I did it years ago. Was a bit slow at first but later really paid dividends. Probably the best thing is get together with a good ATO testin officer or watever they call themselves now. Get some guidance about what they're expecting when they show up on test day. Also, get a sample test form. Pobably download it from CASA website. It will give a broadbrush impression of the requirements. It will also help to eleiminate the "you've got to do 20 briefings and 30hrs training and a 737 endorsement first sonny boy"
I preparred 4 long and 4 preflight briefs I think. Plenty of backseating other IFR navex's and a couple of training flights to get the patter in order. The test itself was 2 long/2 preflights and the test form stated 2 flights of approx 45 minutes each but we did it in one 1.5-2.0 hour sortie.
My first point (talk to ATO) would be the best thing i could suggest.
How about getting some real experience in Instrument flying (1000 hrs with at least 500 hours in command single pilot or Multi IFR Planned flights.)and then do the META and IF approvals...Reason...You as an Instructor will be training the next genration of young pilots...
Keep in mind...There is 168 hours in one week someone with only 500 hours is not much...
Location: Freezing my bum off, waay too far south of the tropics
Posts: 197
"500 hours in command of Multi-IFR planned flights and then do the META and IF approvals"
We need the new instructors coming through to be good, but that's setting the bar a bit high !
They need to be competent, but we don't expect them to be experts on day 1 - that's why there needs to be a mix of experience and youth in the teaching team - and a genuine commitment from the senior instructors to passing their knowledge and experience on to the next generation.
Location: Freezing my bum off, waay too far south of the tropics
Posts: 197
I rarely find myself in any significant disagreement with you Dr, and it's your money so spend it wherever and however you like.
However, even Sideshow Bob was a new instructor somewhere back in the long ago (I know we're talking about the mists of time, but it happened ...) And if the only thing he'd been allowed to do was EoC where would we be now ?
Pilots don't magically wake up one day as experienced instructors, so those of us who have been around a while have a very clear obligation to assist in the professional development of new instructors. That includes giving them the opportunity to broaden their teaching experience so that they can become the BHs of this world.
Straight into the deep end with a real NDB approach to minima, asymmetric missed approach, then down through a gap and circle to land ? Of course not. But somewhere between becoming a brand new junior Grade 3 and retirement, they have to learn to do it to a very high standard.
There are many accusations you could level at the Australian flight training community, but the most damning ones in my book are that we spend very little effort teaching people how to teach, and we pay almost no regard to recruiting the next generation of instructors and helping them to become better than we were.
It's been that way for years, and I don't see anyone anywhere in authority doing anything whatsoever to improve things.
"There are many accusations you could level at the Australian flight training community, but the most damning ones in my book are that we spend very little effort teaching people how to teach, and we pay almost no regard to recruiting the next generation of instructors and helping them to become better than we were. It's been that way for years, and I don't see anyone anywhere in authority doing anything whatsoever to improve things." I agree. It's ridiculous that there aren't higher qualifications to teach both theory and practical. A two day PMI course is usually done by the CFI, who often knows absolutely nothing more about teaching or learning than what they received in their PMI course 20+ years earlier. And what is with the crappy Grade 1 upgrade 20 question CASA exam??? What a joke!! It's laughable!! Although I've got to admit that there aren't any decent texts on flying instructing either. The Jepperson book is ok and there is some stuff in that NZ CAA flight instructor manual that they publish online...but that's about it.
For a long time we have had a flood of junior instructors, who were often told "you get paid by the flying hour, and you have to go and beat the bushes to find your own students if you want to fly." So we have had almost a pyramid scheme and a lot of dissatisfied, transient instructors, many of whom did not ever want to be there. I am not surprised that FTDK and others are careful who they fly with. There is a need for structural change in the industry so we can have some stable, reliable experienced people and organisations that are properly rewarding for those who dedicate themselves to this work.
"There is a need for structural change in the industry so we can have some stable, reliable experienced people and organisations that are properly rewarding for those who dedicate themselves to this work."
"In order to teach something well, you must be able to do it well yourself"
I completely agree that inexperienced instructors need to be able to instruct in order to become highly experienced instructors, but I want the guy (Sorry! - I have only ever met one female who could fly an aeroplane well) teaching me Single Pilot ME IFR to be very experienced in SP ME IFR. I can live with him being not highly experienced as an instructor (but not by much when he starts pulling engines on me).
Unhinged - Of the 5 only ME IFR instructors I have flown with in the last 20 years, Sideshow Bob may be an anomaly. I don't know his full back ground, but I suspect he has been an instructor for the great majority of his time in GA. However, by the time I found him he had learnt his craft. He can do it, and do it well !
However, even Sideshow Bob was a new instructor somewhere back in the long ago
Pilots don't magically wake up one day as experienced instructors,
Being a new instructor does not require being a new pilot.
Similar to the good Doctor, I'm very careful about choosing instructors. How much experience instructing is not the point. How much experience flying they have, that is.
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