Join Our Team

This is independent contract work, not full-time employment. Most Aviator.NYC instructors work 5–15 hours per week around their airline schedules or other professional commitments. You set your own availability through our scheduling system, and we match you with students who fit your open slots. There are no minimum-hour requirements—some instructors teach one session a week, others teach five. Because this is contract work and all training happens on an FAA-approved AATD simulator in Manhattan, there is zero impact on your Part 121 or Part 135 duty times. You maintain complete control over when and how often you teach.

No. The Aviator.NYC simulator replicates a generic single-engine piston aircraft with a Garmin G1000 NXi avionics suite. It is an FAA-approved Advanced Aviation Training Device (AATD) built by PFC (Precision Flight Controls), model GTX. If you are comfortable teaching G1000 procedures, instrument approaches, and IFR flight planning, you are qualified to instruct on this device. We do not simulate any specific type-rated aircraft—our focus is on instrument proficiency, private pilot training, and IFR currency rather than type-specific training. During onboarding, we provide familiarization time on the simulator so you can learn its specific setup and any operational quirks before your first student session.

Aviator.NYC pays contract instructors per session hour, not per Hobbs time or flight hour. That means a 2-hour training session equals 2 hours of compensation—no unpaid time spent on preflight, taxi, or runup. Rates are competitive with NYC-area CFI rates and generally higher than typical aircraft-based instruction because there are no weather cancellations, aircraft maintenance delays, or scheduling gaps due to mechanical issues. You are paid consistently for the time you are teaching. Contact us directly for current rate details, as compensation may vary based on experience level, certifications held, and availability.

Yes—many of our current instructors are airline pilots on reserve. You can set your availability day-by-day or week-by-week through our scheduling system. If you get called out for a trip, let us know and we will reschedule the student at no penalty to you. This flexibility is one of the main reasons airline pilots choose to instruct with Aviator.NYC. Because all training is simulator-based in Manhattan, you can teach a session in the morning and still be available for an afternoon reserve call. There is no aircraft to preflight, no weather to check, and no cross-country legs that might conflict with your airline obligations.

Yes. Aviator.NYC provides initial familiarization training on the PFC GTX simulator and our teaching standards before you begin instructing students. This covers the simulator’s specific G1000 NXi panel configuration, the AATD’s operational characteristics, our standard lesson plans, and our approach to student progression. If you are already G1000-proficient from your airline or general aviation experience, this familiarization process is quick—typically one or two sessions. We also provide ongoing access to the simulator for your own proficiency and lesson preparation. Our goal is to ensure every instructor feels confident and prepared before their first student session.

Yes. As an independent contract instructor, you will need your own professional liability insurance, commonly known as CFI insurance. This is standard practice for contract flight instructors across the industry and is not unique to Aviator.NYC. CFI insurance typically covers you for claims related to instruction-provided services and is available from aviation insurance providers at reasonable annual premiums. We can recommend specific providers and policies that our current instructors use if you need guidance. Having your own policy ensures you are personally protected regardless of where or how you instruct, which is especially important if you also teach at other locations or in actual aircraft.