Independent Instructing

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EliteEthos@reddit

While it can be a thing, I’ve found that need solve a couple issues first.

First and most importantly, you need access to an airplane with enough availability to hopefully facilitate multiple students regularly.

Next, you need to figure out how and where to market yourself.

I decided to buy a plane. I have yet to teach in it because once I looked into the insurance and additional maintenance to make that happen, it’s not very cost effective. So I’m simply time building with it.

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320sim@reddit

How much were you quoted for insurance? I know a lot of people who have made it work

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storyinmemo@reddit

My plane leased to a flying club runs me ~$6,000 a year in insurance compared to $2,500 on my own. It'd probably be a bit higher to have that commercial use coverage if it weren't part of a formed club with history and a full board.

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EliteEthos@reddit

I recall the amount being ridiculous but brain dumped the amount after they began telling all the other limitations. It was collectively not worth it.

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EliteEthos@reddit

I forget the amount but they had all sorts of requirements for how many people I could add to the insurance per calendar year. It was a bit too restrictive on top of the pricing.

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ltcterry@reddit

I instruct at an FBO, in a glider club, and independently. And I don’t poach from the FBO. Ever.

I would never buy an airplane to instruct others in. No one I know who has done it has made money.

For independent I have access to a small flight school (though I get paid directly), an individual’s airplane, and post-Private for members of a club.

A number of indy clients have become FBO customers for multi.

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FutureA350@reddit

i mean to get u started with a ground school just DM me i have a super low price Sportys PPL CPL and IFR course

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TxAggieMike@reddit

It very much goes in a feast or famine cycle.

I ask a rate comparable to local schools. Payment from clients goes into holding account.

2x a month, I distribute 33% into a savings account for IRS, 33% to my personal checking, and 34% into a short term emergency fund that has 3 months of my survival budget should I have a famine period. I also live well within my means

I don’t own an airplane. I teach using airplanes operated by various clubs.

Finding clients is done by maintaining a positive reputation as an instructor they wish to hire. I don’t spend advertising money, but word of mouth provides a reasonable stream of new client inquiries..

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storyinmemo@reddit

Independent instructors usually instruct in other people's airplanes. I've got enough hours to do transition training in several models and mint new CFIs.

Being a one-plane shop only works if you have a differentiator like tailwheel aerobatics or the only local Cirrus. You'll still have availability issues. My friend's plane? Gear up landing. My other friend's plane? His co-owner clipped a tree at night. My plane? Down for a scheduled AD and stuck at a slow shop that doesn't have enough mechanics.

Owning a single 152 or 172 won't serve your students because it'll hit 100 hours at inconvenient times and you're not going to keep your head financially above water getting that service done early at 80 hours for scheduling reasons. Your students will bounce when they've got only one plane and it's down for 2 months.

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rFlyingTower@reddit

This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:

I was rejected at my 141 school, so I am planning on independently instructing. Any independent instructors out there has any success? What is your go to ways to find students? Buy a plane or rent? Open to all suggestions🫡

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