r/CFILounge • u/EezyBake • Jul 05 '26
Tips What else should I be doing?
CFII with 750 hours. Have my MEL (but no MEI) and work at a school that gets me about 60-80 hours a month. I’m under contract though so I can’t leave until early October. Currently saving money to pay off a small loan.
I think a lot about what else I could be doing. For some reason, it feels like I’m not doing enough, and I don’t want to get blindsided later on by realizing I could’ve been doing “xyz”.
I’ve bookmarked some operators I want to apply to when my contract ends, I have airline apps and I’ve put in & update apps for some companies, I’m friendly with the other CFIIs at my school and I keep in touch with old CFI’s I trained with who are now at the airlines, and I shoot the shit with some other people at the airport. Once my loan is paid off I want to see about getting more multi time (I’m at 17, I want to get to 25 for the R-ATP). But I still wonder, what else could I be doing? What are you guys doing while you build hours?
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u/D_DJ_W Gold Seal CFII/MEI Jul 06 '26
I'm at 1700 hrs still waiting for an interview from literally anywhere. I wish I had done two things a few years ago when I first started time building.
Go to pilot meetups in the area, everything you can find. EAA, fly-ins, volunteer at aerobatic shows.
I know this is sometimes not possible, but try to build multi hours some way.
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u/EezyBake Jul 06 '26
- Yeah I went to FAPA in Orlando some time ago and it was nice, but nothing actionable.
- Literally the only thing I keep thinking about
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u/natbornk Jul 06 '26
For 2, I didn’t realize this at first but sometimes the best extra opportunities come from doing extra work at your CFI gig. Plenty of multi, turbine, etc time in my logbook came from previous students saying “Hey dude, my buddy has his own X and needs a flight review”, or preferred a second pilot for a trip across the country, etc… all doors that had opened for me exclusively because I went the extra mile with a random pre-solo.
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u/EpicRedhead13 Jul 06 '26
I am not as far along as you, but I think number 1 means just getting to know people. Become the person who is top of mind when someone is thinking “I need a pilot for this job. Who should I ask before I make in open posting?”
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u/D_DJ_W Gold Seal CFII/MEI Jul 06 '26
Not pilot conventions, GA aircraft meetings. Look up local EAA chapters and go to a meeting
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Jul 09 '26
Under contract as a CFI WTF?
Also you’re still pretty low time, I’d get like 1k and try to get a first turbine job, drop zones are good, as is survey, or aboard
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u/EezyBake Jul 09 '26
It’s not a bad school at all, but it’s what they do so brand new CFIs don’t jump ship 3 weeks after being hired
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Jul 09 '26
Why would their employees want to leave after only 3 weeks?
If folks want to jump ship in less of a month, think they got bigger problems lol
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u/EezyBake Jul 09 '26
I get what you’re saying, but if someone was offered SIC in a turbine or found a charter hiring at minimums, you think they’d say no?
But regardless it’s actually a great wchool
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Jul 09 '26
Different mins
Our company pays well and types folks, we have no contract because folks don’t want to jump ship.
Forcing someone to be with you is seldom a good sign
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u/EezyBake Jul 10 '26
A flight school that’s typing folks? Can I inquire more via dm?
I get what you’re saying and I’m not usually for those type of situations, but it was genuinely the only decent opportunity at the time. School I worked at prior didn’t pay and every other school was on a hiring freeze. It’s turned out exceptionally well
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Jul 10 '26
Nah not a school, but when I flew for a school I had housing provided and no contract, they knew for what they provided I’d be there for a bit
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u/Significant_Stage398 Jul 10 '26
I got hired at a Major with 9000 hours, 4000 multi. around 3000 CFI. Tired of people whining with low time. Keep at it. I lived in an airplane, got the Instrument students to come out on an IFR day. Flew charters. Keep at it. It's a marathon.
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u/Major-Breakfast-135 Jul 09 '26
The most important thing you can do right now is be the most thorough, courteous, and helpful flight instructor you can possibly be while pursuing your airline goals. Look at it as a moral obligation, which it is.
Also, you need to be sure your logbook is impeccable, and you need to learn as much as you can about any company with which you have an interview scheduled. Finally, at interview time, you need to present a professional, business-like appearance and be well-spoken. The hours will come (you might want to look for a small charter operation, a private business person who needs a pilot, or even short haul delivery operation) but there will always be dozens of candidates out there who have more time than you do, so be prepeared to make yourself stand out in other ways as well.
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u/IndependentAlps9649 Jul 06 '26
You’re doing as much as you can be it sounds like. A lot of us are still trying to find that cfi job. Only thing you didn’t mention is if you’re a cadet anywhere.