HELP ME!!!

[crankcase]

Hello all, just popped in from the wannabee section with a question. I am attempting to squeeze a loan out of the bank to convert from PPL to CPL/FI with the intention of building hrs for the airlines. Can anyone tell me the typical starting salary for an instructor, how many hours a month is average, whether there is a healthy demand for instructors at present, oh and what the job is like!!?

[capt beeky]

In a word the salary is poor but the job is supurb if you take a real pride in it. Hours are long, adrenaline is often brown but the satisfaction is enourmous. I'm sure you will get a post from people working full time in the field who can give you recent knowledge, mine is out of date by five years.

Good luck.

[slider]

Hi Crankcase

If you get CPL/FI are you having to do the full ATPL exams? Am I right in thinking that CPL theory alone is not yet upgradeable to ATPL?

[shimmy2000]

Crankcase,
Salary! From a UK point of view.The pay is sometimes on an hourly basis £10, and sometimes a retainer for showing up with flying pay over a certain amount of hours, value equivalent to the retainer amount.Yes I'm sure when you aspire to the dizzy heights of CFI or a commercial school you can command a reasonable salary, but until then your pay depends very much on your hours flown.Having said all that it is rewarding although hard work and therefore worthwhile!!

[crankcase]

Thanks to all! The CPL/FI incorporates all ATPL exams up to IR/Multi rating and MCC, a further 20k cost. I am hoping for a miracle to get that kind of spare cash after a couple of years as FI, but it seems too risky to go for the full ATPL to start! It seems like a fun job, although I did the PPL in Florida so my experience of UK flying is limited. (still lots of weather and serviceability problems there too!)