Flying Instructors & Examiners A place for instructors to communicate with one another because some of them get a bit tired of the attitude that instructing is the lowest form of aviation, as seems to prevail on some of the other forums!

Making Instructing Work

Old 10th Jul 2014, 11:56
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Preston
Age: 37
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Making Instructing Work

I am currently an engineer sub-contracting in the the aerospace industry mon-fri and instructing at weekends. I love instructing and would love to do more of it, but as everybody knows, it doesn't pay the bills.

I have always wondered how other people make it work. I am sure there is a mixture of semi-retired guys, people working two jobs and those who have made their millions elsewhere. If you wouldn't mind sharing how you've done it I would be interested to hear it.
gnome11 is offline  
Old 10th Jul 2014, 12:01
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Oop North, UK
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I fly bigger aircraft for work and instruct outside of that - harder for me in some ways as I do not have regular hours so I tend to do more specialised instructing, though you need the right experience for that.
foxmoth is offline  
Old 10th Jul 2014, 12:07
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Near Stuttgart, Germany
Posts: 1,093
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I fly (slightly) bigger aircraft for work and instruct outside of that. I deliberately asked for a part-time work contract so that I get a fair number of instructing days to remain current (as it is actually more difficult to instruct well than to fly well).

A few colleagues at the flying school are full time employed instructors and make their living from that alone. I also know a few type-rating instructors employed by TRTOs who can live from that.
what next is offline  
Old 10th Jul 2014, 12:41
  #4 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Preston
Age: 37
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well I would love to extend my instructing potential in the future but at the moment I am still fairly new to the PPL instructor role (150hrs instructing). I am going to instruct full time through august and september, a benefit of subcontracting, but I won't be able to commit to it full time at the moment until I have finished paying my training debts off which will be another 12 months or so.
gnome11 is offline  
Old 11th Jul 2014, 08:44
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Home Counties
Age: 59
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It can work. I work in the financial services sector. I instructed part time for 10 years working at some very good schools including intergrated, never moved the flying on to bigger things as I was a little old and was scared of spending more money on it.

2008 came and I found it difficult to get work. I built a fair bit of experience. I usually did Fridays and when required. Did complex conversions over the weekend to France etc it was incredible fun. Money was quite good then but I understand the rates have come down was getting 25 - 30 an hour PPL and 40 - 50 instrument complex then, but I know instructors who are instructing for free now.

I now have set up my own financial company but would love to get back to instructing as I miss it greatly, but it can be difficult to get regular work so good to have a another income.

I think instructing full time would be hard work as I did two weeks cover etc and was usually knackered. I know most see instructing as a means to an end, but it can be really fun and I would go back to it in an instant if the right opportunity came along.
Aware is offline  
Old 4th Aug 2014, 14:28
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NSW
Age: 35
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Don't get married, in fact don't get yourself a partner period, don't buy a house, share rent, don't take unnecessary loans, shop around and find which instant noodles you like best, take every hour that comes at you (including ground), and whalla, you can almost do it
FiveHundred_AGL is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.