Flight Instructor Pay
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Scotland, UK
Age: 47
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I heard that the fixed wing guys working next to our heli school started on around £15 per flying hour. I wont tell you what we earn as Heli Instructors because it will make your sick as a dog....
Dancing with the devil, going with the flow... it's all a game to me.
Join Date: May 2000
Location: England
Posts: 1,688
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The key is to bargain for your pay - don't just accept whatever a school offers - ask for more. They can only say no. If every new instructor did this one thing we would all be earning more in time... and I think we deserve it too! Skies are becoming more crowded, weather is less predictable, people learning to fly are not always yer sensible upper class brigade anymore, commercial pressures are higher due to the impending reccession etc... We deserve more money IMHO.
VFE.
VFE.
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Spain
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Instructor pay
See if you can get a basic salary as well, I instructed in the UK at 2 schools at the same time during the winter (Oct-Jan) and only managed about 100 hours in the 4 months! Earning 400 pounds a month and then spending 200 pounds a month on fuel doesn't leave you with much!!
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: In a place where I dont have to fly for food.
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Can someone please tell me if possible which schools actually pay their FI's a salary.I would love to build up a picture nationally. I understand this may be so at some of the commercial schools. I am currently on a very small retainer as well as being paid per flying hour. This is great in the summer when I am flying 5 or 6 hours a day but come winter it will be a very different story indeed. Currently trying to stick to a budget and only just keeping afloat
Sob story over.
Thanks in advance.
Sob story over.
Thanks in advance.
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Derby
Age: 45
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
that's not wise
I suggest you get a retainer or go PART TIME.
That means not working 5 days a week, only work when you are needed sort of thing.
Get a full time job elsewhere and go part time on the instructing. That's about the only way you'll stay afloat.
I would not be coping with per hour basis. If I did that I'd need 2-3 jobs (the two others not involving flying).
As an Assistant flight instructor you are on the deep scale since you are limited so not many options yet. It will take almost a year to get the restriction off.
1/60
That means not working 5 days a week, only work when you are needed sort of thing.
Get a full time job elsewhere and go part time on the instructing. That's about the only way you'll stay afloat.
I would not be coping with per hour basis. If I did that I'd need 2-3 jobs (the two others not involving flying).
As an Assistant flight instructor you are on the deep scale since you are limited so not many options yet. It will take almost a year to get the restriction off.
1/60
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: UK
Age: 46
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have a part time job I do Monday to Friday in the mornings up until lunchtime. Saturday and Sundays are Instructing days, and I also fly in the afternoons when needed. That is the only way to keep the head above water financially as instructing pays so little and the is no guarantee of work. Best month I have ever had Instructing I earnt £650.
The down side is days off, where you have a complete day of no work, are few and far between, and that makes you tired after a while
I think £20/hr for teaching PPL is not unreasonable in the present market. £25 for Night/IMC/Aero. £40-£50 per hour for CPL/IR. Retainers should be sufficient to cover travelling expenses and food. £15 a day not unreasonable.
The down side is days off, where you have a complete day of no work, are few and far between, and that makes you tired after a while
I think £20/hr for teaching PPL is not unreasonable in the present market. £25 for Night/IMC/Aero. £40-£50 per hour for CPL/IR. Retainers should be sufficient to cover travelling expenses and food. £15 a day not unreasonable.
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: on the beach
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm a full instructor, have been for 15 years and instruct for 2 days a week, I only get £17/hr and no retainer or travelling expenses! I think the only way ahead is to teach commercial or do private tuition for PPL's on their own plane i.e tailwheel, aerobatics etc then you can charge £35/hour or more. Trouble is building the contacts to get regular work. Does make one wonder if it's worth the expense of renewing the instructor ticket
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: uk
Age: 48
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
my two penneth...
In my school... one instructor is on £24k salary, one is on a £500 a month retainer and £12 per hour and another on £15 per day and £14 per and hour... so go figure , its what ever you bargain for really.
In my school... one instructor is on £24k salary, one is on a £500 a month retainer and £12 per hour and another on £15 per day and £14 per and hour... so go figure , its what ever you bargain for really.
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Emirates Living - The Meadows
Age: 79
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Buy a type rating save the hassle
I earnt £10 per hour in one school and £20 per hour in another, then got retained but with no hourly rate on top and have seen instructors earning £35-45k doing CPL/ME IR whilst other instructors in the same school earnt £12ph if the weather was good that day with no expenses or retainer.
At the end of the day most of schools making you work as self employed know that they are breaking the law from an IR 35 perspective but to be honest if you were to point that out chance were you would never work as an Fi again anytime soon in the region so I would just negotiate whatever you are able and either have another job or set a time scale whereby you will leave unless you happen to have a private income or live at home with friends or family and do not need to contribute.
Everyone knows that it is not a living wage which is why guys go out and buy type ratings as its cheaper than living on an FIs salary for 18 months plus when you tot it all up.
At the end of the day most of schools making you work as self employed know that they are breaking the law from an IR 35 perspective but to be honest if you were to point that out chance were you would never work as an Fi again anytime soon in the region so I would just negotiate whatever you are able and either have another job or set a time scale whereby you will leave unless you happen to have a private income or live at home with friends or family and do not need to contribute.
Everyone knows that it is not a living wage which is why guys go out and buy type ratings as its cheaper than living on an FIs salary for 18 months plus when you tot it all up.
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's a real mixed bag out there. I'm still restricted and one school I was at paid £20 an hour and I argued to get £10 on days when there was no flying, to cover petrol. The next one paid £25 an hour. The last one paid £18 an hour with a small daily retainer which covered petrol.
I think with the winter coming, if you're doing a good job and the school doesn't want to lose you, you've got to argue the case for being on a salary. Otherwise, with wet weather, short daylight hours etc. leading to less flying, you'll find yourself better off at Tescos !
I think with the winter coming, if you're doing a good job and the school doesn't want to lose you, you've got to argue the case for being on a salary. Otherwise, with wet weather, short daylight hours etc. leading to less flying, you'll find yourself better off at Tescos !
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Not far from the edge of the Milky Way Galaxy in the Orion Arm.
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
FI pay
Few schools except the big ones make enough money. When you do the Cash-flow you can see that it is hard, if not impossible for a flying school/club to make any serious lolly.
£15 quid an hour is not bad pay. The more you fly the more money you earn. It is a hard job. Not to teach but to patter for hours on end and is still worth £15 quid an hour (or more).
To say negotiate for more pay is not always realistic when talking about a nice grassy airfield out in the bundu but the bigger schools may well have higher pay rates as their traffic is higher and therefore so is their turnover - admittedly this will increase their running costs but if you have several aircraft flying then these are offset by the other aircraft flying too which also takes care of the fixed costs so you have more aircraft, flying often or always in the larger establishments/operations - if you get what I mean - and there you may well be able to negotiate a more favorable rate for your labours - but then again the bigger schools will have a larger pool of available instructors and applicants to choose from, so don`t negotiate your way out of a job.
Again, as far as the little clubs are concerned - you will be lucky to even get paid at all.
I am not advocating flying for free but a number of schools are now flying "volunteers" which makes me sick in the stomach and I hope they go out of business as everyone has to eat - AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE. (the baskets)
£15 quid an hour is not bad pay. The more you fly the more money you earn. It is a hard job. Not to teach but to patter for hours on end and is still worth £15 quid an hour (or more).
To say negotiate for more pay is not always realistic when talking about a nice grassy airfield out in the bundu but the bigger schools may well have higher pay rates as their traffic is higher and therefore so is their turnover - admittedly this will increase their running costs but if you have several aircraft flying then these are offset by the other aircraft flying too which also takes care of the fixed costs so you have more aircraft, flying often or always in the larger establishments/operations - if you get what I mean - and there you may well be able to negotiate a more favorable rate for your labours - but then again the bigger schools will have a larger pool of available instructors and applicants to choose from, so don`t negotiate your way out of a job.
Again, as far as the little clubs are concerned - you will be lucky to even get paid at all.
I am not advocating flying for free but a number of schools are now flying "volunteers" which makes me sick in the stomach and I hope they go out of business as everyone has to eat - AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE. (the baskets)
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Not sure anymore….
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
@Natstrackalpha
(£15 x 650hrs = £9750) I'm sorry, but I do not agree with you.
May be if you work for one of those "small time" clubs, that still operates Tomahawks and 150's.
The more decent/better/bigger clubs will pay an monthly retainer of £300-£500 and between £20-£30 per hour. Look after your staff and they will look after your business and customers.
£15 quid an hour is not bad pay.
May be if you work for one of those "small time" clubs, that still operates Tomahawks and 150's.
The more decent/better/bigger clubs will pay an monthly retainer of £300-£500 and between £20-£30 per hour. Look after your staff and they will look after your business and customers.
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Colchester UK
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am / was considering an FI course. First quote £7,700 inc vat. My other half has a domestic ironing business that pays a better hourly rate than a basic FI and it's not seasonal and it doesn't cost a fortune and a lot of effort to qualify. FI time may pay off as a stepping stone to a commercial job but compare the lost opportunity cost when you could have simply splashed out on a TR and fast tracked to a living wage. Otherwise just be an FI for the love of it and hopefully have other incomes to supplement the low and unreliable pay, particularly in the winter months.
