It’s ironic that although the gateway to aviation requires each and every one of us to work side-by-side with a flight instructor, some do not regard the option as a viable or desirable choice for a career.
Perhaps it is the perception that flight instruction is dull, repetitive work that dissuades them. Or maybe it’s the belief that working as a CFI is a lowly position that doesn’t garner much respect.
I certainly would not blame anyone for not wanting to be lumped in with a group of aviation professionals who are often disparaged for being focused on their own goals rather than those of their students — especially since at least a percentage of those complaints are well founded.
CFIs, as a rule, are aware that our role is frequently perceived as a stepping stone to a bigger, better career — one that pays better, garners greater social status, and comes with a spiffy uniform that will cause mom and dad to swell with pride.
That belief persists, I suspect, because there is some truth to it. Yet, I will dispute the universality of that position until my dying day.
The role of a CFI is in many ways like that of an entrepreneur. Their ranks exhibit the best and worst of the breed.
Some are altruistic, outgoing, lifelong learners, who are enthusiastic about the work they do. Those folks serve as powerful ambassadors for their chosen field.
Others are absorbed with self-promotional egos and a never-ending quest for a larger income even if it comes at the expense of others. This version tends to have a real sense of entitlement that says every moment spent at work is about increasing their own marketability and worth.
If your complete understanding of the CFI’s role comes from your reflections on your own training, your insight into the job may be so skewed that is has little to do with reality. Or at least with the potential reality of the work CFIs do.
I earned my CFI in the summer of 1991, after earning my CFII and MEI first. It was a proud moment for me, one that I will treasure for the remainder of my life.
For reasons I will explain another time, the MEI and CFI rides, done in a Piper Seminole and a Cessna 152, turned into a two-day, overnight affair that was stressful, exhausting, far more challenging than any applicant should be subjected to, and ultimately successful on both counts.
Earning those certificates and ratings was a challenge. They were expensive. My fellow flight students and I had to study harder than we’d imagined, persevere through challenges we could not have foreseen, and flew with a wide variety of instructors and check pilots who put us through the ringer. Thank goodness for that.
What they did not do, what they could not do, was teach us how to be good, productive, efficient flight instructors. We had the certificates when we left school, but we had limited experience. We knew our short history of flight but we had scarcely a clue about what aviation or our flight students might subject us to. More importantly, we didn’t have much of an understanding of what we could offer others.
Thankfully, many of us found good mentors at the flight schools we went to work for. A handful found great mentors. I was in that group. While my first flying job was so bad that I quit over safety concerns within a matter of months, my second was a true blessing. I learned lessons that aren’t in a book and don’t come to those who don’t dig deep to find them.
Yes, being a CFI can be a dull, repetitive, low-paying position where you work under a chief instructor who does little more than deride and insult their staff. I had that deal and thankfully left it behind fairly quickly. However, the CFI trade can also allow us the ability to do high quality work that benefits clients tremendously. It’s entirely the choice of the individual which path they take.
As for the most negative knock against the CFI position, the low pay, long hours, lack of support, and lowly status can all be resolved through hard work, skill building, and the development of our individual customer service abilities. It is true that entry level CFI pay is on the low end of the professional scale. It is equally true that skilled and proven CFIs who specialize in some way can command much higher rates from clients who are more than happy to pay for results.
Should you find yourself in the position of deciding whether or not to pursue your flight instructor certificate and to enter into a line of work you have a relatively limited understanding of, may I suggest the following: Go find a gray haired or bald CFI. One with wrinkles at the corners of their eyes induced from years of squinting into the sun. Perhaps one that does primary instruction occasionally but specializes in instrument instruction, seaplane add-ons, tailwheel endorsements, high-performance, or high-altitude work. Buy them a cup of coffee and ask them if their career in the right seat has been worth it.
The answer might surprise you. Especially if you fall into the crowd that truly believes CFIs are low-paid entry level workers doing dull, repetitive work.
I’m proud to have been a CFI for more than 30 years. Yet, I’m still working at getting better at it while I fly different machinery and work with different people. I’ve not been bored once. And believe me when I tell you, the pay has improved dramatically since I soloed my first student 31 years ago.
The case against working as a CFI is built on a foundation of sand. As I launch into my fourth decade of instructing professionally, I can’t imagine a better, more rewarding way to have spent my professional life. How about you?
This was great stuff for an outsider (not a pilot, just love all things about flying) to read.
Thank you.
Hello to everyone,
I am 51 years old, been a mechanic for 33 years and looking forward to a career change. I currently hold a private certificate with 300. Plus hrs logged and have completed my IFR ground and maneuvers. I have not completed the written for the IFR. I am looking forward to be a flight instructor and teach others this great experience. I would love to do this as my next career. Some look for a greater pay as you mentioned on the article, but I am pretty much set in life. I am debt free, and about to be an empty nester. I see that this would be a great thing to do and enjoy.
Cheers from KBRO.
I am a wrinkled and balding CFI 33+ years CFI and I, I, I Etc.. I have been flying for 43
+ years. I fear that I too may not be as woke as I should be. I However, I pride myself in NOT being judgemental to the poor folks who are stuck being judgemental about those who are not woke. Regardless, I have been a heartfelt mentor to aspiring aviators. I was ALWAYS been more interested in the students (male or female) logbook and wallet than mine.
I had the HUGE one time honor of flying with Faye Wells. FAA Legend Evelyn Johnson should be an aspiration for ALL of us. Her dedication to us aviators was huge and lifelong.
Woke be damned. Enough said.
Lovely article, but how is it the case “Against”? You make a strong case For.
I was fortunate to earn my CFI in the 1980s with Kathleen Snapper, the kind of pilot, and person, whom everyone who aspires to be a better pilot should fly with. She not only taught me how to really fly; she taught me how to teach, and how to learn. In my first flight with her she had me fly the entire flight sitting on my hands. “Use your words, not your hands” she would routinely say.
Flying is not dangerous, but absolutely unforgiving of incompetence or neglect. That flight instruction, like teaching everywhere, is not exalted and compensated as the noble and critically important profession it truly is, is the real travesty.
My son will turn 15 this month and will be rewarded with an introductory lesson. I hope he will want to continue on. I hope so.
I earned my Private Pilot license when I was 21. The skills and confidence I gained from flying gave me the confidence to advance to a career as a U. S. Merchant Marine Captain. I owe it to an instructor named Debbie.
This is so very true!!
I wanted to be a pilot from the age of 10!!
Thank goodness for the U S NAVY for giving me that opportunity.
I miss being able to go flying every day!!
Thanks for this awesome article, I have been thinking about getting into an aviation career, but don’t actually want to fly for an airline, and would prefer to specialize in smaller aircraft. I have been worried because of how cfi is treated like a stepping stone that does not pay well enough to be worth it, but I’m sure that teaching others would be the career path I truly wanted to be in. Your article has enlightened me on the ability to specialize, and be able to turn this into a truly gratifying career path. I don’t need 150k a year by any means, and just want something gratifying that can earn a decent living.
Our Son is a Corporate Pilot with over 5,000 hpurs now flying a Falcon 2000.
Never will forget an early solo flight he took in a 172 from Atlanta to Greenville years ago.
Had a tailwind & got there early to see a gal friend.
Headed back home much later , the headwind was enlightening.
Had to land midwy home at 10 pm running out of fuel.
Moreover, the plane was scheduled for an 8 am flight the next day.
Somehow, he lined-up a helicopter ride with a friend to.go get the Cessna at 6 am.
The industry sure is a close knit family.
I have been a C.F.I. For over 40 years. I have helped hundreds of people get there pilots license. I have only had one person fail there flight test because of being too nervous. I have enjoyed the challenges of teaching and the friendships that I have made. I would not change a thing. C.F.I s are the real pilots, because with out them, there is no aviation industry.
Really, bald CFIs? Sexist maybe? It’s the 21st Century, Jamie. Maybe being more welcoming to non-white males will help fix the CFI glitch. Good day.
Really? That’s all you got out of this great article? How woke of you!
Not woke Jon. As a 23 year airline Captain and a flight instructor for 31 years with 5000 plus hours of duel given, I would be a great resource to talk to as well. And I can guarantee you I’m not bald or gray haired. It’s time for the misogynist snowflakes like yourself to wake up and realize that women can vote, drive and fly airplanes too. You owe Cortney and all female pilots an apology for your lame comment.
Perhaps I should have included you by name, J Lindrooth. Unfortunately never having met you or heard your name before the opportunity simply didn’t occur to me. Frankly I never assumed my slightly self effacing description of an experienced CFI would trigger folks who assumed I meant straight, white, and male. Three descriptors that were never intended or included in the piece. To all those who are offended I can only say I’m sorry your personal prejudices weren’t at the forefront of my mind when I wrote this piece. Of course I’m not responsible for your biases nor will I change my writing to accommodate them. But I am sorry y’all feel others are deficient somehow if we don’t include your chosen wording in our work. Considering your position I would naturally guess you were committed to taking sufficient care when writing to or about us, but you didn’t in this case. That’s a bit curious, don’t you think?
I love you Jamie Beckett, very well written
I’m an old, bald CFI, Courtney. I sincerely hope that’s not offensive to you or anyone else. It’s just genetics. There’s nothing I can do about it.
Hey Courtney,
Looking to take up flying again. Going for IFR. I’d be happy to use you if you shave your head.
He also said gray haired, so there ya go, women are covered, or maybe you were assuming that didn’t cover women because ALL older women just dye their hair…now that sounds stereotypical and sexist lmao..way to add to the discussion. Good day.
Who needs CFI’s? Did the wright Brothers learn to fly without a CFI? YES. Did Chanute, Lilianthal, Montgomery and many others learn to fly without a CFI? YES. HEY GUYS, DON’T JUMP ALL OVER ME, THIS IS ALL TONGUE IN CHEEK. I WOULD NOT BE A PILOT, IF I HADN’T HAD SOME GREAT CFI’S. I LOVE YOU GUYS!
1500 hours of my 2200 were giving primary dual. I never had a student bust a check ride, because I wouldn’t recommend them until I was certain they could act as a pilot in command. I spent a few more hours with them than most CFI’s, but they were good pilots when they earned their tickets..
Early in my career I was a CFII. It was fun and I enjoyed teaching. I became a better pilot, and a better instructor from my earlier days as a student. Most of the CFI’s I took training were very poor and made learning difficult. It was like being an outsider to their club, one instructor told me that I would never make it as a pilot.
That was not the outcome of my career, and I did make it to a major airline as Captain. Flying industry is built for those who don’t quit. It has a very high barrier to a successful career, but it is well worth the challenge.
Well said, Jamie!
I’m not a CFI but after 55 years as a licensed pilot I have great respect for them. My CFI’s saved my life and those of my family members. When I encountered an engine failure in a twin, I knew exactly what to do thanks to my CFI training, and landed uneventfully. These folks deserve a lot of credit.
I wrote a great blog with tips that I have picked up in my 13 years of instruction titled a CFI Manifesto that is very much along the lines of this article.
You can find it here: https://aviatorsacademy.com/glass-panel/a-cfi-manifesto/
I’m a CFII /AGII/ME, I teach ground classes and flight instruct as a vendor to a Orlando based school and do zoom classes for folks that have tight work schedules. I am 69 years old, bald and with plenty of grey hair. I am so lucky to do this and will continue till it is not possible. By the way I’m using BasicMed and due to diabetes T1. Students come in all shapes and sizes. I recently met a Student that is a true hero. If you know the movie Black Hawk Down that movie was partially about him. We have become friends and I’m very greatful!
Well-said, as always, my friend!!
The flight schools in my area are booming. A perusal of any aviation employment site reveals page after page of CFI positions that are open.
Any flight school whose chief instructor
berates, etc…his or her instructors is foolish for employing such a chief. Any CfI who works at such a place is foolish as Jobs are plentiful.
As for the various personality types, this is pretty much mirrored by society in general, I find.
CFIs are, simply, the foundation upon which general aviation is built.
Precisely!
Thank you for a well reasoned article about flight instruction. Ive been teaching for 38 yrs in everything from C150 to B737’s. I have met some amazing pilots over the years. One was a former B17 gunner who just wanted to solo a airplane for his 95 th birthday, he did. Ive trained former astronauts, great grandmothers, paraplegics, people with learning disabilities and a host of others. After 33,000 hours as an aviation educator I can attest that being a teacher is highly rewarding.