Luke, I am glad you have put forward this point of view. I respect the fact that both yourself and DB6 show a huge interest in your students. However, as you also mention, a number of others do not share this "work orientated responsibility".
My main gripe is not with Tayside or its instructors. As you know, I am friends with most of them. The point that I am trying to make is that unless flying schools start to improve salaries and working conditions for their instructors, then their will soon be a lack of experienced instructors. Evidence of this shortage of experienced instructors is evident in many flying schools. I see this as detrimental to flying training of the future, and therefore the quality of future pilots. I use Tayside as an example because of the recent IR investigation to minimum wage (which I DID NOT instigate despite rumours).
With reference to the "long term employment" as an instructor with Tayside, I can assure you that once this is made known to tayside, nothing changes. i already used this card almost 2 years ago, and I was told that a career instructor was someone who could not reach the airline medical standards, or was over 50 years old. As I did not come into this category, that was it!
With reference to pay, I objected to have been qualified up to teaching the non approved IR, having to supervise junior, restricted instructors, and being paid the same salaries despite the added responsibilities!
To summarise, I want to see all flying schools accross the UK paying their instructors fairly, and DEMANDING a high standard from their instructors in return. I think this would offer the best deal for the instructor, the FTO, but most importantly, the student.
By the way DB6 la cerveza es mucho buenos! Not tried the pulpitos yet, but the senioritas are mighty tasty! And it is great fun out here.
Oh and yep, they pay instructors proper pay, which is scaled upon experience and responsibilities as it should be!
[This message has been edited by MorePower (edited 18 January 2001).]