Instructor question

[albyskoons]

Typical low hours JAA CPL returns from the US to do the FI course. All previous hours have been completed in the Schweizer.

Returning to the UK, there's the choice of the 22 or the 300 to complete the FI.

Do you add the additional type, or stick to what you know?
(Ignoring any cost differential in type)

Assuming the type switch, would you see this as 'broader experience' or would you prefer to hire (a low hours pilot) based on the type used on the course?

[Whirlygig]

There are a lot more 22s than 300s in the UK :). I hope that helps with your decision. :ok:

Cheers

Whirls

[thecontroller]

Agreed. Not many Schweizer teaching jobs around. And don't forget you will be a "restricted" FI, which further decreases your chances of work.

[albyskoons]

Thanks for the responses :ok:

So you're suggesting that a 300 only operator wouldn't discriminate against a new FI who'd done the course on the 22? :confused:

What about if it was the other way around? Would you encourage a robinson pilot to go for the 300 to increase the available options?

I'd expect a 22 or 300 only operator to favour (at least with a newbie restricted FI) course completion on the type that instruction is to be carried out on?

[Pandalet]

Alternately, you could consider it like this: Most schools seem to use Robinson products, rather than Schweizers. Therefore, being rated on Robinsons is more likely to get you a job. Being rated on both types is probably a plus, of course. Would it not be better to do the FI in a Schweizer, since you know how to fly it, then do a Robbie type rating? What do you have to do to teach in a new type, once you've got the FI rating, anyway? Will having done the FI rating in a Robinson versus having done a Robinson rating post-FI really make much difference? Disclaimer: I'm not an instructor, nor have I been through the FI course. I'm not (yet) a commercial pilot. I am, however, a training consumer.

[thecontroller]

Don't forget LASORs says you need 15 hours experience in a type to be able to teach in it.

If you are planning to teach in an R22 I would get as much experience in it as possible. It's not an ideal training helicopter and in my experience (many hours teaching on both types) low-hours Schweizer pilots really struggle to get used to the R22.

[Tail-take-off]

I'm not an instructor so feel free to disregard my post but here is my two peneth worth:

Why not ask around at the various training establishments to see whether they would be interested inemploying you. Then, if possible do your course at their school on one of their aircraft. By the end of the course you are familiar with them, their aircraft, their SOPs, their base & their operating area as well as them being familiar with you.

As I said I'm not an instructor but I used this philosophy to get my current flying job some 13 years ago.

[Noiseboy]

I'd second the above comment, do the course on the 22 to maximise your experience on the type, and then also you will be ideally placed to go wherever the work might be with over the 15+ hours required on both types.

[albyskoons]

Whirls / thecontroller

Would you advise someone that had done all their training in the 22 to do the FI in the 22, or consider the 300 in order to broaden (albeit not by much) the available options?

[Whirlygig]

Would you advise someone that had done all their training in the 22 to do the FI in the 22, Yes, in the UK currently.
or consider the 300 in order to broaden (albeit not by much) the available options?No, because there are so few Schweizers. I'm sure there's less than half a dozen schools who use them and I can only think of two schools which use them exclusively i.e. don't have R22 as well.

Cheers

Whirls

PS - Alby, your profile states that you have R22, R44 and B206 :confused: No S300? :confused:

[albyskoons]

Whirls

You got me!
(I never said the example was me though!)

I wanted to get a better feel for both sides of the arguement before coming clean! Obviously supply side for a 300 pilot would dictate the switch - was wondering what folks would think on the 22 side.

I fancied a bit of a change of scenery too....