Take home pay for instructors

[training wheels]

If a flight training school charges $100 per hour solo and $175 dual, then one can assume that the Instructors' fee is $75 per hour. But does the instructor get paid the full $75 per hour or does the training school take a cut of it? (If so, how much?)

I'm thinking of doing an Instructors' rating, so I'm just wondering how it all works.

And what about hanging around the front desk and answering queries and phone calls .. do Instructors get paid for "ground duties" ?

TIA

[Charlie Foxtrot India]

There are a few things that have to be factored in. First of all, a student having a lesson will be utilising the school's facilities more than a hirer in terms of briefing rooms, CFI supervision etc, so there needs to be a return on that.

The award rate for the instructors depends on the grade of instructor. Obviously a grade one instructor will be entitled to more than a grade three. On top of what they earn, the employer has to cover them for workers comp and superannuation which has to be taken into consideration as a percentage of what they are paid, about 4% for compo and 9% for super . Some employers get their employees to work as "contractors" which can be a way of cheating them out of their super entitlements, and they may not be covered for compo either, so beware of that.

If the instructor is on a salary then that may include "ground duties" but if casual they are unlikely to be paid for that, so it's a bit unfair if an employer demands that of them unless they are paid a retainer as well as an hourly flying rate.

So, no, you probably won't get the full difference between hire and dual rate, but should get the award as a minimum. There are links to that on the forum if you hunt around. Don't accept anything less.

Good luck!

[Sharfted Groundhog]

Take a piece of advice from someone who's "been there, done that"...........

Get in, get the hours, take the lousy pay, work the crappy shifts and get out as fast as you can - if you can.

OR

Don't do it at all if you want to keep any piece of self-dignity, or respect. Schools are there to take advantage of our love of the industry and exploit everyone in any way possible. Although a complete 'broadbrush' approach to the topic, I haven't met too many places that are very different.

Be ready to sit for a very long time in today's climate, so leave any ambition or drive at the front door because it'll be completly lost (and it's better to have it sitting at home rather than getting it beaten out of you through sheer frustration!)

:rolleyes:

[Icarus2001]

As CFI says, "contract" is a way to screw instructors out of a fair days pay for a fair days work. BUT you are covered for workers compensation even as a contractor. Public liability is another issue.:rolleyes:

Even the "better" schools who tell you they pay award rate usually forget to tell you that the award for casuals means minimum of 2 hours flying pay for a 4 hour tour of duty. If you roll over into a second 4 hour duty period you are entitled to 4 hours flying pay (plus super on top).

So for an 8 hour duty day you should receive 4 hours flying as a minimum regardless of hours flown. Will you get this ? Not a snowflakes chance in hell, but at least be aware of what you are entitled to before entering into negotiation.

The GA award is available here:

http://www.osiris.gov.au/html/awards/16/P0059/top.htm

If you go through and crunch the numbers, a single engine VFR instructor (Grade 2) should get about $43 an hour, a grade one about $50. NVFR, Multi-engine and IFR should be more.