CFI responsibilities

[WFDUP]

A concerned partner of a flight instructor. a damn good one at that!
Was having a discussion the other day with my partner about being offered the chance at being a CFI for his company. Can someone tell me the difference between the responsibility of a gade 1 instructor to a cfi please.

[Horatio Leafblower]

If your partner lacks the ambition, confidence and courage to be CP or CFI then get another partner :*

The CFI is responsible for ensuring the quality of the school's training. This means supervising, mentoring and coaching the other instructors and checking the students are progressing.

It your partner is already a Grade 1 at that school they should already have some idea about where the problems are, know the instructors and students, and know what they would change if given the chance.

Of course if the school is one teaching large mobs of foreign-language students, then that is probably a responsibility I would run away from too :eek:

Some jobs just aren't worth the heartache.

[WFDUP]

its not that he lacks ambition, courage, etc etc,, iv never known anyone to be so ambitious about anything really as much as he is with his flying to whom goes that extra mile with his students. And yes he has flown with international students, and has told me some stories about them.. lucky its him not me as i have no patience.. :ugh::ugh:

He has what it takes, and to be a good one at that, he just needs convincing / guidance of that.

I think also maybe that he thinks his dream will never come true as at times when things start going really good for him he gets knocked down (unemployed) due to bad economy and he at present doesn't want to get his hopes up to become a cfi if this keeps on happening, he wants something LOONNGG term not just for 2 - 5 years etc like these other wanna be airline pilols, he has a family to consider to which the kids are at school (preps) and doesn't want to be moving around anymore.

how can i channel him in the right direction, when he already has the qualities of a good cfi?

[glenb]

First thing is to make sure you have the requirements before putting your hand up.

250 hours in commercial operations (basically, not instructing) for a Commercial school, and 250 hours of IFR instructing, and 250 hours of instructor training if the school has either of those teaching approvals attached to the AOC.

The key to it is the quality of the staff. If the school has good instructors:
thorough with paperwork, a genuine concern for the students, concern for the Company, has some experienced senior instructors, and a good knowledge of the regs it really should be a fairly easy and rewarding position.

Have a chat to the guy currently doing the job and hang off his tails if possible for a while.

Be prepared to accept responsibility for the things that go wrong. Ultimately it is your responsibility, and its no good passing the buck.

With fewer young guys hanging around in GA the future looks good. To have CFI experience in another 10 years the salaries should compare favorably with any regional Airline and possibly some of the majors.

You also get to work at the best end of the industry where the bitterness hasnt set in. The people you deal with on a daily basis are keen, enthusiastic, and going places. Nothing better than seeing the guys and gals get through a test, get their first job etc

If it floats your boat,a good lead into a CASA job down the track with all the associated benefits.

If you get the chance approach your CASA FOI. Most of them will be happy to sit down with you i would imagine and outline their expectations.

Im pretty easy to please because i used to be a forklift driver, but it is a great job at the best end of the industry.

[WFDUP]

Thanks Glen

You sound very much like my partner, right down to being a forklift driver, if he wasn't working as a pilot he was working as a storeperson / despatch manager.

As for the cfi requirements that you listed , well he has everything,, little short on the ifr instructing, other than that he's got it, ambition, peoples person, fanatical about paperwork etc etc you get the picture. As for money well I myself look forward to the nice pay packet, it can start paying off what we have forked out hahahah,, then again a forky can earn a nice dollar too hahahah.

[Ozalby]

So... I knowit's been a while, but what was the final outcome... did he do it?

How is he going?

[PA39]

CFI isn't so bad....a lot of paperwork for yourself and CASA. CFI and CP is another story.....no more flying, head down, arse up, headaches, paperwork, and the big one CASA is watching your every move ! But still it is very rewarding (personally) and a huge learning curve.

There's an old saying.....Those that are born to lead and those who are born to be lead. Good luck ;)