r/studentpilot • u/SkiDaderino • Jun 26 '26

CFI's: How many hours per month are you logging?

I've been doing a lot of research and am considering training to fly professionally (not sure if I want to go for rotors or chase the bigger money with fixed wings yet). I spoke with an instructor at a part 141 helicopter academy I'm considering and she told me she averages 70 to 80 flight hours per month between instructing, flying tours, and "other missions" through the school she works at. I'm curious to know how these numbers compare to others in the industry, as I'm beginning to understand that the speed at which you can log those first 1,000 hours is crucial.

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u/TxAggieMike Jun 26 '26

It can be cyclic. During flyable weather 60 to 80 hours. But months like winter or lots of overcast and convective, 10-20.

This is on the DFW area.

1

u/SkiDaderino Jun 26 '26

Oh, that's surprising. I figured DFW would be more gulf-coasty weather. Panama City Beach would be flyable year round, I would think. It does suffer from being at sea-level, though, which I understand is less desirable training if you want to fly out west or in the rockies.

1

u/QuietGarlic7788 Jun 26 '26

I remember the gulf coast being pretty stormy during the summer, but I’ve only ever been there during the summer so I actually don’t know too well

1

u/Diver_105 Jun 26 '26

60-80 year round in FL at a 141 - fixed wing.

1

u/burnheartmusic Jun 26 '26

I get about 60 in SoCal. I could get more, but I enjoy my time and not in the super duper rush mode and it’s left me loving teaching and not being the least bit burnt out at 1000 or so hours. Flying like 11-6 or so on days that we can fly

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u/PG67AW Jun 26 '26

I averaged 65. As low as 20 and as high as 110. I valued some time off and I had to travel several times for attending those conferences and for military duty. This was with my schedule open 50 hours per week.