Search for the UK's most poorly paid PPL instructor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Search for the UK's best paid PPL instructor
This thread is a bit of mindless fun to look at the variation in PPL instructor pay. I know that at the school that I work for there are at least three different pay packages for what is basically the same job.
I've got a theory that schools in the south of England pay less than those north of the Midlands. Does anyone else agree?
Starting with my own conditions: Attendance £25/ Flying £15-18 per hour depending on type. So far this week I'm averaging £110 per day (working 0830-1700).
I appreciate that this is a bit of a naff thread; but I would be intrigued to know what the average pay is in the UK at the moment.
I've got a theory that schools in the south of England pay less than those north of the Midlands. Does anyone else agree?
Starting with my own conditions: Attendance £25/ Flying £15-18 per hour depending on type. So far this week I'm averaging £110 per day (working 0830-1700).
I appreciate that this is a bit of a naff thread; but I would be intrigued to know what the average pay is in the UK at the moment.
Last edited by Esperanza; 21st Jun 2006 at 10:24. Reason: Title change
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Far East
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mods, following the first thread, can we re-name this thread "Search for the UK's best paid Flying Instructor"?
How about no retainer and 12 quid an hour, sometimes coming home worse off after paying for petrol and food…
How about no retainer and 12 quid an hour, sometimes coming home worse off after paying for petrol and food…
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by ph81ds
£10 a day, then £12 per flying hour FI(R). Down south.
ph
ph
That's exactly what I was getting as an AFI (old timers term for FI(R) ) in 1994. I wonder if flying school owners have heard of inflation?
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Andalusia
Age: 54
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Dude~
Mods, following the first thread, can we re-name this thread "Search for the UK's best paid Flying Instructor"?
How about no retainer and 12 quid an hour, sometimes coming home worse off after paying for petrol and food…
How about no retainer and 12 quid an hour, sometimes coming home worse off after paying for petrol and food…
I am 36 with a PPL and aspire to becoming a flying instructor, although due to the terrible "lack of respect" wages it will have to part time at weekends for me.......
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: England
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
T's and P's,
If you are having trouble getting paid for the hours you have worked, cut your losses and leave for another school.
I am a self-employed instructor and have worked for several schools; the one thing I have never had to do is chase them for my money, and instructors are now in short supply.
Anyone can work for free. If a school will not pay promptly for your work, cut your losses quickly and move elsewhere. If someone treats you like that, it won't get better, it will only get worse.
By the way, in my experience, the minimum pay per hour for a FI(R) is £15. £10 is way too low. That also says something about the outfit you are working for.
If you are having trouble getting paid for the hours you have worked, cut your losses and leave for another school.
I am a self-employed instructor and have worked for several schools; the one thing I have never had to do is chase them for my money, and instructors are now in short supply.
Anyone can work for free. If a school will not pay promptly for your work, cut your losses quickly and move elsewhere. If someone treats you like that, it won't get better, it will only get worse.
By the way, in my experience, the minimum pay per hour for a FI(R) is £15. £10 is way too low. That also says something about the outfit you are working for.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: England
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What grim stories. I was very lucky to land my first FI job with a large school(uniform, test flight, checkout and standards flying all included). No limit to the flying available, good aircraft , very professional and £20 per hour.
I wandered away to find what non level flying I can do and the pickings become decidedly rarer. Lucky to pick up an hour a day at £15 /hour and you are expected to pay for your conversions. It rarely covers the cost of the petrol to get there.
However you can't miss the grin you can put on peoples faces. Definately worth it.
I wandered away to find what non level flying I can do and the pickings become decidedly rarer. Lucky to pick up an hour a day at £15 /hour and you are expected to pay for your conversions. It rarely covers the cost of the petrol to get there.
However you can't miss the grin you can put on peoples faces. Definately worth it.
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Far East
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I must admit I didn’t stay on £12 hour for long, I later got £17 hour which when the sun shines is not too bad, but it still means you can't be sure about being able to pay the rent until about half way through the month which can be stressful...
I’m now on £30 a day retainer and £13 an hour. I get a higher hourly rate if I fly on my days off. Not so bad at all I think.
As someone said, there is good demand for FIs now, so if you are getting peanuts, do have a look around, and don't forget to haggle! Its well worth trying to get a rise/ checkride paid for/ interview costs etc...
I’m now on £30 a day retainer and £13 an hour. I get a higher hourly rate if I fly on my days off. Not so bad at all I think.
As someone said, there is good demand for FIs now, so if you are getting peanuts, do have a look around, and don't forget to haggle! Its well worth trying to get a rise/ checkride paid for/ interview costs etc...
Looks to me like they pay UK instructors a small fortune.
Head down to the great world of OZ, where a Fresh instructor works for free until the boss is happy and then around $20hr after that. Convert that into £.
Head down to the great world of OZ, where a Fresh instructor works for free until the boss is happy and then around $20hr after that. Convert that into £.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: essex
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It would be interesting to factor in the actual time "on duty" plus any retainer when working out "Hourly" rate
From my example "minimum wage" is not something that is applied for FI jobs
Not unusual to work 10 hours and only fly 3
Lets say £60 (before tax) deduct travel costs £50 and divide by 10 = £5 hour - Looks like I just made it on an average day ! and that's on a "reasonable" hourly flying rate. If it rains then lets hope it stays wet all day and I only loose my time and £10 petrol money.
Now lets compare to car mechanics and plumbers who charge £80 an hour which is much more sensible if you want to pay the bills and make some profit!
Anyway must dash as I have a 6 month £150 quid medical to attend (no wonder my wife thinks I am nuts).
From my example "minimum wage" is not something that is applied for FI jobs
Not unusual to work 10 hours and only fly 3
Lets say £60 (before tax) deduct travel costs £50 and divide by 10 = £5 hour - Looks like I just made it on an average day ! and that's on a "reasonable" hourly flying rate. If it rains then lets hope it stays wet all day and I only loose my time and £10 petrol money.
Now lets compare to car mechanics and plumbers who charge £80 an hour which is much more sensible if you want to pay the bills and make some profit!
Anyway must dash as I have a 6 month £150 quid medical to attend (no wonder my wife thinks I am nuts).
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 644
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sounds kind of intersting but I was under the impression that instructors earnt so little that £200 per month was the norm everywhere. Thank God that's the not the reality of the situation though from reading some of your posts there are some instances where a bad or 'washed out' day can result in little if any salary.
Due to these conditions is there constant movement of instrcutional staff from one organisation to another and also do groundschool staff get tarred with the same salary brush?
Anyway chin up lads and lasses at least we're not stuck behind a desk (salary=maybe/yes soul destroying=on character building=minimal prospect=here until replaced by cheaper person/or outsourced overseas)
Due to these conditions is there constant movement of instrcutional staff from one organisation to another and also do groundschool staff get tarred with the same salary brush?
Anyway chin up lads and lasses at least we're not stuck behind a desk (salary=maybe/yes soul destroying=on character building=minimal prospect=here until replaced by cheaper person/or outsourced overseas)
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by rmcdonal
Looks to me like they pay UK instructors a small fortune.
Head down to the great world of OZ, where a Fresh instructor works for free until the boss is happy and then around $20hr after that. Convert that into £.
Head down to the great world of OZ, where a Fresh instructor works for free until the boss is happy and then around $20hr after that. Convert that into £.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: yorkshire
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Vetflyer,
Sorry if I offended you. My post was a bit ambiguous.
I should have made it clear that I was talking about the attitude of Sherburn's management towards its flying instructors. The attitude is, " if you don't like it, eff off."
However, a couple of weeks' ago, I received a notification from the Inland Revenue which stated that all of the club's instructors must be treated as employees. This will force major changes in the club's policy towards us.
Times, I hope, are a-changing.
bogbeagle
Sorry if I offended you. My post was a bit ambiguous.
I should have made it clear that I was talking about the attitude of Sherburn's management towards its flying instructors. The attitude is, " if you don't like it, eff off."
However, a couple of weeks' ago, I received a notification from the Inland Revenue which stated that all of the club's instructors must be treated as employees. This will force major changes in the club's policy towards us.
Times, I hope, are a-changing.
bogbeagle
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: uk
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BogBeagle
No problem
Sorry, I read the message as that was your attitude......hopefully times are changing but ......i am not hopeful as I am on £12.50/hr and no retainer.........
One thing that really annoys me , private hire of me in owner's a/c , club charges owner £46 per hr and I get £12.50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No problem
Sorry, I read the message as that was your attitude......hopefully times are changing but ......i am not hopeful as I am on £12.50/hr and no retainer.........
One thing that really annoys me , private hire of me in owner's a/c , club charges owner £46 per hr and I get £12.50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!