I'm a UK PPL about to embark on a ATPL course in the UK.

However, it is my intermediate goal to work in OZ / NZ as a flight instructor for a substantial amount of time.

Without wanting to sound like the usual 'instructor / hour builder', it would be nice to end up with an airline, but I certainly don't suffer from 'need to fly a boeng jet-itis'.

I am very serious about being an instructor for at least 4 yeas or so and certainly wouldn't rule out an instructing career if all went well.

This leads me to my question(s): What is the best way to get an Australian Instructor rating? Can I convert from a UK ATPL or do I need to do an OZ CPL? What is the instructor job market like? What is the average pay?

Any info at all would be great as I really am struggling for a definative guide to australian instructing.

PM me if you wish.

Thanks

EK

My ideal location would be Queensland (family and freinds located there) but can relocate to pretty much anywhere.

Hi there.

Im not sure you will have an ATPL by the time you finish your course. You may well have the theory for it but not the hours. I am led to believe that to have an ATPL you need to have something like 500hrs of RPT experience (I could be wrong here however). I know of a few people that have come from Europe and are do the instructing route. Instructing is quite fun but at times can be quite repetitive. However saying that so can doing the same joy flight (charter) over and over!! It really comes down to the question, "Do I want to share the flying and be more of an observer/demonstrator or do I just want to fly the aircraft no explanation but have a bit more of a 'tour operator' attitude as oppossed to a 'teacher' attitude." I think both options have their benefits and drawbacks and both have their detractors.

In regards to getting an instructor rating, you should really do the research before spending the money. Find out if the place you are going has job oppertunities later or if they are just a 'sausage factory'. Pay rates vary considerably between schools but you will find the larger schools (airline orientated) pay the award (and maybe a little bit more) but to get in you need to have at least 50 hrs instructing under your belt. It is also quite diffiicult to get those first 50 odd hours which is why it is important to find out if the school you are going to will give you some hours/employment straight up. I know of a school in Melbourne that does a lot of school holiday camps where new instructor get their first real gig. I think the situation works very well for all involved as the owner/operator (I am led to belive although this may not be true) does not pay very well but will give you a lot of hours very quickly (up to 8 hrs a day) which enables you to get employement with other operations paying more appropriate wages and for him to say "look do your instructor rating here, I'll give you 100 hours and then you can get a real job".

The instructor job market in Australia is well short of experienced instructors. Many junior instructors wont leave home let alone the state to get work. I travelled to the other side of the country and am living in a very small town right now knowing that I like the many charter guys that traveled "up North" are actually going to get somewhere with our careers and not expecting it all on a silver platter. If you are really keen and want it (which it certainly seems if you are willing to leave the cold English lifestyle for this Aussie one! ;) )then you will have no problem finding work.

Good luck

Almostthere,

Thanks very much for your reply - very helpful.

I suppose my main question is do I become an instructor here in the uk (and then get the 50+ hours needed) then apply for jobs in Oz, or do I train in Australia from the begining?

Thanks.

EK