Instructors rating worth it??

[BongleBear]

Hi all. I'm thinking about going through an instructors rating in the next few months, and was wondering if anyone knows the chances of employment as an instructor after doing this course.

Do you also know where the best place to go for work would be? Another question: is an instructors rating a good thing to have on my CV? Well, I know it's a good thing to have, but is it worth it- or would that money be better spent on sim time, hour building or IR renewal?

Thanks for taking the time to read this!
BBear

[STORMER]

There has been alot of movement in the Instructors market over the last year, so there are quite a few places around. It depends alot on your financial circumstances with the winter approaching. When I was instructing I moved back in with the parents and had another job to go to when the WX was un-flyable in or students cancelled.

Does it make you more employable?

Well it was the best flying course I have ever done and the important thing is that you will get hours and be keeping current. You also meet alot of other pilots, some of which will have connections etc.
I only insturcted for around 6 months before I got a job flying a nice shiney jet. (if that is the way you wish to be heading)

Best of luck.

[hingey]

I don't know very much about instructing. Are there many full time instructors who have made a living instructing as their only flying job? Excluding TRI's, is it the IR instructors who make the most, or CPL instructors etc (of course, depending on the company they work for)?

I know many people who have started out instructing before moving on to locos, or better paid jobs, but if one doesn't get that all important break is it worth instructing your whole career?

Any thoughts/ comments appreciated

h

[wbryce]

Hingey,

I think eventually everyone gets that all important break if they have their fATPL! Whether its 1 month or 5 years.

will

[portsharbourflyer]

Quite simply, if you can afford it do it, if you can't; find a way to fund it. In short the course will improve your flying skills, you will maintain currency, build hours and it is extremely satisfying. The only negative thing about instructing is it is another 5000 to do the course. But you will soon spend 5000 maintaining a decent level of currency with out instructing.

I only instruct part time as I couldn't take the pay cut at this moment, also to fund the forthcoming IR renewal the weekday job is near essential. In terms of finding instructors work, well in my case I had two offers of part time work before my rating was issued by the CAA. Furthermore it presents an alternative career path to the airlines. Everyone gets there "lucky break eventually", you only get it if you are current and in the system. Compared to what you have spent on your training up to now 5000 is a small price to pay.
Is it a useful thing to have on the CV, I have seen alot of adverts in the last year asking for a minimum of 500 hours, at least instructing will get you to these hours. Also for single pilot IFR work you need 700 hours minimum. Instructing is in generally the only way to build hours in the UK. Para dropping, glider towing and aerial photography; the alternatives methods of hour building, these are hard to find in the UK.

[BongleBear]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm definitely going through the course, just need to find the best one. Can anyone recommend the best place to go?

Also, a bit of info- do you know if I do the course in a PA28, is that the only aircraft I can instruct in?

Thanks, BBear

[mad_jock]

You can instruct in SEP type.

You can do the course in the PA28 but i seem to remember you need to demonstrate a spin in the flight test. So unless you have a spin approved PA28 which i think some types are you might have problems.

MJ

[CAT3C AUTOLAND]

Bongle Bear,

Is the instructors rating worth it? I think this depends on you. This is only a personal opinion, but you have to want to instruct. Instructing is not everyones cup of tea, and I think it would be wrong for someone to do it, just to build hours. It is not fair on your students. I am not suggesting that this is what you want to do, however, it is something to think about.

I completed my instructors rating at the beginning of the summer, and have been instructing ever since at my local flying school. One thing I like about it, is it does not seem like work, which is a bonus. This is the most enjoyable job I have ever had, and one of the most rewarding. Its a great feeling when you get your first student solo :D.

With regard to getting a job, it may be worth targetting a school that runs the FIC, and are looking for instructors. If you perfrom well on the course and get on with everybody, you will most likely be offered a job.

I know this has been mentioned here before, but doing the FIC really does sharpen up your flying skills and makes you feel alot more confident. It was only the other day when discussing this with a fellow instructor, we were saying that if someone asked you to demo a spin when you were a CPL 200 hour boy, would you feel comfortable doing it? My answer was no. However, now, its not a problem, I find spinning quite fun :D.

Anyway, enjoy the course, and enjoy instructing, it really is a lot of fun. It's great when you get a student onto navigation, you can sit back relax and enjoy the view, keeping a good lookout of course, and telling them that if they can fly at 2950ft they can certainly fly at 3000ft ;).

All the best.

[Freebird17]

Best thing I ever did. CAT3C's comments are spot on. Puts you in a different league.

I logged 200 hours in 4 months. Would have cost me £12,000 - £14,000 to buy that time but I gained SO much more than straight hours in a logbook.

[SchoonerBoy]

I would DEFINATELY recommend instructing - all the reasons have been covered in detail above.

IN MY OPINION....

Now that (I hope) you realise instructing IS MOST DEFINATELY a career improving direction to take I'll be the first to throw my hat in the ring with a recommendation for a school/club to do your rating.

I can only speak from my personal experience (& let me stress I AM IN NO WAY affiliated, connected or likely to profit from this advice).... just a former student now flying a shiny tube and reminiscing through my rose coloured specs.

I did my rating at Old Sarum Flying Club with David Scouller (http://www.oldsarumflyingclub.co.uk/). In my opinion he is the best instructor in the south of England. ( & I did research numerous schools while I was looking).

If you pass his course you will not only be employable but also an asset to any club/school who employs you. I had 3 offers of instructing jobs when I finished - yes no big deal you could say (right time & right place etc). BUT 2 of those offers were solely because they saw I had done my FI course with David and were essentially offers before I was interviewed/met.

What's more - they didn't give me the "Hard Sell", they have a huge fleet, offer the course on C152, C172, Pa28, taildraggers etc etc.

But don't take my advice. Just give them a call or better still go down (Great clubhouse/canteen and patio area etc.)

Hope this helps.

[Avenger]

Is it worth it?

Lots of well informed and honest replies, however, if you mean will it help you get a commercial jet position, in today's market, probably not.

Usually these ads that want 500hrs, want it on TYPE, not just any 500 hrs. It's certainly true that given two candidates with equal experience overall, the one that's been instructing as opposed to swanning around for fun will appear more attractive on paper. In the "old days" folks could release their ATPL with 1500 hrs on a C150, since the system changed to reflect a multi crew environment requirement, the rush to build hours instructing seems to have subsided for a while.

I did an instructor rating and thoroughly enjoyed the teaching and learning experience, and it gave me more confidence to represent myself better at interviews, so on that basis it's a plus, but I would think carefully about the cost versus advantages and if the money could be better spent of a self type to increase your earnings potential in the longer term.

On the other hand you may wish to become a career instructor/examiner and that could be as rewarding as getting up all hours of the day and night!

Good luck :ok:

[portsharbourflyer]

Agreed Avenger every week an advert appears in flight asking for 500 on type, but in the last nine months there has been at least four aderts in flight International stating they would consider non type rated candidates providing they had 500 hours total time.


Had I done my FIC straight after my IR rather than waiting for 7 months, than that is four more places I may have been able to apply to. My point is don't hang around get the fic done as soon as you can.

[Cavallier]

If you have to ask the question, dont bother doing it !


The Cav :cool:

[CAT3C AUTOLAND]

Cav,

Lose the shades, its foggy today ;)