Advice for a wannabe career instructor

[wrathchild666]

With any luck, come this weekend i should be the ever-so-proud holder of a UK JAA PPL! Wish me luck! Anyway getting onto the point of this post. I am hoping, at this very late stage in life (35), to go on and hopefully become a career instructor. Am i correct in assuming that the correct route would be as follows?

PPL
ATPL/CPL
Instructor rating

Maybe an IMC rating thrown in for good measure. (Is it really necessary to obtain an instrument rating?).

Also, how realistic is it to expect a full time salaried postion at the end of it all? I know many flight training organisations are desperate for instructors, who don't want to use them as a stepping stone to bigger things. Surely there are some who would be willing to assist with the cost of training, perhaps in return for a pledge of X number of years service?

This is a subject i'm having difficulty in finding answers to. Any help would be massively appreciated.

J
Edinburgh.

[MIKECR]

J,

Your spot on - PPL, ATPL theory, CPL and then Instructor rating. You could always do the CPL exams instead of ATPL but its up to you. IMC would be a great advantage rather than a full IR(depends what you want to teach at the end of the day i suppose). Just remember though, if you do ATPL's then you have 36 months from date of last pass, should you wish to add a full IR. If you dont get it within that period of time then you lose your ATPL exam privilages. If you fancied flying airline wise at a later stage then you'll need to consider those points. Re the job side of things, im sure you'll get yourself an FI job somewhere. If you were to teach CPL, multi or IR etc then you'd probably be looking a better salary too. All the best for the weekend!

[Genghis the Engineer]

J,
You could always do the CPL exams instead of ATPL but its up to you.

I believe that if you don't get an IR within 4 years of gaining your fATPL, then it lapses to a CPL anyhow. So, unless you think this is at-all likely, you may as well only do the CPL exams and save some time and money.

G

[MIKECR]

Genghis,

As per my earlier post, it's 36 months from the date of last your ATPL pass to obtain an IR. If not obtained within that time then your ATPL theory will lapse.

If you do decide to do the IR within the timescale then your ATPL passes will remain valid for 7 years thereafter or alternitavely, as kong as your IR is current.

J - As for groundschool, there are plenty places to choose from for ATPL theory, but not CPL theory. Somebody may correct me here but I think only AFT at Coventry do the CPL. You could always check the CAA website though and get a list of groundschool providers. I did my ATPL theory at Glasgow(College of Nautical studies) but turning the clock back I would probably go to Bristol. They have a great reputation and their feedback is spot on!

[looptheloop]

I too am in your position. I gave up a 10 year teaching career to pursue my dream of becoming a pilot (at the age of 35). I have my FAA PPL and Instrument Rating and my JAA PPL too ( i have dual citizenship- US and UK). I have no interest in flying for the airlines as my passion is for vintage aircraft and the grass roots level of aviation. I am trying to find out how i can study for my CPL exams without going down the ATPL route but am given conflicting information regarding the best way forward. My aim is to combine my flying with my teaching experience to instruct but i realise the pay for this career path is poor- it seems we would be in the minority as instructors who wish to make a career out of it rather than as a stepping stone to the airlines.
I have done a lot of research by talking to many instructors and students taking their CPL and Bristol comes out as the best ground school by far with great instructors and good pass rates. My next step is to talk to them in depth about where my next step should be. I have to admit to dreading the studying needed to move on but being enthusiastic about what the future may hold. I am looking for some form of employment whilst studying but this time of year seems to be the wrong time to find work in general aviation.
I will read your replies with a great deal of interest. Good Luck in your career. Louise

[Genghis the Engineer]

Genghis,
As per my earlier post, it's 36 months from the date of last your ATPL pass to obtain an IR. If not obtained within that time then your ATPL theory will lapse.
If you do decide to do the IR within the timescale then your ATPL passes will remain valid for 7 years thereafter or alternitavely, as kong as your IR is current.


Thanks for the correction.

I've just looked it up in LASORS, which confirmed what you say, but amplifying - to gain either a CPL(A) or IR(A), the flying part has to be passed within 36 months of passing the theoretical examinations. The 7 years / IR currency seems to apply to time to complete the ATPL(A).

I believe that CPL(A) groundschool can currently be done at Coventry, Cranfield or Bournemouth. I can't say I'm a current fan of CATS, but hear good things at the moment about both Bournemouth and Coventry - the former in particular.

G

[VFE]

Things certainly seem to be pointing towards some sort of instructor shortage over the next year. Airlines are snapping up instructors with 1000+ hours just lately and many schools need instructors yesterday. As for a salary - you might be lucky enough to strike a deal in that respect but I certainly wouldn't expect more than £14K basic. Most schools either pay by the hour and/or a retainer of around £200 per month.

It is not easy to earn a living out of flying instructing, expecially if you have large training costs to pay back, hence the reason many look to move onto better paid flying jobs after a while. Unless you have another income or substantial savings then you'll very soon become rather despondant regarding instructing - that's my personal hunch but hey - I don't know you.... but I do know many instructors and well, I'd be lying if I said they all adored it!

At PPL stage everything is still huge fun and a massive novelty but when you get past the 300+ hours stage then it all becomes pretty much the norm and the trick is to constantly pinch yourself so as not to take your paid flying for granted.

At least, that's what I've found anyway.

VFE.