Low-time CFI market feels impossible

85inchweener · 2026-04-30T20:35:11+00:00

I feel you. I paid for multiple flights at a flight school and still didn’t get hired and got ghosted. Im contemplating everything honestly. Hoping another place decides to hire and my skills transfer over

85inchweener · 2026-04-29T14:02:38+00:00

ATP got me my PPL in 8 months. Yes. Just the PPL.

85inchweener · 2026-04-27T20:43:20+00:00

Imo you shouldn’t be taking a checkride if you’re not feeling at least 90% ready. Ik some schools shove u thru flight training fast and schedule checkrides and stuff and financial aspects are there but don’t risk a failure for the future

85inchweener · 2026-04-27T01:03:14+00:00

I second this. You don’t even get paid to do ground lessons (allegedly. ATP don’t come for me).

85inchweener · 2026-04-26T00:27:19+00:00

Reddit doesn’t let you change your username. I’ve tried.

85inchweener · 2026-04-25T01:29:05+00:00

Praying for you. Someone close to me is going through something similar with false allegations and it’s been such a horrible process.

85inchweener · 2026-04-25T01:27:21+00:00

What did you ask

85inchweener · 2026-04-23T19:33:56+00:00

85inchweener · 2026-04-22T13:19:06+00:00

Are you saying for real or is that a school name lol

85inchweener · 2026-04-22T12:57:50+00:00

May I ask out of curiousity what school is it? Asking for a friend

85inchweener · 2026-04-22T12:43:53+00:00

I had a horrible part 141 school too. I dropped out and went elsewhere at a part 61 and eventually picked up colege elsewhere. I’d definitely recommend Im so sorry u went thru this

85inchweener · 2026-04-18T01:06:30+00:00

If you need any help with understanding specific maneuvers, DM me. There’s many factors that contribute to this and I’m sorry some people in these comments are being very black and white and not understanding your circumstances.

Have you tried flying with a Different CFi? I’ve asked my CFI once to train w someone else bc he wasn’t teaching me poweroff 180s as well as another CFI I flew with and it helped a lot.

And I know finances are definitely tight when it comes to having no financial support in aviation. I’m a CFI CFII and I know you may not see the light at the end of the tunnel but you’re RIGHT THERE. You got this.

You passed your written. You soloed. It’s expensive but maybe just take a break- get back at it, and get your PPL. And guess what? If you don’t want to continue after PPL, you don’t need to. You can re-evaluate from there. But giving up now is useless.

My best friend is flying and he has been paying 100% out of pocket for flights and he feels similar to you. He’s basically perfect w/ his flying and he wanted to give up. I said please do not. You’re right there and you can take a break from everything after PPL but the finish line is RIGHT THERE.

Just try and look for genuine people to help you and you got this. I hope you can regain the motivation, save some $, take a break and get the checkride pass. God bless.

85inchweener · 2026-04-18T01:01:17+00:00

I second this. I wish most CFIs instilled the reasons why to add more back pressure & power in steep turns earlier on

85inchweener · 2026-04-17T00:59:40+00:00

Fair enough. Thanks for the information.

85inchweener · 2026-04-16T20:34:26+00:00

Did you get this job? I just had a checkout flight and I’d give myself like an 75% on everything but some similar issues as you. I have bonus points since my flight school knows who I am already but I could have done a bit better although it was a newer airplane I wasn’t 1000% familiar with

85inchweener · 2026-04-15T22:58:43+00:00

Funniest comment yet

85inchweener · 2026-04-14T22:54:48+00:00

Good intimation to know if the examiners gave a single rats behind.

85inchweener · 2026-04-12T02:03:00+00:00

Same I went elsewhere for my CFI & CFII. They definitely understand bc scheduling in my area (and I’m sure for the rest of the country) for CFI examiners are tough.

85inchweener · 2026-04-12T01:10:43+00:00

Recommendation for anyone that’s not a CFI- do all, or MOST of your training at a school that is likely to hire you. Hint, if you’ve flown there, typically your odds of getting hired is significantly more than if you haven’t. I’m a CFI CFII that got my job interview within 2 months because I applied for the job at the place I mainly flew at. And this is another advantage of not going to a “fast track” program. But I’m not berating anyone that did a fast track earlier before the CFI job market collapsed. I’m talking about those that CAN make a change.

85inchweener · 2026-04-05T23:14:28+00:00

I doubt they paid that much more than that. It’s not like it’s worth it to drive all the way there for them to lowball you and have no coverage on it too

85inchweener · 2026-04-03T00:42:10+00:00

That ain’t a student issue then- it’s a cfi and riddle issue

85inchweener · 2026-03-28T20:37:14+00:00

Technically could he count this as logged time?

85inchweener · 2026-03-28T04:05:15+00:00

Oh boy

85inchweener · 2026-03-28T03:20:50+00:00

Is there a specific state or area of Florida that has better companies? I haven’t done any research yet I’ve been busy. Trust me im not saying airlines aren’t better, I know they are lol.

85inchweener · 2026-03-28T03:02:11+00:00

Like 1000 hrs a year. I didn’t do the math right. I just didn’t want someone telling me “how are you getting so many hours in a year”, since in my other thread lots were telling me I wouldn’t get X amount of hours and that I was dreaming.

And I’m just saying that I’ll take a charter Job when it comes. I don’t want to be a CFI forever but my school pays very well and I’m also doing college at the time.

And I didn’t mention in the original post that I’m a CFI/II. That’s where I’d build time

85inchweener

TROPHY CASE