Well as another current Tayside instructor I have to agree with DB6 and stand up for Tayside here. It's been my experience that Tayside management and Mr Fraser in particular certainly don't suffer fools or time wasters, but they have a great deal of respect for people who show a bit of initiative, pull their thumb out and get the job done - and they do what they can to look after those people.
My biggest problem with the place is that there are one or two people in the instructor ranks who sit on their arse, constantly moan about pay and conditions, fly every fraction of ever hour they possibly can without ever raising a finger to ever refuel the aeroplanes / wash the coffee cups / answer the phone or do any of the million little things they might do to make other people's lives a bit easier. We all know who I'm talking about.
As far as money goes, sure we're not getting rich but for some reason we're all still hanging round!! I walked into this with my eyes open - I knew what the deal was and I budget accordingly. Sure I'm going to go to the airlines at some stage before long and I don't think the management suffer under any illusions to the contrary. The pay is better than any of the PPL schools I looked at before I joined Tayside - there may well be better money to be made at OATS / Bae / whatever flashy 509 school you care to name, and I'm sure if you walk into Lovat's office and say you're leaving Tayside to take on another instructing job at any of those establishments he will shake your hand and wish you nothing but the best.
As far as not caring about your students is concerned, well that's just so much sour grapes isn't it? I do all that I can to give my students maximum value for money every time I fly. I've made some good friends amongst the Tayside staff and students in the short time I've been there.
I reckon some of you guys complaining here might be surprised, if you went to Lovat and told him in all seriousness you wanted an instructing career, he'd look after you. But of course you don't - you're bitten with the airline bug just like the rest of us. Of course there is a grain of truth in the 'they use us / we use them' argument, that happens at any other flying school on earth as well. Believe it or not that sounds almost *fair* to me!! If you can think of a better way to that RHS then take it - otherwise my advice is to grin and bear the bad bits of the job, enjoy the hell out of the good bits, and do what you can to make your stay at the place as pleasant for yourself, your students and your fellow workers.