FI rating on the cheap?!

[thecoltster]

Since learning to fly I have always wanted to instruct, however having just paid all the pennies to get this far I wll struggle to cough up the reddies to do so at the moment. Am I correct in thinking that all instructor ratings seem to float around the £5K mark? Is there anywhere of anyway of substantially reducing this? I originally thought that I had a way of doing this; I was going to work at the bar of a local fliying club and make use of cheap(er) staff discount rates, however the upsatirs of the company say that this won't now be possible. Alternatively I would perhaps find the idea of spending this much money a bit easier to swallow if I could find a school who could almost guarantee an instucting job at the end of it, I haven't found anywhere so far...but has anybody any good experiences like this? Or is it back to the magic right place ...right time script?
Any input would be gratefully recieved,
Cheers,
COLT

[MJR]

I dont think you find anything cheaper than 5k if you do its probably dodgy. Many schools prefer to employ instructors that they have trained in house, consitent standards etc. Best thing to do is ask the question where you wish to train. Presently there are not many instructors jobs available but when the huge Vacuum in airline jobs appear ha ha things are likely to be different

cheer

MJR

[StrateandLevel]

Probably the only way you can save money is to hire an aircraft cheaply (if you can find one) and then find a FIC instructor who will just charge for his time. In reality you will only save on the aircraft hire.

[juggernaut]

Its the school that gets FIC approval to run instructor courses, therefore I cannot see how you can hire a cheap aircraft and then then get an FIC instructor to train you, bear in mind also the 125 hours ground that needs to be covered is included in the course cost, you pay for what you get. I personally think that cheap and cheerful instructor courses with corners cut would be a bad thing.

[Send Clowns]

Coltster

If you want 'almost' guaranteed job at the end, look to the reputation of the school. I am doing my FI(R) course with my employer, and they are good although I have not discussed their employment record, as of course I will continue to instruct groundschool as a primary job. However another local school (where a friend instructs) of similar quality in this area finds many of their graduates get work because previous graduates have impressed employers. There are schools out there giving poor training to instructors, so a good school gets known!

I don't know which are the good schools, apart from the two at Bournemouth, so you will have to investigate for yourself. Best of luck!

[weasil]

I don't know how hard it is to become a ground instructor in over there but in the US ground instructing is a great way to make money, get staff discount and also gain invaluable experience to help reduce the amount of training required to be ready for the Flight Instructor checkride.

[Field In Sight]

Any details about how you can do Ground Instruction without already having the FI(R) rating.

Cheers.

[Mark 1]

FIS

Back in the 80's I did the AOPA Ground Instructors Certificate, which granted priveleges to teach ground school for the (UK) PPL.

I believe that this qualification still exists 'on paper', but I don't know anywhere offering it, presumably as it is not recognised by JAR.

As far as I know, no specific qualification is required for teaching PPL ground school.

When I did the FI course, I was granted 75 hours credit towards the 125 hours ground school for the GIC.

[StrateandLevel]

jugernaugt

Its quite simple, candidate with own aeroplane goes to FIC school and gets quoted for the instruction, not aircraft hire. CAA inspect aircraft and candidate saves money. Maybe not all schools, but many will.

[juggernaut]

No - one seems to ask why the FIC course is so expensive, (e.g 5k plus), the reason is the cost of school approval, also an FIC instructor must have over 1500tt, pass a flight test, go to a panel interview at Gatwick, a seperate FIC training course then pass a final flight test. The chop rate is pretty high and the system is tortureous. Once this is done the school must recoup its cost. I know of only one freelance FIC instructor, whilst very good he charges the same rate as everyone else and rents an aircraft from the local school, the cost isn't in the aircraft hire, its getting an experienced man to spend a lot of time with you getting up to test standard. Also the CAA inspect the school and briefing facilities every year. If you find a cheap FIC course then it would be interesting to know how!:)

[Send Clowns]

To become a ground instructor, know your stuff, and persuade someone that you do. If you have specialist background knowledge (engineering experience for example) then there are jobs around for ATPL.

I became an ATPL ground instructor immediately after my CPL/IR with no further qualifications, at the company with whom I studied (SFT). The CAA were happy as long as my CGI was, though they monitor all ground instructors at approved schools annually. When SFT went out of business I was self employed, by students that knew I could teach them the material or to whom I had been recommended. Now I work for BCFT, after they made an asset purchase of SFT and asked the old groundschool team back.

I have also taught PPL groundschool - that is not approved, so as long as someone is willing to pay you you can do the work.

Strateandlevel

The advice from my old and wise groundschool instructor on my FI(R) course, a man who became a flight instructor in 1952, about teaching someone in their own aeroplane is "don't". Therefore I suspect you may find a lot of schools resistant.

Note the aircraft has to be brought up to public transport specifications before any instruction can be carried out on it.