Are you 'really' happy with instructing?

[In-Cog-neeto]

When I first started instructing there was much excitement and adventure ahead of me. I used to wonder how on earth more 'senior' instructors could become tired and jaded with it all. I mean, this was the dream!........flying and getting paid for it!!

Well, 1200 instructing hours later I can see how the novelty wears off.

It's not the students fault, it's not the 'jobs' fault. Just how long can you go on working long hours for CR@P pay? What other job expects you to be there all day and not get paid?

The majority of instructors that I know are 'self employed'. This means no security, no holiday pay (no holiday's!), hanging around at the club all day even when the weather is grim, working Saturday's and Sunday's........the list goes on and on and on and...............................you know what I mean!

It does not help when I see postings saying how 'wonderful instructing is' and statements like 'I will never give it up, not even when I am an airline pilot'

GET REAL GUYS!

When many of us started we needed hours and were 'keen and willing' (meaning do anything for peanuts!). Well I can see now that I simply played my part in perpetuating this state of affairs so I really can not complain! However I don't need 'hours' any more, and I DO need to earn a reasonable wage. So having got this far I am teetering on the edge of quitting and getting a 'real' job. This of coure would be a real shame because I have considerable experience now :o The trade will lose another 'experienced instructor' And I will stop flying.

Sorry if this post sounds negative......am I the only one? :(

[FormationFlyer]

Um the quote is mine.

Nothing wrong with that statement - day you stop me doing aeros & formation I might as well stop living....gonna keep doing them as well - instructing is what you make of - the day job isnt the be all and end all of life - I dont instruct full time - only part time - therefore I see no reason to become jaded with it when I am with the airlines. I purposefully have set-up an instructing job local to me specifically because Im not gonna give it up.

BTW. I do live in the real world. Im personally about to invest yet another 1k in instructing...and maybe next year add aerobatic instruction to the list of items as well...

So me? Im happy with what I do...its hard work - underpaid - but that doesnt kill the job - it means I cant pay the mortgage by doing it though...

I vote happy - mostly...

[foxmoth]

'I will never give it up, not even when I am an airline pilot'


Well I didn't, I don't think I could have afforded to stay in instructing for a living, but instructing as an extra is STILL enjoyable - the only thing I would say here is, don't undercut the rates. I don't NEED the cash ( though it helps pay the bar bill), but it is not fair on those who NEED to instruct if you do it for nothing, or less than the going rate.

[tacpot]

You have a number of options:

1. move to a better paid instructing job where your experience will be better rewarded. (Difficult in the current climate, but not impossible.)

2. supplement your income with another job, and do less instructional hours.

3. get a better paid job doing some other sort of flying.

4. get a well paid job outside of flying.

I think you have considered all these and would much rather your employer just paid you some more, because you don't want to leave, and you enjoy instructing (to a degree), and you hate being taken advantage of. We all get ourselves into situations that are not ideal, and most of us have difficulty extracating ourselves from them, you are not alone believe me.

If I were you (and the relationship with my employer was okay), I would explain the financial situation to them, so that they can see that something has to change. Get them on your side - they may be able to help in a number of ways. More money :cool:, agreeing to a changing to part-time instructing to allow you to get a part-time job outside of flying, contacts with other aviation organisations so that you can get a better paid job in aviation, a good reference or even just some feedback on your 'operating style' that may allow you to chose a job outside aviation where you will succeed and be happy. Your leaving will be a problem for them too- at least if you involve them, they will have had a chance to do what they can. They may be able to do very little of course...

Best wishes with your difficult decision.

[fibod]

Well I'm still at it, many years on. You are commenting only on the club scene. This is little different from the situation in other sports/hobbies/pastimes. The trouble with aviation is the blurring of the boundaries between the hobby and the profession.

I could earn more if I chose to go back to doing it rather than teaching it. The pay in my specialisation is reduced by the permanent threat from people who are prepared to work for little or nothing. That’s not a whinge; just reality. There is a downward price pressure on my employer, so they will pay me only what the market will stand. At a certain point, they will accept the quality sacrifice and go for ‘cheap’ inexperience. A couple of years ago, they did take on a lot of inexperienced non-career instructors. Quality suffered, business suffered, many of the new recruits moved on, a few stayed and developed into fine instructors. But it had the effect of putting a cap on my salary.

It’s the same in the club scene. You start out accepting anything to build your hours, you don’t know your ars3 from your elbow. Despite all odds, some actually develop their skills, and become quite good instructors. But then, along comes another greenhorn, willing to take any cr4p just as long as they can sit along side someone who’s paying to turn the prop.

It’s not a good state of affairs; the instructors don’t benefit, and the punters certainly don’t. Not even the schools do well out of it. However, as long as people are not prepared to pay for quality, the market will reduce quality and instructor pay and conditions to the lowest common denominator.

By the way, I still get a buzz out of teaching a hard-working and motivated student. That’s why I’m still doing it.

[In-Cog-neeto]

Hmm, some interesting replies there, thankyou.

Having jusy re-read my post I think it does look a little bit abrasive. However the basic content is true.

BTW I do love instructing and would dearly love to instruct at a higher level but as Tacpot pointed out, not easy right now.

Also I think it is easier to accept the harsh conditions if you are only part time.

I don't really know the answer, this subject has been debated at length for many years.

THE DISTRESSING FACT IS THAT NOTHING HAS CHANGED!

Hmm, tell a lie, it has probably got worse :eek:

InCog

[In-Cog-neeto]

I am surprised, I expected more response! It would appear that one third are really happy, one third so so and one third unhappy.

Most instructors I know fall into the latter catagory.

Any knew comments?

Icn

[tishka]

Most can't afford a computer.:D

[essouira]

I have never been interested in airlines. I only did my commercial so I could instruct. I taught full time for a couple of years to get some real experience. I could only afford to do fulltime for a couple of years before the debts started to mount. I now teach part time and my other part-time work pays the bills and gives me a reasonable lifestyle. I enjoy instructing. I think I'm good at it - my students give me good feedback. I would love to go back full time but can't afford it. Just keeping my licence and my medical costs me a fortune. It seems crazy that there is such an enormous gap in pay between instructors and airline pilots.

[snoops]

Well I have to say that although I only instruct part time, I thoroughly enjoy it and have done for the last few years now. I hope that I will still feel as happy with it all when I have been doing it for as long as some of you guys.

[martinidoc]

I enjoy part time instructing, but like others on this site, I could not afford to live on the income.

It never ceases to amaze me how experienced instructors place such a low value on their own worth.

Whilst I accept that there is a limit to how much the market will tolerate, I do think that collectively career instructors should try and get a better career structure established.

A senior career instructor who enjoys his job is worth his weight in gold and should be adequately remunerated by comparison with other profesionals, e.g. doctors, lawyers etc (yes I am a medic).

The sadness is that many instructors who are good at the job and would choose to continue are forced to seek employment either in the airline business or outside aviation altogether.

Instructors should not feel guilty for enjoying their job, and enjoyment of the job should not be exploited by employers.

[Night Rider]

Hi all,

Interesting that the subject of Instructor pay rears its head again.

The instructors who are prepared to fly for ****** all are the ones who are killing the industry - its a fact! Nothing will change until the attitude of the average instructor changes. Instructors need to stand together on this issue.

STRIKE ACTION if necessary. Imagine the impact of all instructors hanging up their headsets for one weekend in the middle of the summer! I think the managements attitude on pay would soon change.

Instructors should be able to earn a reasonable wage, otherwise where's the professionalism? (and motivation).

Message to ALL instructors from an experienced one:

DON'T PLACE SUCH A LOW VALUE ON YOUR OWN WORTH. TRY HARD, DO YOU BEST AND DON'T BE SCARED OR EMBARASSED TO ASK FOR (AND HOPEFULLY GET) THE FINANCIAL REWARDS AT THE END.

;)

[hdaae]

Well...As most I went into this with eyes wide open.
I knew the pay were really bad, but I WANT to fly, so I never really think much of it.
I do see that the pay isnt adequate to pay the bills in the long run, and a STRIKE would be needed, but since the market is saturated with pilots in general, a halt in the flow of new pilots wouldnt be felt were the big bucks are. The schools would suffer, but the airlines always got the military to get pilots from.

BUT, that being said, the only way to effectivly force the schools to increase pay would be to create an effective union.
Cant see that happening thou....