Wow!!! This has generated much more response than I anticipated! Thanks for all the valuable input, and keep `em coming!
aerotowman- I couldn`t agree more; you have raised some great points!
MrBTupp- You are a man who is in the same position as I was once in, and it is not surprising that we share the same views! Have you contacted the Inland Revenue yet? They are looking for Tayside blokes to help put the nails in the coffin!
Qhunter- Firstly, (as an instructor) what is a Christmas bonus, a free licence renewal, or a staff discount?!!! I have certainly never had any of these things from any of my previous employers! Personally, I would rather be paid a decent salary for a decent days work than have my employer try to pretend I am on a good deal by offerring little freebies. I`m not looking for handouts or a free lunch, I just want a respectable wage for a respectable job!
I also disagree that there is an excess of instructors! There is certainly a shortage of instructors here in Scotland. And from what I here, there is definately a shortage of EXPERIENCED INSTRUCTORS in the UK as a whole!
Finally, you seem to have taken the view of Instructing as a means to an end (ie lets get an airline job when I have 700 hours). I wonder how your students would feel if they realised this! I also do not agree with instructing being the only way to gain "cheap hours". In fact instead of paying for an instructors rating in the UK, that money could easily be used abroad (ie USA) to obtain at least 300-400 hours in a C150/2.Which in the current market, would put you close to airline recruitment minima.
sd- I appreciate that you are paying "Devils Advocate", but what you have described is a "self-fulfilling prophesy". For example, flying schools state that instructors are going to use them, so in turn treat instructors poorly. The instructor then decides that he is being treated poorly, so he will leave at the first opportunity! Bo11ocks! It becomes a vicious circle.
Ask yourself....why do instructors go to airlines? Is it because it is "real hands on flying"? or is it the money? I know airline flying is great fun, and demanding in a variety of ways, but Instructing has its attractions too, as does any other form of flying! If instructors were paid around £50-60k, do you think this situation of lets get the hours then F*** off would exist? I don`t! Salary is a bit exaggerated, but you see my point?
Thanks again for all the interest.
MP