If you have not yet started your ATPL training, we also have a Cadet Program which includes flight instructor training with a one year job guarantee as a flight instructor. This is a paid position and there is always the option to extend the contract if both you and the chief flight instructor wish to do so. At the end of the day, it is a personal choice which you will have to make up on completion of your commercial pilot training. If there are plenty of opportunities within the airlines, it is very likely that you will be able to join as a First Officer straight out of flight school with your Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL).
Understanding the Role and Benefits
In this post, we will try to understand why you might want to become a flight instructor, by beginning with understanding the duty of a flight instructor and how this step might be helpful to your future in the field. On a typical day at a flight school, a flight instructor conducts both ground and flight training sessions.
Working as a flight instructor is a great way for international students to gain flying experience to become a commercial airline pilot. As a flight instructor, international students have a choice: they can either work for an educational institution or open a flight program. This is an attractive option for independent flight instructors who want to work for themselves.
The need for flight instructors is growing. As an instructor, you will have job security because of this shortage. You can actually get paid to log flight hours required to reach different licensure levels, rather than doing so on your free time.
Evidence shows that happy employees are more productive and fulfilled at work. Consider becoming a flight instructor if you think it is the right job for you.
Instructing fosters continuous skill development. Instructors adapt to various learning styles, personalities, and skill levels among students, refining communication and interpersonal skills – attributes invaluable in the cockpit of a commercial airliner.
Enjoy your passion and ensure high job satisfaction as a flight instructor. Guiding and training junior students is impactful.
Instructing is about motivating and caring – developing positive relationships and motivating students when learning to fly gets tough.
Path to Becoming a Flight Instructor
Becoming an instructor straight out of flight school requires dedication now to boost hiring chances later. Becoming close with faculty, getting good grades, and showing you’re dedicated to teaching helps.
Most flight instructors are rather new pilots. Teaching newly gained knowledge to others solidifies that knowledge in our own minds. However, deliberate effort is required as criteria must be met to become a certified flight instructor.
Income for a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) generally ranges from $30,000 to $60,000 per year ($15 to $30 per hour), but this depends greatly on experience, location, weather, hours flown, and demand. The greatest factor in compensation is how many hours you are able to fly.
While flight instructors’ salaries can vary, the average income range provides a general idea of what to expect. Flight instruction can be a stepping stone to other aviation careers. Many instructors gain experience and move on to become commercial pilots, corporate pilots, or even airline pilots.
Advancement and Airline Preference
Once flight instructor requirements are met, apply to increase rating to a Class 3, Class 2, or Class 1 flight instruction rating. As a Class 1 instructor, you can give ground and flight training for instructor certification.
The CFI certificate is also a stepping stone for pilots who aspire to fly commercial airlines. Many airlines prefer to hire pilots who have experience as flight instructors because it demonstrates their ability to handle complex situations, make sound decisions, and convey their knowledge effectively.
Airline-faring pilots will tell you that seniority is everything. Holding a CFI certificate brings about several benefits, such as providing a viable career path in the aviation industry, allowing you to constantly refine and enhance your flying skills, and demonstrating your ability to teach, mentor, and lead others.
You can build a network of fellow CFIs, flight instructors, pilots, and aviation enthusiasts, who share your passion for aviation and can offer you valuable insights, advice, and support.