FI Pay in UK

[jamess115]

Hi Folks

Ive been away from Aviation for many years and thinking of getting back into it via Fixed Wing Flight Instructing (Full time). However, with the cost of ratings, relocation etc I need a rough idea (based on a newbie with ambitions to obtain an FI, FI (Instrument) & MEI, what the going rate is in 2018 to help me decide is it worth going this route. I understand that this varies, but there is little info about Flight Instructor Salary on the web and (understandably) Flight Schools are tight lipped on this question so any help would be appreciated.

Many Thanks

[Duchess_Driver]

Perhaps asking (or viewing) the Flight Instuction forum might provide better insight....

[rudestuff]

Maybe the mods could move it?
So, Newbie or getting back into it. Which is it?

[Okavango]

£20-25/hr or about £12-15k per year full time

[anchorhold]

James, I think for most it has always been difficult to make a living from instruction over he years, worst still these days instructor pay does not seem to have increased in line with inflation. To add to Okavango comments on today's, when I was a full time PPL instructor AFI then QFI in 1988, I was earning £12000 pa with medicals, renewals, night instructor rating NI and holidays paid for.

The overheads of instructing has increased, not helped by pointless instructor seminars, I gave up part time examining because of the increased overheads. Long term there will always be airline pilots both employed or retired who really do not need the pay, likewise those who need the flying hours. If you think about it £20 to £25/hr is not that much based on your costs and say the average number of flying hours you will do in a day (if you are lucky 3 to 3.5 hrs or zero if the weathers poor.

My advice is do not give up your day job, instruct part time and see if you can break even, or make a loss and set that off against other taxed income. I think if you treat instruction as a hobby, you will have fun and keep your sanity.

[n.dave]

£20 for attendance and £30 for a chock to chock, unrestricted.
UK based.
​​

[BigEndBob]

I would agree with anchorhold, if you have a good day job then keep instructing to weekends, you will enjoy it a lot more.
I run my own club, can only afford to pay myself minimum wage. Worst paid job i have ever had. Our prices need to go up, but the number of new customers out there is going down. Clubs round here pay £5 attendance and £20 hour. Local ame class two's £270 and £330 class one, madness.

[jamess115]

Interesting replies. Very much appreciate the advice. It would seem the salary is mostly based on what you fly, which makes sense but surprised to read average instructing hrs /day at 3hrs to 3.5. Totally agree that its hard to make a living on that.

[MrAverage]

You're not alone Bob.........................

[KeepCalm]

Interesting replies. Very much appreciate the advice. It would seem the salary is mostly based on what you fly, which makes sense but surprised to read average instructing hrs /day at 3hrs to 3.5. Totally agree that its hard to make a living on that.
Bear in mind 3-4hrs instructing equals 7-8hrs duty if done properly, for the typical trial lesson or local flight (airwork, circuits). At PPL level you don't really do that many navigation flights.
So... plan on earning 70-80 pounds for a full day's work.

[spitfirejock]

Where have all the career instructors gone?, if the pay rates suggested on this thread are real, I guess I have answered my own question!

Frankly, I don't get it... there is a shortage of instructors today (EASA & FAA) and this is likely to continue for some time based on everything I have read about the industry. Maybe schools are paying too little to instructors which is why the shortage exists?

From what I recall pay rates 20 years ago were higher than this, indeed, base pay for newly qualified CAA instructors was around $24K (US based CAA School) and from what I understand, it is higher today. I believe senior instructors with CPL/IR/ME privileges can earn 3 times that amount.

I might suggest motivated FI's look towards a career in instructing (maybe a 5 year commitment to start) and attempt to convince potential employers they are worth the investment in return for this commitment, after all, how are the schools going to keep up with training demand?

[MrAverage]

The problem is not that clubs and schools don't want to pay more, but that the majority of students will not pay more. I'd willingly double my instructor hourly rate, but then the students would pretty much all go elsewhere...............................

[MrAverage]

.......... and I'm looking for mature part timers...........