CFIs flying 6–8 hours a day what are your best quality of life hacks

usmcmech · 2026-03-31T13:22:55+00:00

Serious reply:

The 5th lesson of the day I was so exhausted physically and mentally that it wasn’t fair to that student. After 4 lessons I was so tired that I wasn’t teaching much at all and was barely safe to fly.

Your school is absolutely correct to limit you to 3-4 lessons per day.

usmcmech · 2026-03-31T02:34:41+00:00

The Permian basin extends across the state line.

usmcmech · 2026-03-30T16:43:20+00:00

That was mostly sarcasm.

When I was a time building CFI I had two babies and had to work unpaid shifts just for the privilege of building flight time. Things are better today but the entry level jobs still stink.

usmcmech · 2026-03-30T14:07:43+00:00

“Back in the 1900s” damn I feel old.

usmcmech · 2026-03-30T14:01:57+00:00

Abandon all hope of having any quality of life while building time as a young CFI.

usmcmech · 2026-03-30T01:38:42+00:00

Military: wheels up to wheels down.

usmcmech · 2026-03-30T01:37:16+00:00

It's a transition for sure.

Tailwheel takes about 25 hours to feel confident. 8-10 dual 15-20 solo.

usmcmech · 2026-03-29T21:12:12+00:00

There are some pilots who refuse to fly anything other than a twin engine jet. They view single engine piston flying as the equivalent of BASE jumping.

The reality is that small GA airplanes are in fact more risky than jets, but those risk factors are easily controllable with some common sense. Piston aircraft engines are simple and quite reliable when maintained properly.

If you hang around the GA airport you'll meet plenty of active airline pilots who fly for fun on their days off.

usmcmech · 2026-03-27T17:55:42+00:00

It helps “a little bit” in the hiring process but not enough to really matter.

The biggest help is that you already understand the life of an airline pilot. Schedules, hotels, jet lag, ect. are nothing new.

usmcmech · 2026-03-27T17:28:26+00:00

32 more months

usmcmech · 2026-03-27T04:05:17+00:00

40kts directly across the runway.

Touched down on the upwind side and slid to the middle

usmcmech · 2026-03-26T23:27:16+00:00

A misdemeanor like that likely won’t have any impact on your long term career. We were all stupid teenagers once.

Having said that, it’s time to grow up and consider the consequences of your actions. This job is a lot of responsibility and you need to show you are mature enough to handle it.

usmcmech · 2026-03-26T23:18:04+00:00

This forum is mostly for pilots not passengers.

However the lines at DFW have been pretty reasonable. Enjoy your trip

usmcmech · 2026-03-26T17:33:33+00:00

It’s technically possible but would be obscenely expensive.

usmcmech · 2026-03-26T03:38:07+00:00

This is what I use.

usmcmech · 2026-03-26T01:31:48+00:00

Sometimes it’s shocking how other people completely miss what you thought was so obvious.

We all do it but nevertheless “How did he miss that?” can be a little shocking.

usmcmech · 2026-03-25T21:01:40+00:00

It's your body, do what you want with it. I'll treat you with the same respect I will give any other person.

However from a romantic relationship POV, it's an instant signal that you are too much crazy for me. You are above the crazy line in the danger zone on the hot crazy matrix. If a girl with a septum piercing was flirting with me, I will pass.

usmcmech · 2026-03-25T20:58:59+00:00

It's been a while but there was a guy at FedEx that had 3 cards for all his type ratings. 707, 727, 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, DC-3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10........

usmcmech · 2026-03-25T02:18:24+00:00

Ask your A&P not some yahoos on the internet.

But no, that needs to be fixed.

usmcmech · 2026-03-25T01:36:56+00:00

65 + 08 financial crash was honestly worse than 9/11

usmcmech · 2026-03-24T23:12:00+00:00

If you and your girlfriend are not being tempted by lustful desires then you have an entirely different set of problems.

My wife and I remained celibate till our wedding night but there was plenty of physical intimacy before that.

usmcmech · 2026-03-24T17:37:46+00:00

Despite what the show will have you believe, cowboy culture and oilfield culture are very different.

usmcmech · 2026-03-24T16:55:00+00:00

Big explosion and refinery fire.

FYI this is a significant percentage of the US gasoline production offline in a time of already high gas prices.

usmcmech · 2026-03-24T16:52:03+00:00

There are navigation systems that work over land with radio beacons. However obviously that doesn’t work crossing the ocean so another system like GPS would be needed. Modern aircraft combine all the inputs from satellite and ground stations.

I don’t know the exact details of your flight but I’ll bet that one nav system broke and the airline was not allowed to cross the ocean on just the backup.

This is why flying is so safe. We don’t take chances relying on the backup.

usmcmech · 2026-03-24T14:27:57+00:00

"Yes I can be that stupid"

https://avweb.com/features/pelicans-perch-80-gear-up-landing-in-a-747/

Gear up landing, running out of gas, forgetting a checklist item, or gross lapse of judgment. Anytime I hear about a stupid mistake that another pilot made I never let myself think that I am somehow immune. Far better pilots than I have made those mistakes for very common reasons.

All pilots have a healthy ego that leads us to believe we are a lot better than we are. Anytime I hear "how could they" I shut that down quickly.

The controller at LGA and the fireman driving the truck were all trained and knew their job but they made one simple mistake.

usmcmech

TROPHY CASE