Anything But A CFI Job!
Just for the heck of it, I'm going to come to the defense of FlyingAlly. I don't see anything he said indicating he thought he was "too good" to CFI; he just doesn't want to. I've known plenty of pilots who feel the same way. Myself included so I can speak with some authority and I've done my homework and soul searching to arrive at the decision against it.
When I scurried down the hawsers from the sinking ship along with 2300 of my fellow rats, I did reasonable due diligence on becoming a CFI as something to do in aviation and decided against it. Could I have offered some insight to students from my 35+ years and 23,000 hours of flying ?
Maybe...we'll never know.
I went to a local flight school and sat down with a guy to find out what I'd need to do. I quickly realized I didn't know the difference between a chandelle and a chandelier. I must have at some distant time in the past but I sure as heck didn't now. What's more, I don't care what that difference is...nor do I care to learn, much less spend time teaching anyone about stuff like that...it's pathologically boring. People deserve better dedication than I could muster. So, I abandoned the notion.
And...two compatriots who CFI'd throughout their airline careers but ultimately stopped advised me not to for liability reasons. Maybe one could buy insurance ? Really want to face the potential of slaying THAT dragon ? Do you, really ?
Oh, I'm an old guy and he's a young guy so there's a difference in this context ? Nope...
All things considered, CFIing isn't for everyone and does NOT mean they think they're "too good" to do it.
Last edited by bafanguy; 12th Aug 2017 at 22:15.
I was going easy on the lad! At least compared to many online criticisms I've seen before...
And I agree that if someone doesn't really want to be a CFI, then they really shouldn't be. There are other paths to whatever career goals they seek. But read the thread Headline: "Anything but a CFI job!" As if it's something so horribly demeaning that he shouldn't have to endure the agony! So yeah, I feel that I responded appropriately, even a little bit mildly considering the implication that there is something wrong with being a CFI. It's true that the supply/demand equation often doesn't result in appropriate starting pay, there's no denying it. But that's true of most entry-level positions, jump plane flying and banner towing included.
Anyway if one goes about making intimations that something is below them, they should expect a little flak. If you're gonna be dumb, ya better be tough!
And I agree that if someone doesn't really want to be a CFI, then they really shouldn't be. There are other paths to whatever career goals they seek. But read the thread Headline: "Anything but a CFI job!" As if it's something so horribly demeaning that he shouldn't have to endure the agony! So yeah, I feel that I responded appropriately, even a little bit mildly considering the implication that there is something wrong with being a CFI. It's true that the supply/demand equation often doesn't result in appropriate starting pay, there's no denying it. But that's true of most entry-level positions, jump plane flying and banner towing included.
Anyway if one goes about making intimations that something is below them, they should expect a little flak. If you're gonna be dumb, ya better be tough!