Pathway to Becoming an Airline Pilot: Is CFI Worth It?
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2026
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 2
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From: Turkey
Pathway to Becoming an Airline Pilot: Is CFI Worth It?
Is working as a CFI actually valuable for becoming an airline pilot, or does it just slow down the process? Do airlines value CFI experience?

Joined: Feb 2004
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,689
Likes: 118
From: USA
I don't know if airlines "value" CFI experience.
SkyGod


Joined: Aug 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,624
Likes: 107
From: Palm Coast, Florida, USA
I got a bunch of licenses when I was a low time pilot just to keep flying: CFI, CFI-I, CFI-ME also Sea Plane single and multi engine,
The last one got me in a Twin Otter on floats and now I logged 96 hours of multi engine and turbine time every month.
The airlines liked that and 11 years later I climbed into the left seat of a 747-200.
Yes, any license and any flying may help you in the future.
The last one got me in a Twin Otter on floats and now I logged 96 hours of multi engine and turbine time every month.
The airlines liked that and 11 years later I climbed into the left seat of a 747-200.
Yes, any license and any flying may help you in the future.

Joined: Feb 2004
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,689
Likes: 118
From: USA
cptfurkan lists his location as Turkey. Our US frame of reference may not entirely apply in Turkey. But one thing is universal for low time CPLs: take any flying job you can get...as soon as you can get it. Figure out the rest later.





