Flight Instructor as reference

[+RA]

Hello,

Is using your flight instructor as a reference considered an acceptable practice when applying for a first flying job?

Thanks

[Duffman]

I did it for my first job and see no problem with it. If you haven't worked in aviation before your references are going to be pretty limited. Maybe consider using the CFI instead - if you know him and have flown with him.

[ahramin]

I used my commercial instructor as a reference for my first full time job.

References are a funny thing. When I'm calling references, I'm concentrating far more on trying to gauge the quality of the person giving the reference than on what they are saying about the prospective pilot. A good reference from a good reference goes a long way. A good reference from Joe instructor with 300 hours is probably not going to increase your chances of getting hired. The comment about the CFI is a good one, especially if they did your flight test or pre test. In my case my instructor had been instructing for over a decade and was also flying at Conair by then. I think his endorsement really helped me.

If you have some impressive non-aviation work history, that can be a helpful reference. After all, your flying skills are far less important that your people skills and work ethic for your first (and usually every) job.

As always the hardest step is that first job, and usually the way you get it is by being known to the people who do the hiring for those jobs. If your only reference is your flight instructor, you're already behind the curve. Get out there and meet some people and make some friends.

[+RA]

Thanks for the advice from both of you.

Unfortunately, I don't know my CFI very well and I've never flown with her. I'll likely go ahead and use my flight instructor though.

I have some decent work experience for my age, so I'm hoping that might help.

[Illya Kuryakin]

Absolutely
Illya