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View Full Version : CRI(A) SEP - is it worth it ?


flyPPI
10th Aug 2014, 13:06
Hi Folks,
i am thinking of doing a class rating instructor course for SEP.
Do you think it is something worth pursuing in todays climate ?

I wouldn't be able to do initial training, but could add an IRI once I have the required hours.
I do not plan on instructing as my sole profession, it would be more like a nice add- on to my daily engineering job.
Oh yes and I do have the frozen ATPL also.

Thanks for your opinons,
FlyPPI

Genghis the Engineer
10th Aug 2014, 14:32
I assume that despite your location being listed as USA, you hold EASA licences.

I did it 3 years ago, and since then have done just under 100 hours of instructing, every hour of which I've massively enjoyed.

Just in terms of money - the course cost me about £1600, so that's £16/hr for the flying as PiC I've done on the back of it - in practice of course I've been paid for much of that flying, so it had paid for itself in a year or so.

The big question really is whether you've got skills that people will want training in. If all of your flying has been standard training and club flying in C152s, C172s and PA28s then quite probably not - as there are loads of better qualified people than you who can teach any skills needed on those.



In my case I've done a lot of flying on obscure old aeroplanes, microlights, and within various syndicates. So that's where my CRI instructing started - within syndicates I was already in, then beyond that by word of mouth, to people who felt that my skills were useful.

You'll never make a living off being a CRI (or at-least I certainly can't), but it can be well worth having, and can complement other skills and experience well, so long as you have that. You can do a lot with it.

For example, I happen to be a BMAA inspector and test pilot, and at the moment am inspecting a homebuilt that should be finished in a couple of months. Once I've test flown it, I anticipate checking out the 6 builders, which is a good illustration of combining CRI with other skills and experience.

Another instance that I got a lot of satisfaction out of was within a school who have me on the books, taking a fellow I used to be in a microlight syndicate with, and training him from NPPL(M) to NPPL(SSEA) - as near to ab-initio as you're allowed to do on a CRI, and a fantastic feeling when he phoned to say he'd passed his skills test.


So basically, yes, very worthwhile, so long as you have a personal profile that allows it to be used effectively.

G

Whopity
10th Aug 2014, 14:49
but could add an IRI once I have the required hours. You cannot add an IRI to a CRI, they are seperate qualifications. For ME IR Instruction you need both, CRI(ME) and IRI, the latter requires 800 hours under IFR.

CRI is a qualification best undertaken by those who need the privileges, there is little point in obtaining a qualification if you don't have a defined purpose.