PPL. Becoming a Flying Instructor
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PPL. Becoming a Flying Instructor
Hi
I have obtained my PPL licence and am thinking of taking it to the next level and becoming an FI. Does anybody know what the minimum training requirement (and cost) is to become an FI.
Can anbody recommend a good FTO?
Thanks
I have obtained my PPL licence and am thinking of taking it to the next level and becoming an FI. Does anybody know what the minimum training requirement (and cost) is to become an FI.
Can anbody recommend a good FTO?
Thanks
Dancing with the devil, going with the flow... it's all a game to me.
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I would hold fire on forking out for a CPL just to instruct. Wait a couple of years for EASA to introduce their PPL FI ticket. Just like the olde days! Maybe the few tosspot time wasting hours builders out there will have to raise their game a little then. 
VFE.
VFE.
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This would be the same EASA that is trying to get rid of the IMC without apparently considering the contribution to safety the rating gives. Um - don't make it right.
Just hope they keep the bar high on instructors - always best to be trained by someone who is trained to a far higher standard.
Just hope they keep the bar high on instructors - always best to be trained by someone who is trained to a far higher standard.
I agree - but nothing to do with the licence held, all to do with the training provided at the FTO.
I do not agree that someone who has little experience beyond the CPL/IR course is necessarily 'better trained' than an experienced PPL holder with many years of practical experience. Similarly, being able to regurgitate the answers to the ATPL exams (most of which are well known to the FTOs) is hardly a good measure of theoretical knowledge relevant at PPL level.
I do not agree that someone who has little experience beyond the CPL/IR course is necessarily 'better trained' than an experienced PPL holder with many years of practical experience. Similarly, being able to regurgitate the answers to the ATPL exams (most of which are well known to the FTOs) is hardly a good measure of theoretical knowledge relevant at PPL level.
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VFE, I've already got ATPL theory out the way so I'm gonna do my CPL & FI rating this year , rack the hours up before doing the IR/MCC next year . Merely a cautious approach to making myself bankrupt on way to the Frozen ATPL Licence 
. You see, at 36 i'm no spring chicken so i'm just covering the bases in case of limited Airline opportunities .
. You see, at 36 i'm no spring chicken so i'm just covering the bases in case of limited Airline opportunities .
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I looked at this the other week. Essentially from ppl you can do it this way
ATPL ground exams to gain CPL exams
Single engine CPL cuts the cost
FI course
Still runs out at 15 to 20 grand though. So you have to make the business decision on that investment level. What are you returns, I was given a specific investment/return reply that ran out at 1000 hours of teaching just to get back the initial investment, or put another way about 2 or 3 years of it part time.
Looking at this level, consider that in order to progress to the airline role from that point all youneed to do is a multi engine, IR and MCC. So about another 10 to 15 grand tops. Yes, nearly double the investment, same career guarentees at the end of it, but if you do get the airline job then the return is better.
The idea is right, for all the right reasons, but if you look at it with a business head on, you will get a sounder financial return on your money sticking it all on a 100-1 nag in the 3.30 at Chepstow
ATPL ground exams to gain CPL exams
Single engine CPL cuts the cost
FI course
Still runs out at 15 to 20 grand though. So you have to make the business decision on that investment level. What are you returns, I was given a specific investment/return reply that ran out at 1000 hours of teaching just to get back the initial investment, or put another way about 2 or 3 years of it part time.
Looking at this level, consider that in order to progress to the airline role from that point all youneed to do is a multi engine, IR and MCC. So about another 10 to 15 grand tops. Yes, nearly double the investment, same career guarentees at the end of it, but if you do get the airline job then the return is better.
The idea is right, for all the right reasons, but if you look at it with a business head on, you will get a sounder financial return on your money sticking it all on a 100-1 nag in the 3.30 at Chepstow
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I'm thinking of all the "free" flying once I get my FI Rating . Getting paid to fly will be a bonus as far as i'm concerned .( Think of the alternative as a Private pilot - £100 quid every two weeks to hire an A/C ,then there's the associated costs with licences , medicals and the like ) multiply that by thirty years- hopefully 
and i think the twenty grand i'll invest to get my FI rating will be an absolute bargain that will pay for it's self many times over .
and i think the twenty grand i'll invest to get my FI rating will be an absolute bargain that will pay for it's self many times over .
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I am sure you would enjoy your "free flying" but you need to remember at least two things. First your student is entitled to professional instruction and second four straight circuit details with a low hours student is pretty hard work. It is easy to forget this last point if all your previous flying has been the odd hour per week responsible only for yourself.
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Like all of us the idea of free flying wins. Sadly someone, somewhere has to pay, and that will be the student.
At the moment you can go where you want and when you want. Get students and you are going where they need to go. The majority of your work will be trial lessons so you will not get much further than 10 or 20 miles from your field. Certainly little in the way of bacon butty runs!!!
I still like the idea myself, only more for the "putting something back" mantra myself. But the cost is prohibitive. My maths was a little flawed yesterday, the extra 10 to 15 to go to the airline level is actually less as you aren't paying for an FI course. So maybe another 6-10K can do it.
It depends on your resources. We aren't all skint like me!! But my business head says it is not a sound investment. Just on minimas (12 hours per year) The amount boils down to 10 years flying or near enough anyway. If you have the money behind you to do it then the best of luck. If like me, you would need to skrimp and save to get an FI ticket then it is simply not worth it.
Thanks to EASA this is the position we are left with, as well as guys in the right seat of airliners with a lot less than 500 hours. The lunatics HAVE taken over the asylum.
At the moment you can go where you want and when you want. Get students and you are going where they need to go. The majority of your work will be trial lessons so you will not get much further than 10 or 20 miles from your field. Certainly little in the way of bacon butty runs!!!
I still like the idea myself, only more for the "putting something back" mantra myself. But the cost is prohibitive. My maths was a little flawed yesterday, the extra 10 to 15 to go to the airline level is actually less as you aren't paying for an FI course. So maybe another 6-10K can do it.
It depends on your resources. We aren't all skint like me!! But my business head says it is not a sound investment. Just on minimas (12 hours per year) The amount boils down to 10 years flying or near enough anyway. If you have the money behind you to do it then the best of luck. If like me, you would need to skrimp and save to get an FI ticket then it is simply not worth it.
Thanks to EASA this is the position we are left with, as well as guys in the right seat of airliners with a lot less than 500 hours. The lunatics HAVE taken over the asylum.
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be careful .... the IMC rating is due to be abolished by those (
)folks in Europe when EASA take control of European licensing --- every country voted against it bar the UK. So any privilages earnt from this rating may be removed later and thus ultimately be a waste of funds. The alternative ... a full IR will hit hard in the wallet.
An old route was to try the American schools .... do appropriate courses with them ( CPL and FI ) and once qualified they can offer a period where you could instruct with the school. Sorry this scheme was a little time ago and I hope this info is still current... possibly now only when training for the full ATPL - but worth an e-mail to check surely. Ok this gives a FAA rating but this can be converted later to JAA and you will have some experience to offer.
Just an idea!!!!.
Steve
)folks in Europe when EASA take control of European licensing --- every country voted against it bar the UK. So any privilages earnt from this rating may be removed later and thus ultimately be a waste of funds. The alternative ... a full IR will hit hard in the wallet. An old route was to try the American schools .... do appropriate courses with them ( CPL and FI ) and once qualified they can offer a period where you could instruct with the school. Sorry this scheme was a little time ago and I hope this info is still current... possibly now only when training for the full ATPL - but worth an e-mail to check surely. Ok this gives a FAA rating but this can be converted later to JAA and you will have some experience to offer.
Just an idea!!!!.
Steve
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be careful .... the IMC rating is due to be abolished by those ( )folks in Europe when EASA take control of European licensing --- every country voted against it bar the UK. So any privilages earnt from this rating may be removed later and thus ultimately be a waste of funds. The alternative ... a full IR will hit hard in the wallet.
An old route was to try the American schools .... do appropriate courses with them ( CPL and FI ) and once qualified they can offer a period where you could instruct with the school. Sorry this scheme was a little time ago and I hope this info is still current... possibly now only when training for the full ATPL - but worth an e-mail to check surely. Ok this gives a FAA rating but this can be converted later to JAA and you will have some experience to offer.
Just an idea!!!!.
Steve
)folks in Europe when EASA take control of European licensing --- every country voted against it bar the UK. So any privilages earnt from this rating may be removed later and thus ultimately be a waste of funds. The alternative ... a full IR will hit hard in the wallet. An old route was to try the American schools .... do appropriate courses with them ( CPL and FI ) and once qualified they can offer a period where you could instruct with the school. Sorry this scheme was a little time ago and I hope this info is still current... possibly now only when training for the full ATPL - but worth an e-mail to check surely. Ok this gives a FAA rating but this can be converted later to JAA and you will have some experience to offer.
Just an idea!!!!.
Steve
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I don't instruct any more but I still 'surf' this forum now and then.
This time I can not resist getting on my soap box tho!
Why is it that people still see instructing as 'free flying'? It is far from free, and very very different from just poodling about on a Sunday afternoon for a jolly!
If you are going to instruct then you should take it seriously, as someone else said it is the stude who actually ends up paying for it......and they deserve to be treated better than just a free ride
whilst I am having a rant, I can't help but wonder how low houred just qualified pilots consider themselves 'the right stuff' to start teaching others!
For goodness sake, how about learning to walk before learning to run eh?
And another thing, instructing 'coz it's free flying' is not helping those instructors who do it professionally and depend upon the income.
If you want to fly for fun, then FLY FOR FUN! otherwise if you want to instruct then at least make sure that you deliver the best service that you can and that you really do 'put something back into aviation'
Rant over, hard hat on!
UTF
This time I can not resist getting on my soap box tho!
Why is it that people still see instructing as 'free flying'? It is far from free, and very very different from just poodling about on a Sunday afternoon for a jolly!
If you are going to instruct then you should take it seriously, as someone else said it is the stude who actually ends up paying for it......and they deserve to be treated better than just a free ride
whilst I am having a rant, I can't help but wonder how low houred just qualified pilots consider themselves 'the right stuff' to start teaching others!
For goodness sake, how about learning to walk before learning to run eh?
And another thing, instructing 'coz it's free flying' is not helping those instructors who do it professionally and depend upon the income.
If you want to fly for fun, then FLY FOR FUN! otherwise if you want to instruct then at least make sure that you deliver the best service that you can and that you really do 'put something back into aviation'
Rant over, hard hat on!
UTF