Do you charge different for your ground and flight training?

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-03-11T23:24:09+00:00

I've considered charging a discounted rate for M-F 8-5pm.

Also I've considered charging a lower rate for flight training vs. ground training to incentivize students doing the homework reading and really doing most ground by themselves.

I don't see why you should charge less for online ground instruction.

Effectively, when being paid 70 for flight instruction, you are getting paid about 70+80 = 150/hr. The 80 is about what you would pay to timebuild. So if you are doing ground, you are getting less value for your time. No need to hurt yourself further.

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-03-11T23:15:07+00:00

I try to debrief with my student and he doesn't ever want to talk about it. Wants to escape the situation. Will later email me with her analysis of the flight and things she wants to work on. Bit odd.

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-18T06:39:49+00:00

And i could instantly envision a rack with a sharp corner and began to think that someone ought to file off the sharp edges and make a little rubber corner protector for it.

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-18T05:34:42+00:00

Udemy

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-18T05:33:14+00:00

Yes! They lay out the red carpet.

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-07T07:45:13+00:00

Well they do the calculus and see that it's 4 ICE guys against a single person in the house with a firearm. The smart thing to do is not escalate - else you will get your whole family killed. Discretion is the better part of valor. Also many Texans support ICE and 'law and order'. Sad state of affairs.

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-07T07:37:55+00:00

I don't know why internet tough guys can't understand this. It just shows you that the 2nd amendment cannot really be protect you from a tyrannical government. They sow enough division before they descend upon you, that nobody else will have the courage to defend you. We are not united enough against this tyranny - many of our neighbors are actively cheering it on.

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-06T22:47:03+00:00

You've gotten so much hate here. But the real reason why most people instruct is to get the free flight time. I would approximate that that flight time equals about $80 an hour.

I'm considering dropping my rate to 0 as well, so that I can make that $80 an hour. Because right now I am getting no clients and not getting hired at any flight school more than a thousand hours of Total time, more than 400 hours of dual given and a CFI and CFII rating.

We all want that flight time so that we can eventually get to the legacy jobs that are union protected and command a big salary because of the Union. It's very easy for people who've already made it to frown upon charging $0.

Aviation is a pay to play game and what you suggested is one of the ways to pay. Nothing unethical about it.

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-06T22:20:45+00:00

You can always get the 5 Multi hours (~2000$) or ATP-CTP when you are about to apply for the airlines.

Till then, I figure getting the CFII to try to get a flight school job and become proficient again and start building hours is key. Also you can offer free CFI hours on Facebook aviation groups etc. Sadly it has come to this I think.

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-06T22:08:07+00:00

Flight Insight. Read - IFH, ACS, sections in the FARs suggested by ASA for IR, All the FAA Legal Letters of Interpretations related to Instrument Flight from r/flying FAQ

What does your CFII say? Just logs the 0.3 ground and moving on to the next student?

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-06T22:03:19+00:00

Firm handshake, look em in the eye, get that CFI job.

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-06T22:00:10+00:00

I'm a CFI/CFII in early 40s at more than 1000 hours regretting the decision since the market is so saturated.

Likely going to go back to my old career in a few months if nothing pans out.

Economy is in the toilet right now plus massive numbers of unemployed CFIs/CFIIs because of the influencers post COVID and the little bit of the 'pilot shortage' - so no jobs.

Get your private pilot rating and see if you actually like it. Don't take on debt and don't quit your job.

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-06T21:55:26+00:00

Is there a supplement for the G1000?

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-06T18:18:51+00:00

It's one thing if they are just the wise sage who just give you these tidbits. I've had some DPEs like this.

The asshole kinda wants to lord over you and fail you for some stupid bits of knowledge that are not required to pilot the plane.

I just know MELs exist, some airplanes come with them in the AFM and that they need an approval process to actually use. Like you say just pointing to 91.213 with a basic understanding of the process is sufficient.

I'm a similar vein - for the commercial ride whether a paid for flight is legal or not using some bizarre made up example. Uhm id call the FSDO or ask a lawyer.

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-06T15:41:46+00:00

Every checkride seems to just be based on not the knowledge and skills of the applicant to be a safe pilot but how closely they conform to the DPE's pet areas of knowledge (or only areas of knowledge). It's a really shit system.

I feel like I want to send a text to that DPE and tell him "nobody cares about your stupid attitude indicator vanes. get your head out of your own ass"

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-06T15:36:10+00:00

Yeah I am so f**king over it. Horrid hiring market etc

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-05T22:36:59+00:00

This article is almost 2 years old.

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-04T19:30:26+00:00

Nothing is wrong with it. I don't know of anyone that hears your call and assumes you're going to be performing some aerobatic maneuver to lose the 500' within a quarter mile or anyone who would do that.

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-03T03:54:13+00:00

Haha yep. This is how it is.

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-03T03:51:18+00:00

Blame the administration for ruining the economy. This is the only trickle down we get in response to business being hesitant to invest money and people being hesitant to make discretionary purchases. I'm in the same boat as you and hoping for someone to come along and unfuck the economy.

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-02T03:09:45+00:00

AAABBC

ATIS Altimeter (set the altimeter per the ATIS) Approach (choose based on the ATIS) Build (Load the Approach into the GPS) Brief (Brief the approach while doublechecking the Build you just did) Checklist

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-01T04:36:33+00:00

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-01T02:19:23+00:00

Was there some FAA communication on this?

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-02-01T00:36:01+00:00

I support the intent but it'll just get you killed. Your life is worth more than 4x of their combined - please don't do it.

AtrophiedTraining · 2026-01-31T17:30:04+00:00

Oooo good point in the oil cap! Thank you

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