Ditching the CFI Track: Will It Hurt Your Pilot Career?

It’s not necessary to be an instructor to land a professional flying job.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, May 06, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

There are alternatives to being a CFI to accumulate flight hours. [Credit: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

Professional pilot careers primarily prioritize total flight hours and relevant skills, not necessarily extensive flight instruction experience.
Limited flight instruction on a resume is generally not a liability for professional pilot jobs unless the position itself is instructional.
If asked about minimal flight instruction time, an honest explanation about finding a better-suited opportunity is the best approach.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Question: I want a career as a professional pilot, but I don’t like being a flight instructor. I plan to get out as soon as I can. Will not having much flight instruction on my résumé become a liability when I start applying for jobs?

Answer: Getting a job in aviation comes down to having the amount of experience (hours) the employer is looking for as well as the right kind of skills for the position you are seeking.