Dockside,
Funny you should ask about Instructing. How does Canada sound to you? There is a serious shortage of Instructors with any background in our neck of the woods. (background meaning some real world experience). Pay is part of the issue for new Instructors, however working with a busy school can run you up the qualification ladder pretty quickly. I'm not familiar with the aussie way but in canada once you have 250 hours PIC you can do the rating. Our course is 30 hours dual with a class 1 Instructor+ 25 hours groundschool, two written exams and a check ride.
We start as Class 4"s, then with 100 hours of dual and 3 recommends to send a student solo and 3 flight test recommends, you upgrade to a class 3 . Then after 500 hours of dual given plus an exam,+ ride + 10 flight test recommends you are a class 2. This is where the money kicks in. As a class two you can now act as Chief Flying Instructor
Salary range is 50,000 to 80,000, the higher end more so for a class 1 Instructor. As a class one you need to have given 750 hours of dual, scored 80 % on the same class1/2 exam, and pass a ride.
Not bad if you enjoy working with people and have the patience for this game; not all do.
It seems that our Instructors will get tired of it after a few years and most will take a break.
Personal note here, I left a Captain position on medevac 76's to go back to flight training. More money oddly enough but that's good old CHC for you. I do however miss the phrase "starting #2". Drop me a line if I can be of any help.
T5 - or was that lee5?
