Making Instructing Work

[gnome11]

I am currently an engineer sub-contracting in the the aerospace industry mon-fri and instructing at weekends. I love instructing and would love to do more of it, but as everybody knows, it doesn't pay the bills.

I have always wondered how other people make it work. I am sure there is a mixture of semi-retired guys, people working two jobs and those who have made their millions elsewhere. If you wouldn't mind sharing how you've done it I would be interested to hear it.

[foxmoth]

I fly bigger aircraft for work and instruct outside of that - harder for me in some ways as I do not have regular hours so I tend to do more specialised instructing, though you need the right experience for that.

[what next]

I fly (slightly) bigger aircraft for work and instruct outside of that. I deliberately asked for a part-time work contract so that I get a fair number of instructing days to remain current (as it is actually more difficult to instruct well than to fly well).

A few colleagues at the flying school are full time employed instructors and make their living from that alone. I also know a few type-rating instructors employed by TRTOs who can live from that.

[gnome11]

Well I would love to extend my instructing potential in the future but at the moment I am still fairly new to the PPL instructor role (150hrs instructing). I am going to instruct full time through august and september, a benefit of subcontracting, but I won't be able to commit to it full time at the moment until I have finished paying my training debts off which will be another 12 months or so.

[Aware]

It can work. I work in the financial services sector. I instructed part time for 10 years working at some very good schools including intergrated, never moved the flying on to bigger things as I was a little old and was scared of spending more money on it.

2008 came and I found it difficult to get work. I built a fair bit of experience. I usually did Fridays and when required. Did complex conversions over the weekend to France etc it was incredible fun. Money was quite good then but I understand the rates have come down was getting 25 - 30 an hour PPL and 40 - 50 instrument complex then, but I know instructors who are instructing for free now.

I now have set up my own financial company but would love to get back to instructing as I miss it greatly, but it can be difficult to get regular work so good to have a another income.

I think instructing full time would be hard work as I did two weeks cover etc and was usually knackered. I know most see instructing as a means to an end, but it can be really fun and I would go back to it in an instant if the right opportunity came along.

[FiveHundred_AGL]

Don't get married, in fact don't get yourself a partner period, don't buy a house, share rent, don't take unnecessary loans, shop around and find which instant noodles you like best, take every hour that comes at you (including ground), and whalla, you can almost do it :rolleyes: