Want To Buy INDEPENDENT CFII near Michiana w/in 40 miles of KMGC

What is a reasonable price to expect to pay for an independent CFII?

  • $20-$30/hr

    Votes: 1 11.1%
  • $30-$40/hr

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • $40-$50/hr

    Votes: 5 55.6%
  • $50-$60/hr

    Votes: 3 33.3%
  • >$60/hr

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    9
  • Poll closed .

Chicago Bearhawk

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Apr 4, 2018
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Chicago Bearhawk
Looking for an Independent CFII to finish up Instrument rating.
I have passed the written test 20 months ago and have 10+ hours of hood time, own aircraft and am willing to fly 40 or so miles for training. I have PA-28, w/ GTN650

NO SCHOOLS

Requirements:
1. Want to finish training and take test ride in 4-6 weeks
2. Availability Friday and Saturday all day, Sunday afternoons and some weeknights.
3. Will fly much farther if instructor is willing to train me 4+ hours per day.
5. Prefer if instructor would be able to schedule 40 hours of time over the next 5 weeks.
 
Last edited:
You want 40 hours of trading over 10 weekend on Saturdays and Sundays in Michigan in November?
 
I have my own aircraft, and I am willing to fly 40 or so miles or so for training.
NO SCHOOLS, looking for an Independent CFII to finish up Instrument rating.
I have passed the written 20 months ago and have 10+ hours of hood time.

Requirements,
1. Want to finish training and take test ride in 4-6 weeks
2. Availability Friday All Day, Saturday All Day Sunday afternoons, some weeknights.
3. I have PA-28, w/ GTN650
4. Will fly much farther if instructor is willing to train me 4+ hours per day.
5. Instructor must be able to schedule 40 hours of time over the next 5 weeks.
You want 40 hours of trading over 10 weekend on Saturdays and Sundays in Michigan in November?
basically yes, within 40 miles of Michigan City, which confusingly enough is actually in Indiana; commonly known as Michiana. and there are normally only 4-5 weekends in November. I also have Fridays free.

Depending on price and hrs I might travel further.
 
Looking for an Independent CFII to finish up Instrument rating.
I have passed the written test 20 months ago and have 10+ hours of hood time, own aircraft and am willing to fly 40 or so miles for training. I have PA-28, w/ GTN650

NO SCHOOLS

Requirements:
1. Want to finish training and take test ride in 4-6 weeks
2. Availability Friday and Saturday all day, Sunday afternoons and some weeknights.
3. Will fly much farther if instructor is willing to train me 4+ hours per day.
5. Prefer if instructor would be able to schedule 40 hours of time over the next 5 weeks.

CAll or Text:

Sevn.Sevn.Three.Two.0ne.Sevn.Eight.Two.Six.Eight.
Only you and the CFII can decide what you think is reasonable. Nobody else has any skin in the game.
 
For an arrangement like that, it might be better (for both of you) to arrange for a daily fee rather than per hour
 
Paid $60/hr for my tw endorsement from an independent in 2011 but he was fantastic and instructed in just about anything that flew. Worth the money. Paid $40/hr for an independent to finish up my IR last year. She was very good too and a bargain at that price. ATP-rated and one of the best instructors, if the not best, on the field.
 
PS, I like how folks think that script-kiddies that grab phone numbers off publicly-accessible web pages cannot handle little tricks of formatting. No offense but either put your number or don't. I recommend don't.
 
PS, I like how folks think that script-kiddies that grab phone numbers off publicly-accessible web pages cannot handle little tricks of formatting. No offense but either put your number or don't. I recommend don't.
I am sure you are correct, but I could not figure out how to do pm on pilotsofamerica, so I did cheesey obfuscation and will edit the post and remove once I get what I want...
 
For an arrangement like that, it might be better (for both of you) to arrange for a daily fee rather than per hour
Thanks! I kinda like that idea. Or for me I would even consider a fixed bid style proposal.
 
Paid $60/hr for my tw endorsement from an independent in 2011 but he was fantastic and instructed in just about anything that flew. Worth the money. Paid $40/hr for an independent to finish up my IR last year. She was very good too and a bargain at that price. ATP-rated and one of the best instructors, if the not best, on the field.
Thanks for the data point. I think 60 for TW is reasonable myself because insurance is more so those number seem very close to what I am looking for. But I need the focused commitment. Not 1 or 2 hrs per week, over 6+ months.
 
basically yes, within 40 miles of Michigan City, which confusingly enough is actually in Indiana; commonly known as Michiana. and there are normally only 4-5 weekends in November. I also have Fridays free.

Depending on price and hrs I might travel further.

Ever hear of icing? Northern IN has more than its fair share.
 
Ever hear of icing? Northern IN has more than its fair share.
Interesting you say that i was pretty ignorant about these things. I was at an faasafety event put on by Eaa104.org just last Saturday, and the dupage FISDO GUY (not gonna drop names...) said an interesting fact, I can’t re quote exactly, but baiscally he said exactly that south bend Indiana presents the worst icing conditions of anywhere on the planet.
 
Interesting you say that i was pretty ignorant about these things. I was at an faasafety event put on by Eaa104.org just last Saturday, and the dupage FISDO GUY (not gonna drop names...) said an interesting fact, I can’t re quote exactly, but baiscally he said exactly that south bend Indiana presents the worst icing conditions of anywhere on the planet.

I think the Buffalo NY area is tops, SB ranks right up there.
 
50 cash or trade was my gold standard, good luck on your search.
 
Honestly, I think $100 per hour for a good seasoned (not a fresh CFI ERAU grad) instructor is very reasonable. What do you pay a plumber, mechanic, personal trainer, computer geek to help you with your computer needs and so on? This person is teaching you skill that could mean the difference between life or death. If you want a quality CFI there needs to be incentive to attract quality CFI’s to the ranks, this means one is going to have to pay for such. If I were you I would worry more about the instructor and quality of instruction than the price. Just my humble opinion.

Kurt
 
Thanks! I kinda like that idea. Or for me I would even consider a fixed bid style proposal.

I will second the day rate idea for your scenario. I think that will get you the attention and commitment you want. However, there's no way I would go for a fixed bid proposal (I assume you mean one flat price to get you done). As a CFI, there are so many factors that are not MY control (such as your abilities and willingness to study) that I wouldn't even consider doing it for a flat rate.

I would consider a flat rate for a certain amount of training but then a day rate for additional needs after that, but that doesn't benefit you at all.
 
Honestly, I think $100 per hour for a good seasoned (not a fresh CFI ERAU grad) instructor is very reasonable. What do you pay a plumber, mechanic, personal trainer, computer geek to help you with your computer needs and so on? This person is teaching you skill that could mean the difference between life or death. If you want a quality CFI there needs to be incentive to attract quality CFI’s to the ranks, this means one is going to have to pay for such. If I were you I would worry more about the instructor and quality of instruction than the price. Just my humble opinion.

Kurt

This is exactly why I was looking for an independent. Cost is only part of it... the other side of that coin is how flight schools are run... I did finally find an independent that I feel very comfortable with. Not as many hrs per week as I would like but definitely a good match. And he is not pushing me off the schedule for renter students etc...
 
My CFI used to charge $40/hr when he freelanced, and he was, and still is, GREAT. Now, he set up his own FBO-based flight schools, owns and rents out three planes, rents hangar space, etc. To cover his expenses he now charges $80/hr. He is still a great teacher, but not anywhere near twice as good as he was years ago. I love the guy, and still use him.. and rent hangar space from him.. but I'd fly with him a lot more if he wasn't so expensive now. Doesn't matter to him.. he's so over-scheduled that it's hard to get time with him anyway.
 
Honestly, I think $100 per hour for a good seasoned (not a fresh CFI ERAU grad) instructor is very reasonable. What do you pay a plumber, mechanic, personal trainer, computer geek to help you with your computer needs and so on? This person is teaching you skill that could mean the difference between life or death. If you want a quality CFI there needs to be incentive to attract quality CFI’s to the ranks, this means one is going to have to pay for such. If I were you I would worry more about the instructor and quality of instruction than the price. Just my humble opinion.

Kurt

I understand what you're saying. My neighbor makes the same point when I tell him I charge $60 per hour for my A&P work. But the point is that the going rate for a seasoned instructor is $40 to $60 per hour.
 
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