View Full Version : Where to TRAIN to become a Fligth Instructor
Craggenmore
4th Sep 2004, 17:24
Hello forum,
Can I get some help with the following...
1. Can anyone inform me as to where is a good place to get an Instructor rating? I have no time constraints. I live in the South East, based off the A3/M25.
2. Is it better to get trained in the UK if you wish to be based in the UK, as I have seen US, SA and Spanish outfits that offer JAA FI ratings?
3. If one ever wanted to instruct abroad, do US flight schools that offer JAA PPL's and CPL's only hire US instructors or do they look for FI's from other countries? How do the visa's work?
Many thanks,
Craggs
Dont really know much about visa's and the US stuff. Its generally quite a good idea to train for the rating where you might want to work afterwards - they are probably more likely to take you on afterwards as you are a known quantity.
If you live off the A3 then I would suggest Blackbushe. They do FIC.
www.blackbusheaviation.com
Cheers
Foz
Mordacai
4th Sep 2004, 20:07
If you want to stay in the UK I would recommend Stapleford Flight Centre for this. Tony Glover and Keith Pogmore are both great guys.
If you are looking at the USA, I would have a look at European Flight Training (Florida), Ray Williams is a legend (training FIC'S for 30 years)!
Just bear in mind that schools can be reluctant to take on instructors that they did not train.
M
GusHoneybun
5th Sep 2004, 18:11
If you check this link out, it lists all the schools that are created to provide FI training by the CAA. CAA Site Thingy (http://www.caa.co.uk/publications/publicationdetails.asp?id=1211)
On a personal note, I would also recommend Stapleford for the FIC. Keith is a very experienced instructor and spent 25 hours with him learning how to fly properly. Glad to hear that Tony has been made up to FI Instructor. Another top lad but don't ask him to do any aerobatics though......
Most school will prefer their own brand trained instructor, but that is by no means a barrier to finding employment after training has completed. Pick a school that you think is going to provide the best training for yourself and worry about getting a job afterwards.
Oh, and good luck.
Craggenmore
6th Sep 2004, 13:40
Thankyou for the supplied information. It is all very useful.
regards,
Craggs
FlyingForFun
6th Sep 2004, 19:33
A personal recomendation for On Track Aviation (http://www.ontrackaviation.com/). It's a little way from you, but for me they stood out so much they were well worth the commute. (I was living in Slough at the time, so not too far from where you are.) The thing which really stood out for me was that rather than being a PPL school with one instructor who runs an FIC course on the side, which is what most places offer the prospective instructor, these guys specialise in FIC training.
I have no connection with them except as a satisfied customer.
FFF
--------------