I got all my ratings at Riddle. If I had it to do over I would have gone to AATP's.

My vote is for the local FBO. DE or not shouldn't matter. Be prepared enough to pass no matter who does the ride. Internships and who you knows make it happen faster. So, the FBO rout would also offer you an expanded network of friends for the future

Local FBO.

If you have your 141/142 certificate from Riddle that will knock your ATP mins down to 1000, why keep playing into their system?

Besides, way more opportunities to fly at a FBO than just the straight forward 141 school with limited business over summer and winter.

I graduated from Riddle in 2005 and I it was too expensive then. I can't imagine paying there tuition and flight costs now. Do it at a local flight school, anywhere cheaper. Unless you can float Riddle, otherwise, getting into this career with all loans is stupid.

I'd hope after a year and $20k you'd be prepared.

I think this would be the goal unless you are getting your instructor cert just to have another card in your wallet.

And, as someone that has been living off of CFI pay for the past two years, you don't want to be in any more debt than you have to be.

If you're not willing to do this then you don't deserve to be a CFI, much less a commercial pilot.

Also, the airlines don't really care who you instruct for. Maybe with two identical candidates they might prefer the university CFI, but there are rarely totally identically qualified candidates.

What the airlines will care about is 1) your total flight time, 2) the quality of your flight time, and 3) that you don't get yourself into any trouble with the FAA for flying poorly maintained un-airworthy aircraft.

If the FBO is going to give you more flight time, a chance at getting multi time, and other quality types of flight time, and is not a shady place doing illegal things, then go for the FBO.

Most airlines nowadays care more about leadership experience. They will take the guy who volunteered as a firefighter for a few years than a guy who instructed at erau with 400 more hours.i would still pick the fbo as long as its a somewhat organized big one

You are now a commercial pilot and do not and should not have to be spoon fed at this level! Yes, you will need a "Super CFI" to give you some training and an endorsement. I apologize for getting philosophical but earning the CFI is the beginning and not the end. In other words, you will learn more by teaching than by being taught! I would choose the lower cost pathway but develop the professionalism and discipline to be an excellent instructor! Good luck and definitely go for it!

I agree that leadership is an important quality in a pilot but I disagree that being a flight instructor is less valuable than any other leadership role. Flight Instructors lead by example. If your students aren't getting violated, lost or even worse...killed, then you are probably doing your job right!

I like to believe there are numerous other qualities and skills the airlines find appealing about the CFI applicant.

1. Technical proficiency.
2. High level of professionalism, integrity, discipline and attention to detail.
3. Good leadership skills.
4. Excellent communication skills.
5. Multi-crew environment.
6. Pilot in command experience.
7. Accepting responsibility for his or her own actions as well as those of students.
and yes, 8. Willing to work for "crap wages".

Go the FBO route. I plan on doing the same thing. I'm at Utah State University right now. Knocked out my instrument, and almost finished with Commercial and plan to get my Multi here.

I just finished my freshman year BTW. Have about 260hrs


ALSO. So let me get this straight, if you train at all with a 141 program, your minimums get knocked down to 1000? Or do you have to graduate from it from PPL-CFI??