Freelance FI Pay

[Classic]

I'm sure this has been done to death elsewhere but I couldn't find the info I wanted using the search function, so...

I'm planning to get my FI Rating just to do some freelance flying, a couple of weekends a month, maybe. What might be a reasonable amount to expect per instructional hour at a flying club? Would it be less for a trial flight?

I'm not doing it for the money but it would help justify the expense of the course to the Mrs!

[mark twain]

At a Flying School in the North West we get:

Restricted FI

£14.00 per hour flying
£12.00 per hour groundschool and 'no shows' - ie a student cancelling with-in 24 hours or not turning up.

We earn the same rates for trial lessons - however no 'no show' fees.

Unrestricted:

£16.00 per hour flying.
£12.00 groundschool and 'no'shows'.

In the summer I have done 7.5 hours flying in a single day at the weekend.

Earnings wise I worked full time - during the winter I managed to bill about £650 per month, in the summer it was twice that amount.

You have to work hard to develop a student base, and run your own slots - ie network your students to keep yourself busy with no gaps in a day.

Get used to total frustration looking at bad weather, sat on the ground earning nothing, and even worse looking at lovely weather but with a tech aeroplane!

However - it is fantastic fun, you want to go to work everyday, you meet some great people and learn alot about flying. Your handling and decision making skills come on leaps and bounds.

This is said after 18 months of it.

Hope this helps.

[foxmoth]

I freelance a small amount for a few different operations, some fairly specialised, generally the rate works out about £22 - £30/hr, this can be in the form of a daily rate (attendance fee) + a small £8/20min trip fee or a straight £22-24/hr.
Still will not work out at a great wage- about £18,000pa for 700 hours instructing.
I do not believe either that freelancers who are not doing it for the money should work cheap and undercut those who are doing it to pay the bills.;)

[Classic]

Thanks for your replies.

Foxmoth, I agree totally with your comment that part time 'hobbyist' FIs shouldn't undercut those who do the job for a living.

I'd be content to do it for nothing but decided I would ask for close to the going rate so that I wouldn't be putting someone out of a job or was driving down the rates. That's why I made the post and will use the info you've given me.

:ok:

[African Drunk]

£15 for PPL
£20 IMC
£25 CPL
£30 Multi
£35 IR

[spitfire747]

15 per hour (brakes to brakes)
25 per day retainer
work 5 days per week

good weather i smile
bad weather i frown

today :-)