will turn 47 in jan ,just sold my motorcycle dealership(1 big f-ing headache)been a retired pool/fountain contractor(about 3 years) I have some nice income but still have a 10 year old daughter that will need $$$$$.I have been doing lots of motorcycle adventure travlel and some flying,but find myself looking for something constuctive to do and make some $$$ along the way.Thinking about a flying job,but around here (Daytona)new comm.pilots will fly for free for the hours.Any thoughts on becoming a flight instructor?My flying buddies tell me I,d make a good instuctor,but I.m just not sure I have the patiance when it comes to that SLOW learner.

This may not be BCP related,but it's winter and most of you aren't flying anyway.(it was 80 and sunny today in Daytona ,Sorry)would like some input,Thanks G Zero

It's 120 degrees colder than that here today

Those new Commercial pilots that fly for free down there, well they get their CFII and pretty much instruct for free too, of course your getting all the experience a couple of hundred hours of flight and a year or two can give.

Come on. Just test your patience by going up to Flagler and flying the pattern with the Emory Riddle and CAPT fellows.

From my last time into and out of that really nice airport - you may be able to find a slow learner or two to test you.

GR

gzero,

Don't let the naysayers put a damper on your enthusiasm. I guarantee that you won't make much money as a flight instructor, but there are jobs out there, in most areas, especially ones where its' warm, like where you're at.

Go talk to one of the local schools, and see what they have to say. See what they think about training you, then hiring you as an instructor.

Build some time, then see if you can get Designated Authority.

As to patience, it is most certainly a virtue when dealing with primary pilot trainees, but I find that dealing with them and getting to know them is great for an old fart like me. They have enthusiasm, drive, etc. It's nice and invigorating to work with folks like that, and it can change YOUR attitude.

If you don't have much patience, I'd suggest you go back to your previous business venture. On the other hand, if you want the "glory" of helping some kid get to their first solo, or complete their PPL, their instrument rating, or Commercial certificate....instructing is a pretty cool deal.

You'll find that most instructors are short timers, there for the hours, and move on. Therefore, you tend to become "senior" pretty fast in that business...not such a bad thing.

Give it a try, you might find it rewarding. Many of us do.

MTV

What do you mean "designated authority"? never heard of this, unless it's in reference to a designated pilot examiner.

Eric

How many hours do you have? Are our FBO, we don't hire any instructors with less than 500 hours. We do that for 2 reasonts:
1: We don't want some kid instructing who was a student somewhere else the week prior
2: At over 500 hours, they're well over the bare minimums at most regionals, and will probably be there for a while. We prefer older guys who are interested in instructing, not time building. They tend to do a MUCH better job.

I learned more about flying my first 100 hours instructing than any other 100 hours of flying, including my primary. The CFI was also the hardest checkride I ever took 6 hour oral and 2.1 hour flight by the FAA in Oklahoma City. It can be a very satisfying job, having said that I let my CFI drop as soon as I got a job flying. The good students are really fun to fly with, and their questions make you really think sometimes, the good students are gone very quickly. The bad students last forever, you make more money off of them than good students, their questions are stupid eg " are we really going to make the engine stall in the air?" If you are making your living as a CFI you will have to take the bad students, and they will drive you nuts. Given the current economy it may, however, be one of the few ways to make money flying with not so many hours. Good luck.

hotrod,

Yes, what I meant was to become a Designated Pilot Examiner. Depending on where you're at, and your experience level, if you can get into that line of work, you can do well financially. Lots of competition for those designations in places with a lot of flight training, though.

MTV

Flight instructing is a lot of fun. Sure you have a lot of bad students that ask stupid questions, but when you get that student that just clicks it is the best experience in the world! Depending on what you are doing you probably wont be competing with the 250 hour "Wonder pilot," a lot of people who are looking to do it for fun want someone with a lot more experience.
Seth

It helps if you're buddy buddy with someone at the FSDO. Around here someone generally has to die (normally old age), or lose a medical for a slot to open up. There is position on deck right now.

try van wagner banner towing hollywood fla. steer clear of the banner guy in daytona

Where you are it helps if you speak something other than english too.

a64pilot wrote:Where you are it helps if you speak something other than english too.

Oes-day ig-pay atin-lay ount-cay?
errr, I mean... does pig latin count as a second language?