flhrci
Final Approach
I went to the FBO I have been a CFI for over the last three weeks to do some plane washing for some cash that I need really badly. The owner said he had some god news for me. He had a gentleman coming in that needed a refresher in the 172R for confidence and I was to fly with him. I finally got my first paid hour of flight time as a Commercial Pilot and CFI! Woohoo! I finally feel like a CFI! And my certificates were finally worth something to me today.
I felt really good when the gentleman told me that I had some good tips for him to work on his approaches to landing a little more. I also showed him how to use the autopilot with and without the GPS and the radios/intercom. He did not remember how to use the radios in this plane and had never used a autopilot before.
Even though he is not a regular student of mine, but of a CFII that was not available today, I felt like I did a good job and that I helped him out. The feeling is very rewarding knowing that you taught someone something, that they learned from you. I have not had this feeling since I was an instructor in the Navy in the early 90’s.
The economy is probably affecting me getting new students, but that will change eventually. The other full-time CFI can no longer accept any more students as he got a SIC job of some kind and will be scaling back to part-time instruction. So, that is definitely in my favor. I get the next few students through the door. The downside is the insurance company is limiting me to the two 172’s for now till I get 50 hours of dual instruction done, then they will add on other aircraft and I will be more flexible.
I also got to do some networking and may be able to get I non the ground floor of a new seaplane business forming here in Ohio of all places. The gentleman I spoke with is the local DE. HE bought a Lake Amphibian which is nearly ready to be brought up to Ohio. I do not know too many details but he is offering to teach me the seaplane rating and I suppose do the check ride. I do not know if this would be a conflict of interest or not.
And, I also got a lead on a potential flying position at the opposite end of the hangar for aerial photography. I am going to go check out hat opportunity tomorrow most likely as I was too messy today from the plane wash.
I did get one plane done after 2.5 hours and I made $10 an hour on it. 4 more to wash soon.
The local EAA chapter is having a fly-in pancake breakfast on Saturday which may be another opportunity to network. Maybe all my patience is finally starting to pay off. Today I made about $51 for roughly 5 hours of my time. Pretty good! The future can only get better from here.
I really appreciate my friends here at POA for helping me to keep going through one of the roughest periods of my life
Thank you!
David
I felt really good when the gentleman told me that I had some good tips for him to work on his approaches to landing a little more. I also showed him how to use the autopilot with and without the GPS and the radios/intercom. He did not remember how to use the radios in this plane and had never used a autopilot before.
Even though he is not a regular student of mine, but of a CFII that was not available today, I felt like I did a good job and that I helped him out. The feeling is very rewarding knowing that you taught someone something, that they learned from you. I have not had this feeling since I was an instructor in the Navy in the early 90’s.
The economy is probably affecting me getting new students, but that will change eventually. The other full-time CFI can no longer accept any more students as he got a SIC job of some kind and will be scaling back to part-time instruction. So, that is definitely in my favor. I get the next few students through the door. The downside is the insurance company is limiting me to the two 172’s for now till I get 50 hours of dual instruction done, then they will add on other aircraft and I will be more flexible.
I also got to do some networking and may be able to get I non the ground floor of a new seaplane business forming here in Ohio of all places. The gentleman I spoke with is the local DE. HE bought a Lake Amphibian which is nearly ready to be brought up to Ohio. I do not know too many details but he is offering to teach me the seaplane rating and I suppose do the check ride. I do not know if this would be a conflict of interest or not.
And, I also got a lead on a potential flying position at the opposite end of the hangar for aerial photography. I am going to go check out hat opportunity tomorrow most likely as I was too messy today from the plane wash.
I did get one plane done after 2.5 hours and I made $10 an hour on it. 4 more to wash soon.
The local EAA chapter is having a fly-in pancake breakfast on Saturday which may be another opportunity to network. Maybe all my patience is finally starting to pay off. Today I made about $51 for roughly 5 hours of my time. Pretty good! The future can only get better from here.
I really appreciate my friends here at POA for helping me to keep going through one of the roughest periods of my life
Thank you!
David