Your first week?
Why do it if it's not fun?
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Your first week?
Hi,
I'm just curious to hear from some of you guys what your first week of instructing was like? As you know if you've been following my recent posts, I started my first instruting job a week ago, and I'm interested in comparing my experiences to those of others. How many hours did you fly? Was it a variety of lessons, or was it all trial lessons? Any particular highs or lows?
I'll add a report of my own first week once there are a few replies here!
FFF
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I'm just curious to hear from some of you guys what your first week of instructing was like? As you know if you've been following my recent posts, I started my first instruting job a week ago, and I'm interested in comparing my experiences to those of others. How many hours did you fly? Was it a variety of lessons, or was it all trial lessons? Any particular highs or lows?
I'll add a report of my own first week once there are a few replies here!
FFF
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Ah, the first week of the job, well done for getting through it FFF!
As seems to be the norm, my first week consisted mainly of trial lessons. However, I did get to do a dual check with a chap who needed to be re-taught PFLs. It certainly feels good when you're able to impart some of your freshly learnt knowledge and see some improvement in the student.
I think I flew about 10 hours in total...
KpX
As seems to be the norm, my first week consisted mainly of trial lessons. However, I did get to do a dual check with a chap who needed to be re-taught PFLs. It certainly feels good when you're able to impart some of your freshly learnt knowledge and see some improvement in the student.
I think I flew about 10 hours in total...
KpX
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First day, first flight trial lesson.
Big bang at the rear of my Cessna.
After landing two dents in tail fin leading edge under the adf sense aerial.
Only explanation a bird strike!
Big bang at the rear of my Cessna.
After landing two dents in tail fin leading edge under the adf sense aerial.
Only explanation a bird strike!
Why do it if it's not fun?
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Bob, gulp!!!
Whatunion, helpful as ever.... I'm sure your reply is truthful, but I doubt it's typical!
KpX, that's exactly the kind of reply I'm looking for.
So, my first week.... I logged 30 minutes. Yes, that's correct, one 30-minute trial lesson, and that was it. Other than that, I had to come into the airfield on two other days, when I did no instructing at all but was able to sit in the back seat for a couple of lessons, and every other day I was told I was not required. The CFI did at least have the decency to offer to cover my petrol and lunch costs for the three days I was at the airfield, though...
My second week got off to a good start when I found myself with three trial lessons, each 1 hour long, on the Saturday. But when I arrived at the airfield I found that one of those had been re-assigned to another instructor. As it turned out, the other instructor was running late, so I ended up doing all three trial lessons anyway, though.... my first (and only) full day of flying.
On the Sunday (yesterday), I was schedule to fly another trial lesson, and then do a checkout with a prospective renter. But by the end of Saturday, the schedule had been changed, and both flights had been assigned to other instructors, leaving me with no flying. And again today, no flying. In fact, I'm convinced that the only reason I flew on Saturday was because one of my students was my girlfriend, who would only fly with me, so they had no choice but to get me to come in.
The reasons given for the lack of flying are that bookings are inexplicably light at the moment. We have a couple of aircraft out for maintenance, but even those aircraft which are left aren't fully booked. Some students (apparently) have chosen to stay away while their aircraft are being serviced rather than fly another aircraft, and will, of course, return when the aircraft are back on-line. In the mean time, one instructor is about to go on holiday for a month (that's what everyone tells me except the instructor in question, who swears he's only on holiday for two weeks), and two other instructors are applying to the airlines so they are "bound to be moving on soon", which is why I've been employed....
Unfortunately, I can't afford to live on air - I don't expect a full schedule on my first day, but I do need to earn enough to live on, and I can't see any sign of my bookings increasing very much in the near future. I've spoken to instructors at my local airfield, who say that anything less than 4 hours a day, especially at weekends, is simply not normal this time of year. My old PPL/IMC instructor is currently struggling to not become fatigued - she's being asked to fly 6 hours a day, and having to tell her CFI that she can't do it.
KpX seems to confirm that my experiences are not normal. My two-week "trial period" ends on Friday, and I have to be honest when I say it would not surprise me if I do not get any more instructing time between now and then. Am I correct in thinking that I should be looking for a new job? What would you do?
FFF
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PS - If anyone knows of a full-time job going anywhere, please let me know... I'll be happy to re-locate to anywhere in the UK, and would consider jobs abroad too!
Whatunion, helpful as ever.... I'm sure your reply is truthful, but I doubt it's typical!
KpX, that's exactly the kind of reply I'm looking for.
So, my first week.... I logged 30 minutes. Yes, that's correct, one 30-minute trial lesson, and that was it. Other than that, I had to come into the airfield on two other days, when I did no instructing at all but was able to sit in the back seat for a couple of lessons, and every other day I was told I was not required. The CFI did at least have the decency to offer to cover my petrol and lunch costs for the three days I was at the airfield, though...
My second week got off to a good start when I found myself with three trial lessons, each 1 hour long, on the Saturday. But when I arrived at the airfield I found that one of those had been re-assigned to another instructor. As it turned out, the other instructor was running late, so I ended up doing all three trial lessons anyway, though.... my first (and only) full day of flying.
On the Sunday (yesterday), I was schedule to fly another trial lesson, and then do a checkout with a prospective renter. But by the end of Saturday, the schedule had been changed, and both flights had been assigned to other instructors, leaving me with no flying. And again today, no flying. In fact, I'm convinced that the only reason I flew on Saturday was because one of my students was my girlfriend, who would only fly with me, so they had no choice but to get me to come in.
The reasons given for the lack of flying are that bookings are inexplicably light at the moment. We have a couple of aircraft out for maintenance, but even those aircraft which are left aren't fully booked. Some students (apparently) have chosen to stay away while their aircraft are being serviced rather than fly another aircraft, and will, of course, return when the aircraft are back on-line. In the mean time, one instructor is about to go on holiday for a month (that's what everyone tells me except the instructor in question, who swears he's only on holiday for two weeks), and two other instructors are applying to the airlines so they are "bound to be moving on soon", which is why I've been employed....
Unfortunately, I can't afford to live on air - I don't expect a full schedule on my first day, but I do need to earn enough to live on, and I can't see any sign of my bookings increasing very much in the near future. I've spoken to instructors at my local airfield, who say that anything less than 4 hours a day, especially at weekends, is simply not normal this time of year. My old PPL/IMC instructor is currently struggling to not become fatigued - she's being asked to fly 6 hours a day, and having to tell her CFI that she can't do it.
KpX seems to confirm that my experiences are not normal. My two-week "trial period" ends on Friday, and I have to be honest when I say it would not surprise me if I do not get any more instructing time between now and then. Am I correct in thinking that I should be looking for a new job? What would you do?
FFF
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PS - If anyone knows of a full-time job going anywhere, please let me know... I'll be happy to re-locate to anywhere in the UK, and would consider jobs abroad too!
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Just finished my first week also. Managed to complete several trial lessons, start 2 new students with lesson 4, carried out a proficiency check with a private owner and a check out for myself on a different type. The attitude of the club is to help new instructors get students, rather than leave them to pick up the crumbs.
Cannot advise where you might find another position, but your experience does not sound too good so far...
Hope things improve for you.
Cannot advise where you might find another position, but your experience does not sound too good so far...
Hope things improve for you.
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Unfortunately FFF it does take time to build up a decent body of your own students. Instructors who've been there longer will get more flying simply because they are more of a known quantity than you are currently.
Give it a few weeks and make sure you do the weekends and lots of trial lessons. This is where you'll meet the majority of prospective PPL students and once they've flown with you thet'll be loath to move to others. (Not blowing sunshine up your a*se, student loyalty can be a strange thing!)
Where are you teaching?
Good luck, don't get too despondant it will pick up pretty soon. Be optimistic and friendly to all who come into the club. Most of all however, be available and you will get more students than you can handle soon enough!
Give it a few weeks and make sure you do the weekends and lots of trial lessons. This is where you'll meet the majority of prospective PPL students and once they've flown with you thet'll be loath to move to others. (Not blowing sunshine up your a*se, student loyalty can be a strange thing!)
Where are you teaching?
Good luck, don't get too despondant it will pick up pretty soon. Be optimistic and friendly to all who come into the club. Most of all however, be available and you will get more students than you can handle soon enough!
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I think SAS has hit the nail on the head.
Most students are loyal to their instructors and with this in mind, the bulk of an instructors work comes from students returning from trial lessons for more. It may be that the trial lessons you flew will come to fruition, but it may also take some time.
Stick in there, but it is a fool who looks no further than his current lot.
Good luck
Regards
Obs cop
Most students are loyal to their instructors and with this in mind, the bulk of an instructors work comes from students returning from trial lessons for more. It may be that the trial lessons you flew will come to fruition, but it may also take some time.
Stick in there, but it is a fool who looks no further than his current lot.
Good luck
Regards
Obs cop
Why do it if it's not fun?
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Hmm, ok so the early advice seems to be to stick it out.
S.A.S, you say: "make sure you do the weekends and lots of trial lessons". But as I said, I was asked not to bother going in on Sunday because there was no work for me.
The school, since you ask, S.A.S, is FlyTeam. They prefer to get their students to fly with all of the instructors, rather than assign one instructor to each student.... at least that's what they tell me. In practice, it seems that students can be assigned to any instructor except me! I have to admit that I'm not convinced that flying with many instructors is such a good idea, though, even if it did work that way.... as you say, students tend to be loyal to their instructors - I know I always have been, as have most others I've spoken to.
Thanks for the input, Obs and S.A.S - I will take your comments on board. I hope you are correct, and that my work will pick up - because I can't afford to live on £6 a week!
Anyone else got any thoughts?
FFF
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S.A.S, you say: "make sure you do the weekends and lots of trial lessons". But as I said, I was asked not to bother going in on Sunday because there was no work for me.
The school, since you ask, S.A.S, is FlyTeam. They prefer to get their students to fly with all of the instructors, rather than assign one instructor to each student.... at least that's what they tell me. In practice, it seems that students can be assigned to any instructor except me! I have to admit that I'm not convinced that flying with many instructors is such a good idea, though, even if it did work that way.... as you say, students tend to be loyal to their instructors - I know I always have been, as have most others I've spoken to.
Thanks for the input, Obs and S.A.S - I will take your comments on board. I hope you are correct, and that my work will pick up - because I can't afford to live on £6 a week!
Anyone else got any thoughts?
FFF
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PPRuNe Knight in Shining Armour
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FFF, if it's not too far to drive, go in on the days you're not rostered to fly anyway. Help out all you can (refuelling the a/c etc). I've done a few unscheduled TL's and the like when the CFI was knackered or had something else to do.
It shows willing and gets you known, after all two weeks isn't a lot of time for people to get to know you, and you've only been there a few of the days anyway.
It shows willing and gets you known, after all two weeks isn't a lot of time for people to get to know you, and you've only been there a few of the days anyway.
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Instructors & Pay in the same sentence?
Stop whinning and wait it will work. My first month gave me 11hrs. This progressed and now I may manage 25 hrs a week. A 14 hour day 6 days a week is the norm for many and the fact that you would earn more in McDonalds is fairly irrelevant.
Assuming you're doing the instructing bit to gain hours you must accept that the hardship you endure now is worth the long term gain but that doesnt mean that you can't enjoy it.
Over half of those I met instructing had left salaries in excess of 30k to go full time knowing that if they were lucky they may take home 8k. Just accept that you are not going to get a living wage get a credit card, loan, sell granny. Whatever it takes just make sure that you have access to enough money to pay for the petrol to get to work and b4 you know it your 2 yr sentence should be about served and you will find you have 1000hrs more than you started with maybe then is the time to whinge a bit but for now just accept unless you are extremely lucky you are going to have to live with no income for the next few years until you find a school which pays more than 15/20 per hr or you are just gonna have to give up until you can afford it like we all did.
Snigs is right just turn up every day and hope you get more, you will eventually or you will starve at the airfield.
Any instructors out there who feel that this ain't the truth would love to hear from you.
Assuming you're doing the instructing bit to gain hours you must accept that the hardship you endure now is worth the long term gain but that doesnt mean that you can't enjoy it.
Over half of those I met instructing had left salaries in excess of 30k to go full time knowing that if they were lucky they may take home 8k. Just accept that you are not going to get a living wage get a credit card, loan, sell granny. Whatever it takes just make sure that you have access to enough money to pay for the petrol to get to work and b4 you know it your 2 yr sentence should be about served and you will find you have 1000hrs more than you started with maybe then is the time to whinge a bit but for now just accept unless you are extremely lucky you are going to have to live with no income for the next few years until you find a school which pays more than 15/20 per hr or you are just gonna have to give up until you can afford it like we all did.
Snigs is right just turn up every day and hope you get more, you will eventually or you will starve at the airfield.
Any instructors out there who feel that this ain't the truth would love to hear from you.
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Typical week?
Stick at it FFF,
My second week saw me flying much less than my first - If you can get those trial lessons you will eventually end up with a collection of your own students.
The scene does seem to be rather quiet at the moment, I only flew twice over the weekend - the phone barely rang and the club was virtually empty. Let's hope things pick up soon
Just remember, the money might not be great, but you do now get paid to go flying rather than having to pay for the privilege yourself - isn't that what being a commercial pilot is all about?
KpX
My second week saw me flying much less than my first - If you can get those trial lessons you will eventually end up with a collection of your own students.
The scene does seem to be rather quiet at the moment, I only flew twice over the weekend - the phone barely rang and the club was virtually empty. Let's hope things pick up soon
Just remember, the money might not be great, but you do now get paid to go flying rather than having to pay for the privilege yourself - isn't that what being a commercial pilot is all about?
KpX
Why do it if it's not fun?
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Ok, whining over. It seems pretty clear that, although a small minority of instructors enjoy a reasonable amount of flying right from the start, most of us have early experiences which are quite similar to mine, and a generally quiet period has added to this.
I will follow the advice of the majority and stick it out where I am for a while longer.
FFF
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I will follow the advice of the majority and stick it out where I am for a while longer.
FFF
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Stick with it.
Also I would say get in there as much as you can you never know when something will turn up.
The trick is to get your trial flights good. Especially if its a young wannabie. Include there parents, take time to answer questions.
Trial flights are your way of selling yourself to the student. And don't be afriad to give them a hint like I would luv to be your instructor but company says .... But i am sure as a customer you could insist.
When I left my full time FI postion I instructed mainly to keep current so all I did was trial flights and apart from a few problem cases which needed an new sense of humour thats all i did. Problem was after about 3 weekends I had nearly 3 ppl's wanting me as an instructor which i didn't want to do.
So keep the trial flights fun don't go for huge briefs ( I must admit I virtually gave up on them for Trial flights apart from the safety equipment) they stop listening in about the time you have asked them where they want to go. Let them do as much as is safe inside your safety envelope. I think my record was 16 trial flights in a row without touching the controls. You can sell a PPL just by letting them do the landing. It dosn't have to be pretty just the plane in one piece. And don't correct everything and talk at them all the time, as long as your not about to die or bust some airspace let them wander and generally make an arse of it.
MJ
Also I would say get in there as much as you can you never know when something will turn up.
The trick is to get your trial flights good. Especially if its a young wannabie. Include there parents, take time to answer questions.
Trial flights are your way of selling yourself to the student. And don't be afriad to give them a hint like I would luv to be your instructor but company says .... But i am sure as a customer you could insist.
When I left my full time FI postion I instructed mainly to keep current so all I did was trial flights and apart from a few problem cases which needed an new sense of humour thats all i did. Problem was after about 3 weekends I had nearly 3 ppl's wanting me as an instructor which i didn't want to do.
So keep the trial flights fun don't go for huge briefs ( I must admit I virtually gave up on them for Trial flights apart from the safety equipment) they stop listening in about the time you have asked them where they want to go. Let them do as much as is safe inside your safety envelope. I think my record was 16 trial flights in a row without touching the controls. You can sell a PPL just by letting them do the landing. It dosn't have to be pretty just the plane in one piece. And don't correct everything and talk at them all the time, as long as your not about to die or bust some airspace let them wander and generally make an arse of it.
MJ
Why do it if it's not fun?
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How was your second week then?
Today, I don't want to go into too much detail on a public forum, but I was booked in for a rather inspiring 4 hours. The first of these was my girlfriend, who has decided to come back for more after her trial lesson last week. The other three were each trial lessons. (I have to wonder, yet again, why it is that the only days I'm asked to come in to fly happen to be those days when my girlfriend is paying to fly with me... but never mind.) Obviously with the weather forecast predicting rain for this afternoon, I didn't expect to get all 4 hours done, but it turned out that because of some administrative problems there was no aircraft for me. Since neither me nor my student/girlfriend were told about this until we arrived at the airfield, we made the journey up to Cranfield, were fortunate to find someone with a key (since the office had also neglected to tell any of the other instructors that I would be going in to the fly the aircraft which wasn't there) and briefed for Effect of Controls Part 1, but didn't actually go flying. I did manage to get myself checked out on the Archer, though, but since that was the only single-engined aircraft available today, and it was fully booked, there wasn't any extra scope for me to do any of my lessons (which were all booked for a C150) on the Archer. I stuck around a bit until the weather started to close in, and then went home.
I am still hopeful that things will pick up, but no sign of it yet! In the mean time, though, I do appreciate all the advice and support of you guys - thanks!
FFF
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