Class Rating Instructor (CRI)

[capt.sparrow]

So what do you think? Is it a worthwhile rating to have, and more importantly would I get chance to use it what with people belt tightening etc? Any advice or pitfalls greatfully received, plus what would be the going rate once qualified? I want to 'put something back in' and have some fun along the way but don't want a full FI rating. Cheers, sparrow.

[MIKECR]

For the CRI's I know, theres no going rate. A cup of coffee and a bacon roll usually will suffice. These guys do it for the fun and pleasure and the desire to help others. Assuming they wanted payment, then theyd need a CPL.

[mrmum]

Unless they're a CRI operating under the LAA coaching scheme, when I believe they have an exemption to be paid without having to put the time and money into getting a CPL:{

[Genghis the Engineer]

Unless they're a CRI operating under the LAA coaching scheme, when I believe they have an exemption to be paid without having to put the time and money into getting a CPL:{

Incorrect. It's admin, expenses and insurance. The LAA website (http://www.lightaircraftassociation.co.uk/PCS/PCSFees.html) shows £150 for a tailwheel conversion, or £35 for a biennial - with the best will in the world, nobody will make any money from that.

G

[RTN11]

Depends what other ratings you would be planning to instruct towards. Tail wheel conversions?

[capt.sparrow]

Thanks Mike, interesting about the coffee and bacon sarny payment - although I too want to do it for the love of it I am a firm believer we need to get paid so as not to undermine instructors working full time for a living........

[The Wicker Man]

Hello Capt Sparrow.

Thr CRI rating sounds just the thing for you, to put something back into flying and have some fun on the way. I have held a CRI for 4 years, and while of course I have not notched up as many hours instructing as a full FI, I have still managed about 250 hours (and enjoyed every second of it). I am an electronics engineer by trade, so have never been interested in going down the commercial route. Also I have made many friends who now prefer to fly with me for their 2 yearly check rides and type/complex training. So go for it, my advice on where would be Andrewsfield. Give Carol Cooper a bell.

Good Luck.

[mrmum]

Hi Genghis,

Okay then, let's call it "expenses" that the coach gets, do you know how much of the fee the LAA keeps and how much goes to the coach?

Whatever the coach gets, haven't they been allowed an exemption to the law that would apply to a PPL holder who wishes to be a FI. They have to pass the CPL theory exams and then still can't be paid, not even "expenses"

Also, before I get jumped on by the resident LAA members. I think the coaching scheme is a good thing. I understand the advantages of having somebody experienced on a particular permit type or familiar with a strip, show you the ins and outs, rather than someone with 200 hrs on a C172 and a shiny new CPL/IR & FI(R).

I'm just thinking that a lot of CPL FIs would be very happy with £35 as their wages to do the hour with an instructor for a SEP(L) revalidation.

[MIKECR]

Captain sparrow, I dont think the CRI undermines the full FI. My own personal experience of CRI's are guys who are involved in other aspects of GA rather than the typical flying club/school scene. By that I mean the gliding club tugmaster who can teach tailwheel and aerotowing.....the parachute chief pilot who can teach differences to the 206....or perhaps the group/syndicate member who can convert the new member to the a/c or do their biannual revalidation flight. Again, I stress this is only from my own personal experience....but I find the CRI is somewhat detached from the local flying school, the mainstay of instruction in these places is still provided by fully qualified FI's. This however is just from my own knowledge of my local FTO's and clubs. Perhaps its entirely different elsewhere.

The argument of the experience of '200 hour' FI's is an old one. I think a lot however lies with the individual....and in particular I mean by the fundamental ability to be able to teach and train someone. If for example your not a 'people' person or find your communication skills are not the best....then is being an Instructor the right move.

[blagger]

Great rating - will sharpen your flying skills no end. However, if you only have standard PA28/C152 etc.. experience don't do it if you think you'll get loads of hours instruction from it, there simply isn't the demand. However, if you have more specialist skills like tailwheel or LAA types it could be ideal for you.

[Genghis the Engineer]

Hi Genghis,

Okay then, let's call it "expenses" that the coach gets, do you know how much of the fee the LAA keeps and how much goes to the coach?

Whatever the coach gets, haven't they been allowed an exemption to the law that would apply to a PPL holder who wishes to be a FI. They have to pass the CPL theory exams and then still can't be paid, not even "expenses"

Also, before I get jumped on by the resident LAA members. I think the coaching scheme is a good thing. I understand the advantages of having somebody experienced on a particular permit type or familiar with a strip, show you the ins and outs, rather than someone with 200 hrs on a C172 and a shiny new CPL/IR & FI(R).

I'm just thinking that a lot of CPL FIs would be very happy with £35 as their wages to do the hour with an instructor for a SEP(L) revalidation.


Firstly, I'm not a CRI, nor an LAA coach - so my view is I hope pretty much independent. I do have a CPL, and might do a CRI in the next year, if I have the time, since I quite like the idea.

I am an LAA and BMAA Test Pilot. I am at the moment helping somebody - he happens to be a friend of mine, but I'm charging him the same I would anybody else: lunch ! I think that this probably falls under expenses.


I'm helping him out because I test flew his moderately obscure vintage aeroplane, and he needs to learn how to fly it safely - which (having fully explored the envelope without bending it, I'm fairly well qualified to do).

The reason I'm doing this, and not a "proper instructor" is that there simply are no instructors. Not capable of, on demand, being available to fly with somebody from his own airfield in an Auster J5L. The vast majority of instructors available are:

(a) tied to a flying school
(b) untrained in how to fly vintage or homebuilt aeroplanes well
(c) unqualified, or at-least very inexperienced on taildraggers
(d) trying to make a living out of it, so can't financially justify a day of mucking about on a grass airfield for 3 hours flying
(e) really don't have much grasp of how you fly aeroplanes with odd ergonomics, no manual, and no checklist, from muddy grass strips with no radio

So the LAA coaching scheme, consisting mostly of high-experience pilots, who are happy for a bit of petrol money and a pub lunch, to pass their passion and knowledge about flying oddball aeroplanes to the next generation of aviation nerds - really usefully fills a gap.


Sooner or later, I'll do a CRI, and probably apply to be an LAA coach. And I'll charge the same as I do my mate in his Auster. A pub lunch.

Despite that, I'll never be any threat at-all to an FI or FI(R) in a flying school; they can do ab-initio training, which is the large part of training, whilst they just haven't the experience flying the sort of aeroplanes, in the sort of environment, that are a very large part of my logged experience. Plus I refuse to fly in highly flammable nylon trousers and polycotton white shirts, thus having me labelled a dangerous heretic who'd never fit in as an FI.


G

[mrmum]

Fair enough Genghis, as I said in my earlier post;

before I get jumped on by the resident LAA members. I think the coaching scheme is a good thing. I understand the advantages of having somebody experienced on a particular permit type or familiar with a strip, show you the ins and outs, rather than someone with 200 hrs on a C172 and a shiny new CPL/IR & FI(R)

I don't disagree with anything you've said above and I didn't say a CRI or LAA coach wasn't a "proper instructor"

As it happens I have been a fairly long-standing member of the PFA in the past, although I'm not part of the current LAA.

Personally, I never wear nylon or polyester shirts & trousers (BO tends to discourage repeat business). I really don't see the point in dressing like you're off to a funeral or pretending to be an airline pilot in a flying club environment. I've never worked anywhere that pushed that look, so maybe you'd fit in fine where I fly.:ok:

[gijoe]

I am a CRI and have been a FI in the past - Genghis' post sums it up well.

The CRI suited me, my needs and what I needed to do with it.

Please don't think the course will be a breeze if you haven't done 'learning theory' etc before. It will be 30 hours of head-knocking and more revision.

PM me if you want to know more.

I can thoroughly recommend Caroline Herd at Wycombe for the course - I have no connection with her or Wycombe.

G:ok:

[capt.sparrow]

Thanks guys/girls, plenty of food for thought from some interesting replies.
Cheers, sparrow.

[Captain Stravaigin]

The other upside of the CRI is that it is a halfway house to the FI rating if you later decide to go that way.

It is nearly all about learning theory and pedagogical skills. Flying is limited to 3h (min).