CFI: A day in the Life of a Flight Instructor 

CFI: A day in the (life) 5am: Step over roomies to get a shower 6am: Eat ramen noodles for breakfast 7am: Grab backpack and bicycle down to the airport 8am: Check weather, NOTAMS, aircraft and roster for scheduled students 9am: Rummage the candy bowl at the FBO for a little sustenance 10am: First student cancels 2 minutes before the flight 10:15 Rummage the FBO candy bowl again 10:30 Check weather, Notams and go over IFR procedures for next student 11am IFR student arrives and you discover their English has not improved (Radio duty...AGAIN) 12:55 You land, looking 10 years older than before you took off 13:00 You greet your next student walking out on the ramp as you run in for a pee break 13:05 You rummage the FBO candy bowl again 13:10 You greet the student at the plane only to find out he forgot his headset 13:12 You return with headset only to find student has not pre-flighted (if I could only afford a second headset to keep in my bag) you contemplate 13:20 You taxi out for pattern work as you have a 14:00 student 13:35 Stomach grumbles and you are out of water and candy 13:55 You land. Had to go around that last time. 14:01 Instruct student to tie down as you scan for other student 14:03 Looking for student as you notice weather to the west 14:05 You discover student in the classroom excited for his final air work before private checkride (I have 2 hours with this guy, I'm hungry) 14:06 You instruct student to review maneuvers as you head to the snack machine 14:07 You discover the machine is empty of your favorite hold over food (rummage FBO candy bowl again...hmmm, looking low) 14:08 You spy that hot new FBO girl and choke for words 14:10 You review airwork with student and decide he is ready for his final paces (This is going good) 14:15 You head out to the ramp and notice the weather to the west has not moved much 14:25 You depart to the southwest practice area (eating a piece of candy and a thought of the FBO girl pops into your head) 15:05 (thinking about the FBO girl) 15:20 Working real hard to trip the student up but he has got it! (feeling proud) 15:30 You instruct student to head back and as you turn to that heading, a thunderstorm is sitting right on the airport 15:31 ATIS confirms thunderstorm (hmmm, that wasn't supposed to happen.) 15:32 Take a drink of water, ask student what his options are (you know that nearest is 51 minutes away) 15:32:24 Glance fuel guages (think about FBO girl) 15:33 Student replies "foreflight shows east movement of storm. We could ride it out." 15: 33:24 you weigh out fuel, weather, alternates, ask student what he thinks, again. ( think about FBO girl again) 15:34 Student finally says "go to alternate." You think (that's a safe call. I will miss my 16:30 new student though, $$$) 15:35 Student announces he may not have the funds for this part of the trip (hmmm, $$$$) 15:35:20 ($$$, -$$$, Girl at FBO) 15:50 You check ATIS at home and notice it is starting to clear ($$$) 15:50 You advise student to head back home. He says "good because I'm almost out of money". (I relate) 16:22 On final and you contemplate dinner (and FBO girl) 16:25 You instruct student to tie down and you go and greet new student 16:26 Standing in the FBO, an $80k, jacked pickup pulls into parking lot. (you think, NICE!) 16:27 FBO girl is all chatty for some reason, and a little annoyed. She states someone is eating all of her favorite candy. (not me) 16:28 A mammoth man walks into the FBO, how is he going to fit in the airplane, you think....... 16:28:10 Stomach is grumbling pretty good. ( Should I ask FBO girl out for dinner?) 16:45 Mammoth man introduces himself. He is a CEO of something or other.... 16:46 Mammoth man goes over to FBO girl and gives her a kiss. (CRUSHED! He is 15 years older than her. HOW?!) 16:47 Show mammoth man class room and tell him you have to finish signing off your other student. (Did he just give me a dirty look?) 16:50 Sign student off and tell him good luck. 16:51 Showing mammoth man what is expected, his phone receives a text....( who does this guy think he is? He has FBO girl though....) 16:52 Mammoth man advises me he is out of time and states I was late. 16:53 After receiving a little talk about punctuality (seriously?), he states he will try again. Call him when I have time.(did that just happen?) 16:54 As we walk out, he gives FBO girl a kiss and says "I will see you later sweetie" (GRRRRR.....) 16:54:30 She tells him "some jerk keeps eating all my favorite candies you bring me. (GOOD!) 17:00 Fill out daily logs and tally my earnings for the day. (ummmm.........but I love this right?) 17:15 Weather moves back in as I bicycle back home for some ramen noodles and fighting for couch space and video game time...... 20:00 No hot water in shower. 21:00 Laying down to sleep (****************) Do it all again!!!!

Really awesome video!!!! You have totally opened my mind to actually being a CFI as a career. It would take a significant amount of planning, since I'd be taking a significant pay cut from my current job. I've been in aviation for over 20 years. So I totally understand your decision to quit the regionals. Thanks again!!

Jon , I really like your honest and modest view of aviation aspects!

Take your own flight school, market it to airline companies, establish your own private version of LAT in Florida.

Fantastic. These videos are great. So glad you are showing that there is another way and that people can be treated decently and fairly and everybody can be happy. I hope this sparks some change in attitudes and business models of other flying schools and airlines.

Thanks for posting this. I intended to be a "career" CFI. Never had a desire to go to the airlines. Considered corporate...then decided against that also.

HEY, very cool. I’m doing my PPL training out of Goodyear. Always see those guys going to and from their practice area.

Awesome video! You should try to make one for a career as a Sim instructor ( flight safety or even the airlines)

L.A.T looks amazing, wish they had links for A&P jobs, GYR would be a closer commute than PHX. Jon next time your in the neighborhood take a look at White Tanks for good close hiking.

Out of curiosity, why don't you go fly for Cape Air? They seem like a pretty chill 135 operation, plus you get the flight benefits, and hopefully less stress than the airline life you described leaving. Much less pay tho.

As a new pilot I enjoy your videos and also those by Jason Shappert. Have you guys met each other?

Interested to learn more about the curriculum since they are in the US but learning EU regs and procedures. How does that work in the lessons?

I am looking into this. As for my comment the other day it was just their website which has been updated. I have gotten a qualification pack from them and looking into seeing if this may be for me. As for whether you did the right thing or not about the airline...only you can know that. The people who want to become pilots themselves you think would be happy another spot opened up. And for those who can’t fly for a career you think they would just mind there own business. Good luck to you in all you do! I look forward to more vids.

I want to pursue the corporate route but I am afraid I may have to go to the regionals for time building purposes.

John I live in Mount Dora I’m looking for accelerated CFI CFII class in central Florida Your recommendation taking my FOI and FIA and SPORT CFI written next week February 6 Recommendations

As long as your happy you made the right choice

Awesome!

I have also giving it some thought but i think that they only hire experienced cfi's which obviously you are but others that are starting out should first get experience flying the old airplanes and horrible hours to gain experience at many flight schools. There are also schools at Deer valley airport which seem to be pretty good too and CAE in mesa falcon field airport. Great video though.

This vid couldn't have come at a better time! Thinking of doing my CFI licence. It costs £8k here in the UK, and I would only do it part time as I work for the airlines. Reckon it's worth it? I get a lot of satisfaction from sharing knowledge with others.

This must be the best job ever.

Could you do more of these showcase videos? I also am wondering what the good alternatives are to the airlines..

Sounds like a dream job for a CFI. What is it like for a student? Are they all on some kind of career path through Luftansa(SP)? There's no such thing as a free lunch, so where does the money come from for this sweet setup?

My daughter is 16 she's already done her Ground School how old does she have to be to apply for Lufthansa Airlines?

I’m starting my FI(A) course soon and wanted to ask about any books you suggest to maximize knowledge? Any other points you could suggest to be most prepared for it a;;!

Hello ... Please what's the difference between frozen and unfrozen ATPL?

No spot to upload my resume or see the requirements on the website, any info?

Well most cfis just want to get to 1500 hours as soon as possible. So the long days are beneficial in that aspect.

So is this something you might consider?

Man, that's cool! There's any way to someone who is not American to work at that school? I'm Brazilian, btw

The company I worked for just bought their old Bonanzas

That sounds nice but how much do those instructors really make? Based on their website it is $56k for the first year. How about year 2, or 5, or 10, etc?

Do instructors from this school also have a chance to get into lufthansa or no??

I predict you will be joining within a year. Sounds like you are totally sold on this place, and I agree it may be an opportunity not to pass up.

Accurate

This seems way too good to be true, as a student. What kind of contract or catch is there with the company? Must fly for them for a certain number of years or hours at a low salary?

Man I'm only 500 hours in and I'm so tired of being a CFI lol working 12+ hours 7 days a week for less money than I'd make working at the local McDonald's, just to teach unappreciative students who get pissy when I take 30 minutes to eat my only meal of the day because they all think they are the only student in the world who exists and don't understand that I just had 4 other students for 7 hours before their flight. The airlines cannot come soon enough....lol

Didnt mention how much you make compared to the other gentleman, is his hours laid back because he has seniority, or does everyone ay his training center have the same I was thinking about getting into aviation, but everything seems like a complete nightmare Seeing Pilot life, i would be able to live with being away weekends and holidays, but shift constantly changing from days, evenings night and graveyard shift is a nightmare, I watched this video cause i thought, hey maybe being an instructor would be 9-5 - yet the hours you work are just as insane as being a pilot Do instructors have to work in a classroom setting teaching theory, or is all in plane? I'm guessing any 9-5 pilot jobs are hard to come by, and probably crap pay

What are their hiring minimums?

👍🏽

Cfi can be a career you don't have to go to the airlines.

I don't mind living out of a hotel.

McDonald is hiring.

The Finer Points does it better...

You act like nobody delivers food.