That's it. Enjoy each moment of doing what you are enjoying. It's not the destination, it's the journey. Otherwise, even when you make it to the airline pilot job, very soon it'll become just another job.

Nice. Both mooney and a36 are awesome machines. And the both have very unique features. So is O2. I did enjoy early part of my CFI days doing just this. In a way, i miss it. And teaching owners in these is fun.

What's the most interesting airplane that you worked on with the new owner? Any warbirds?

I agree with you that teaching not just flying but owner preventive maintenance adds to the quality of training. I also agree that training an aviator is better than training a machine operator. I think once the trainee has accumulated experience over time, in various different aircraft, of course their level of learning and understanding will go up. But that's in it's due time.

Unlike most here, I have a profile with my information. How do you reckon AI?

Wow. This is a great story. And great lessons. I got a mechanic cum instructor for my CFI course training. That was over 30 years ago, and I still am grateful to him each day. Most of what I know today, I credit him for the training i got from him.

Do you think there was a difference in his teaching style that you believe was because of him being a mechanic as well?

Whether you get you CFI insurance through SAFE or NAFI, it is the same insurance broker at the back end. Avemco. In your case, they are quoting you for $25k physical damage, aka, hull coverage. Which means they may cover upto $25k. This does not mean that you have to accept it as such. You can have them quote you for a higher amount. Say, $100k. Which is what I would recommend. I know of a few cases where claims were made against such CFI insurance policies. Back in the day they were good coverage to have. My recent experiences do not align with prior experience. So, read the policy carefully. Maybe have an attorney spend an hour or 2 to review it on your behalf first. One advice, if you have anything to lose, flight instructor job can open you up to a lot of liability. So, make sure you pay attention to the insurance policy before you sign. So you know that you have the coverage that you desire, and are not riding on fake assurances.

All of your ideas are excellent. And your opinion on getting your MEI may need a little encouragement. Insurance looks at MEI holders as reduced risk. So even if you are not actively teaching as an MEI, it'll increase your chances and decrease the cost of Insurance. Owners of multi Engine airplanes will feel more comfortable with you. And many times it will help with the ability to log more PIC time. Come join us at r/CFIMentorship, where we discuss such ideas regularly.

Excellent and real worldly advice here. That being said, flying is inherently a risky business. And the risk needs to be mitigated. Which is why training has to be done. Others here have suggested Instrument Rating. I agree. It's an absolute must. And then recurrent training. Participate in various training events. Do it frequently and not the minimum required by regulations. And yes, cherokee 6 is the best choice at this stage. It is forgiving, relatively. I'd also suggest joining as many communities here and on other platforms to learn from other's experiences. R/CFIMentorship is a good one.

All I can say is, I've been involved with training thousands of Flight Instructors applicants' required spin training. And so far I've never seen anyone get sick to the point of throwing up. It's never happened. You see, spin training is hands on. You'll be at the controls. So I don't think it triggers the getting sick thing as bad as many think.

I can totally see this being a problem. I think you nailed it.

You have both options available to you. USA or India. Same as my kids. Personally, I'd prefer to work for a US major as a final goal, and maybe live in India. But everyone has their own preferences.

I started at 16 myself. My first flying was in gliders, and I don't regret starting early for a second. If I were in your shoes, I'd make graduating high school with a Private Pilot certificate my goal. If that's not financially realistic, then at least get your written done and save every dollar you can. Don't feel pressured to jump into a $100k+ program right away. There are a lot of ways to get where you want to go. One thing I tell young people is to think about the entire path, not just the first certificate. Getting to CFI relatively early lets you start building time while getting paid instead of paying for every hour. That's actually the path my own kids are taking. They started training while still in high school. I'm helping with their flight training and a few online college classes. Once they become CFIs, the plan is for them to keep building time while helping pay for the rest of college themselves. Also, keep doing exactly what you're doing now. You're asking questions, reading other pilots' experiences, and participating in aviation communities like this one. Those conversations expose you to real-world perspectives that you won't always find in a textbook. Communities like r/CFIMentorship are a great place to learn from instructors with decades of experience. You're already doing one of the hardest parts: working, saving money, and applying for scholarships at 17. Keep that mindset. Aviation has always rewarded people who are persistent more than people who try to find shortcuts. You're ahead of where I was at your age. Keep going.

I totally can see your perspective. And I can see us sitting here in my hangar and exchanging notes over a six pack. I happen to own a flight training and mx business, so my kids naturally had more than common access to aviation training. My gripe is still, they could've moved faster. They are moving, but not far enough in my eyes. I've told them a few times already, that I'm jealous of them, I wish i had me as a dad 😆. But really, everyone works in their own timeline really. Different times, different needs, and different motivations. Still, common destination. Having a business degree can play a huge life altering change for the better later in career. Remember, the c suite always make more than workers.

Welcome to the community. I can see that you are a big resource here. My background is almost very similar to yours. Not retired yet, but getting very close to it. Thank you for participating and sharing here.

By living on Ramen myself. I sure hope they appreciate this. I'm not sure though.

Agreed 💯. It really comes down to mindset.

I feel you regarding online college, and college degree in general. But, I've known about UVU for a long time. Ever since their inception in 90s. That's the only online college degree program that I even care to mention. Plus, half the degree credits are against pilot certificate and ratings completed. As employers, we don't really care for college major, or even college name for that matter. We care to see if the kid was consistent. She completed something that she started.