour and took a pretty big pay cut. I was an independent contractor at a large flying club. I had to work hard to build up my clientele. I spent 10 hours a day (unpaid) 5 to 6 days a week, hanging out at the flight school counter trying to pick up new students. Once I started building up my base, I was turning away business from being too busy.
And charge for handshake to handshake. If you work hard have good customer service skills, a good demeanor in the plane and are a competent instructor, people will gladly pay $40 to $50 an hour. One other thing, though time building is your ultimate goal, don't act like that. Focus on the job you currently hold and you will excel at it, which will open doors. This applies to every job you have as you climb the ladder.