I recently made a transition from the airline world to the charter side of the industry, and I’ve come to feel it’s an under-appreciated career choice.
I had heard that for years, but suddenly it seemed to be happening. I was a flight instructor in late 2013 when my phone began to ring. Airline friends told me to send résumés—their employers were hiring. I hesitated, because airline flying had never been my goal, but perhaps it was time to reassess my options.
It's a highly subjective question, but our livelihood as flight instructors depends on how we answer. CFIs with an ounce of business sense will be as encouraging as possible, but also straightforward about the challenges ahead.