March 2009 - Instructing - what are we all getting paid
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I am sicilian with civil U.K. license and I have 747 and 320 tr and also helicopter and seaplanes multiengine and I jump between line and fi jobs around the globe, included U.K. , following the criteria of whatever gives me the better life in terms of time out of the job/monies+benefits and regular family life with my children, and I have been making a living on aircrafts since 1987 and I tell you that whoever choose between pilots prefer to get on board whoever has 100 hrs as pilot flying something rather then 500 hrs as FI.
I tell you all: do not be reluctant to refuse FI jobs at bad terms and conditions. The pilot category , especialy here in west europe, has been ruined by all those just made pilots who pays tr and even to work and the fi category by those who sells themselves cheap or gratis.
If we do not stik united, and so far in the last 10 years has never happened, to preserve some decency in working terms, we will get worst and worst.
I tell you all: do not be reluctant to refuse FI jobs at bad terms and conditions. The pilot category , especialy here in west europe, has been ruined by all those just made pilots who pays tr and even to work and the fi category by those who sells themselves cheap or gratis.
If we do not stik united, and so far in the last 10 years has never happened, to preserve some decency in working terms, we will get worst and worst.
Last edited by RSFTO; 12th Mar 2009 at 13:17.
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Not exactly true.
Saying all airlines disregard your FI hours is a load of bullocks.
I can name at least one airline that will pick you if you have more hours and respects how you gained said hours. Hence your statement is false.
Of course you have airlines that don't care for your hours if you don't pay for the type rating.
Would you want to work for such an airline?
1/60
I can name at least one airline that will pick you if you have more hours and respects how you gained said hours. Hence your statement is false.
Of course you have airlines that don't care for your hours if you don't pay for the type rating.
Would you want to work for such an airline?
1/60
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Utter tosh...
and FI hours do not make you any better HANDLING pilot
...sorry to ruffle feathers, but the above statement is absolute tosh as far as I am concerned. I probably wasn't that good to start off with but I am a much better pilot now than I was before I started instructing.
The approaches that used to be flown 'about right' in terms of speed are now spot on. The heights that were +/- 50 feet before are much tighter now. The whole shooting match is a much more polished affair. That 1/2 dot on the CDI - gone. I'm far more spacially aware of what's happening - not just to the aeroplane I'm in but to others in the vacinity. I know where I am all the time.
Why? Because I fly much more regularly now, professionally - I instruct. IMHO - flying of any kind makes you a better handling pilot.
Rant over
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1 in 60 name the airline and watch your mouth. you used improper and unpolite words to define my writing. for your "...bullocks" I tell you: you are an idiot and unpolite person.
What I WRITE is MY OPINION. YOU CAN AGREE. YOU CANNOT AGREE. YOUR FREE CHOISE. I write FACTS that I experienced in my 25 years of aviation.
NAME the airline or avoid giving information we all cannot verify and do not use unpolite and improper words with me YOU CAN USE THEM WITH WHOEVER LET YOU USE THEM not with me.
You above this , what you write is true when you have 200 hrs total time, I do not know what TOSH means , I take it you mean NOT TRUE IN YOUR CASE, if it is an improper word as bullocks then what I said to 1to 60 is valid for you as well.
I have 6000+ and I stopped logging 2 years ago because I do not need to log anymore, I believe you will change in this issue when you will have 3000+ hours instructing, you will tell me when you get there if you will.
BOTTOM LINE: FOR WHOEVER COMES IN THE BUSINESS OF FLIGHT TRAINING, KEEP IT A GOOD BUSINESS BY DOING IT FOR GOOD MONIES ONLY, AND MAKE SURE YOU KEEP IT A GOOD BUSINESS BECAUSE IT MIGHT END UP BEING THE ONLY BUSINESS YOU WILL BE IN. BEST LUCK TO ALL IN BECAMING B747 OR A380 CAPTAINS OR HEAD OF TRAINING AND FE IN THE MOST PAID SCHOOL IN THE WORLD OR SPONSORED ACROBATIC PILOTS AT 10000 EURO SALARY PER MONTH PLUS BENEFITS OR GAINING THE SAME BY FLYING AN ULTRA LIGHT SINGLE SEAT.
I salute every body and feel free to waste your time correcting my grammar mistakes, I will appreciate it and learn from it.
So long...
What I WRITE is MY OPINION. YOU CAN AGREE. YOU CANNOT AGREE. YOUR FREE CHOISE. I write FACTS that I experienced in my 25 years of aviation.
NAME the airline or avoid giving information we all cannot verify and do not use unpolite and improper words with me YOU CAN USE THEM WITH WHOEVER LET YOU USE THEM not with me.
You above this , what you write is true when you have 200 hrs total time, I do not know what TOSH means , I take it you mean NOT TRUE IN YOUR CASE, if it is an improper word as bullocks then what I said to 1to 60 is valid for you as well.
I have 6000+ and I stopped logging 2 years ago because I do not need to log anymore, I believe you will change in this issue when you will have 3000+ hours instructing, you will tell me when you get there if you will.
BOTTOM LINE: FOR WHOEVER COMES IN THE BUSINESS OF FLIGHT TRAINING, KEEP IT A GOOD BUSINESS BY DOING IT FOR GOOD MONIES ONLY, AND MAKE SURE YOU KEEP IT A GOOD BUSINESS BECAUSE IT MIGHT END UP BEING THE ONLY BUSINESS YOU WILL BE IN. BEST LUCK TO ALL IN BECAMING B747 OR A380 CAPTAINS OR HEAD OF TRAINING AND FE IN THE MOST PAID SCHOOL IN THE WORLD OR SPONSORED ACROBATIC PILOTS AT 10000 EURO SALARY PER MONTH PLUS BENEFITS OR GAINING THE SAME BY FLYING AN ULTRA LIGHT SINGLE SEAT.
I salute every body and feel free to waste your time correcting my grammar mistakes, I will appreciate it and learn from it.
So long...
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Dear miserable RSFTO
It's not impolite at all. You on the other hand are stating that everyone with hundreds of hours FI will not get a shot.
How do you justify hiring a 100 man compared to a 500 hour FI?
The only reason that happens is if the 500 hour is too full of himself or perhaps that airline prefers individuals it can mold. This doesn't mean the FI hours won't be respected elsewhere.
Finally, you have referred to me as an "idiot" and that is an insult.
Get it right!
1/60
How do you justify hiring a 100 man compared to a 500 hour FI?
The only reason that happens is if the 500 hour is too full of himself or perhaps that airline prefers individuals it can mold. This doesn't mean the FI hours won't be respected elsewhere.
Finally, you have referred to me as an "idiot" and that is an insult.
Get it right!
1/60
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RSFTO
Tosh is a UK term, (slang) for rubbish.
In short, your statement that being an FI does not make you a better HANDLING pilot is in my opinion wrong, VERY wrong. And continuous practice at exercising a skill will improve it and that includes those of us who choose to instruct for a living.
Not all of us are aiming to go drive a big shiney tube!
I do not feel I was rude, but I am sorry if people disagreeing with what you write offends you.
In short, your statement that being an FI does not make you a better HANDLING pilot is in my opinion wrong, VERY wrong. And continuous practice at exercising a skill will improve it and that includes those of us who choose to instruct for a living.
Not all of us are aiming to go drive a big shiney tube!
I do not feel I was rude, but I am sorry if people disagreeing with what you write offends you.
While RSFTO makes a valid point - that one should try and hold out for the best possible terms, unfortunately the reality in the UK currently is that PPL flight training is on its knees.
I am not referring to a slump in the number of new PPL students (although that in itself is starting to be felt) but more the financial aspect of having to cap PPL courses around the £7,000 mark in order to compete with foreign flight training organisations, as well as remaining competitive within the domestic market. On current training rates, flight schools make an average of £5-£8 per hour, per aircraft, once costs are factored in. Add to this the inevitable weekly avionics failure or other costly glitch and one quickly realises why FTOs simply cannot afford to pay FIs more.
As has long been the case, those instructors who need to earn a living and who are not living off large pensions, are having to look at instructing part time and supplementing their incomes elsewhere. This leaves then, either relatively inexperienced instructors who are hours building to make them more attractive to airlines (yes, RSFTO, many airlines DO take instructing hours into consideration - although I'll admit this was not always the case), or those who are retired and are instructing for the joy of it, not the income - and given EASA has removed the requirement for instructors to be CPL rated, this route is now even more accessible. Personally, I view the removal of the CPL requirement as being a double-edged sword, but it does mean that those PPL holders who have many years of piloting experience and thousands of hours, will be able to pass on their skills to the next generation without having to pay through the nose to get FI rated.
Having run a successful flying school/airfield operation in the past, with in excess of 50 students training at any one time and 600+ airfield members, I can report that the flying school took roughly 75% of my time and generated about 10% of the profit - the restaurant was far more profitable.
Cheers, jez
I am not referring to a slump in the number of new PPL students (although that in itself is starting to be felt) but more the financial aspect of having to cap PPL courses around the £7,000 mark in order to compete with foreign flight training organisations, as well as remaining competitive within the domestic market. On current training rates, flight schools make an average of £5-£8 per hour, per aircraft, once costs are factored in. Add to this the inevitable weekly avionics failure or other costly glitch and one quickly realises why FTOs simply cannot afford to pay FIs more.
As has long been the case, those instructors who need to earn a living and who are not living off large pensions, are having to look at instructing part time and supplementing their incomes elsewhere. This leaves then, either relatively inexperienced instructors who are hours building to make them more attractive to airlines (yes, RSFTO, many airlines DO take instructing hours into consideration - although I'll admit this was not always the case), or those who are retired and are instructing for the joy of it, not the income - and given EASA has removed the requirement for instructors to be CPL rated, this route is now even more accessible. Personally, I view the removal of the CPL requirement as being a double-edged sword, but it does mean that those PPL holders who have many years of piloting experience and thousands of hours, will be able to pass on their skills to the next generation without having to pay through the nose to get FI rated.
Having run a successful flying school/airfield operation in the past, with in excess of 50 students training at any one time and 600+ airfield members, I can report that the flying school took roughly 75% of my time and generated about 10% of the profit - the restaurant was far more profitable.
Cheers, jez
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Dear Miserable 1to60... & Noble D...d...
eNGLISH I learned it by my Scottish grand mather in Sicily but it is not my native language and thereafter My vocabulary IS NOT 100% COMPLETE.
I felt abused by your ...bull.... whatever and I thought it is an insult. You say you did not insult me, if that is true I am fine.
Please explain to me what bull.. means. If it is a polite word to use I will start using it.
PLEASE NAME THE AIRLINE YOU WERE REFERRING TO.
I apologize for calling you idiot. Sincerely.
noble D...D... I appreciate your vocabulary clarification. I DO NOT FEEL OFFENDED BY YOU DO NOT AGREEING WITH ME. FEEL FREE NOT TO AGREE WITH ME AS MUCH AND AS LONG AS YOU WANT. WE CAN STILL BE FRIENDS AND WE CAN STILL COMMUNICATE AT YOUR WISH. all the world whole population not agreeing with me does not offend me. You are very wrong in that.
BOTTOM LINE: I DO NOT CARE IF I FLY MY LOVE B 747-200 OR A CESSNA152, I FLY WHATEVER PAYS ME MORE AND I WISH I FIND SOMEONE WHO PAYS ME 10000 EURO PER WEEK TO FLY HIS SINGLE ENGINE LAND VFR ONLY OPERATIONS AND AS A MATTER OF FACT WHEN FI JOB PAYS ME MORE THEN AIRLINE JOB I SWITCH TO FI JOB AND IN THE PAST 25 YEARS I HAVE SWITCHED OR DONE BOTH OF THEM BECAUSE I WORK WITH FLYING TO BE RICH BUT IF I DO NOT GET PAID AS MUCH AS I WANT I DO NOT WORK/FLY.
good night everybody.
I felt abused by your ...bull.... whatever and I thought it is an insult. You say you did not insult me, if that is true I am fine.
Please explain to me what bull.. means. If it is a polite word to use I will start using it.
PLEASE NAME THE AIRLINE YOU WERE REFERRING TO.
I apologize for calling you idiot. Sincerely.
noble D...D... I appreciate your vocabulary clarification. I DO NOT FEEL OFFENDED BY YOU DO NOT AGREEING WITH ME. FEEL FREE NOT TO AGREE WITH ME AS MUCH AND AS LONG AS YOU WANT. WE CAN STILL BE FRIENDS AND WE CAN STILL COMMUNICATE AT YOUR WISH. all the world whole population not agreeing with me does not offend me. You are very wrong in that.
BOTTOM LINE: I DO NOT CARE IF I FLY MY LOVE B 747-200 OR A CESSNA152, I FLY WHATEVER PAYS ME MORE AND I WISH I FIND SOMEONE WHO PAYS ME 10000 EURO PER WEEK TO FLY HIS SINGLE ENGINE LAND VFR ONLY OPERATIONS AND AS A MATTER OF FACT WHEN FI JOB PAYS ME MORE THEN AIRLINE JOB I SWITCH TO FI JOB AND IN THE PAST 25 YEARS I HAVE SWITCHED OR DONE BOTH OF THEM BECAUSE I WORK WITH FLYING TO BE RICH BUT IF I DO NOT GET PAID AS MUCH AS I WANT I DO NOT WORK/FLY.
good night everybody.
Last edited by RSFTO; 13th Mar 2009 at 22:49.
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Flybe minimum requirement (on their website) is 50 hours in the past 6 or 12 months - can't remember which. They don't care whether its FI or 737 time as long as you have it.
50 hours btw in the UK will cost you about the same as an FI rating if you were to hire from a club and do it that way.
So there is one at least. When it comes to an interview, 500 hours of FI would probably put you in a better position than 500 hours of bimbling.
...course 50 737 hours probably trumps FI hours in the interview!
50 hours btw in the UK will cost you about the same as an FI rating if you were to hire from a club and do it that way.
So there is one at least. When it comes to an interview, 500 hours of FI would probably put you in a better position than 500 hours of bimbling.
...course 50 737 hours probably trumps FI hours in the interview!
Dancing with the devil, going with the flow... it's all a game to me.
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And when questioned at interview about how seriously you took instructing will you tell them it was a simple means for you to get more hours under your belt?
VFE.
VFE.
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VFE:
Dont think that will be relevant in an airline interview situation. after all if you were really after instructing as a career then why would you be at the interview?? besides; assuming at least one of the interviewers is a pilot they will have 'been there, done that' and probably not care about the answer; and likely not bother to ask in the first place. all in my very own humble opinion though. any hours are better than no hours.
And when questioned at interview about how seriously you took instructing will you tell them it was a simple means for you to get more hours under your belt?
Dancing with the devil, going with the flow... it's all a game to me.
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That is where you are wrong. They will most likely wish to discover your commitment to their business henceforth will delve into why you chose to arrive on their doorstep via the route you did. Hop over to parachute dropping (for instance) and they'll most likely ask why you chose to change job.
Yes, it is just part of the interview process but you'll need to be more convincing about your ambitions than you appear here if you wish to succeed at an airline. Show your true feelings towards instructing and your feet won't touch.
Just trying to give you a heads up 'cause I can see you selling yourself and the profession of instructing short mate. Any training captain worth his weight will admire someone who shows commitment to instructing. Don't kid yourself.
VFE.
Yes, it is just part of the interview process but you'll need to be more convincing about your ambitions than you appear here if you wish to succeed at an airline. Show your true feelings towards instructing and your feet won't touch.
Just trying to give you a heads up 'cause I can see you selling yourself and the profession of instructing short mate. Any training captain worth his weight will admire someone who shows commitment to instructing. Don't kid yourself.
VFE.
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Came across this thread by accident - just been Googling what it'd take to renew my QFI rating and SEP stuff before that (it's not called QFI now I believe, which shows how long I've been out of G/A flying!)
I just wanted to point out a few things for those aspiring to airline style ops, as there seems to be some confusion as to whether FI hours count for much.
There are many airlines that don't give diddly-squat for how many hours instructing you've done, and indeed, will take on someone straight from an approved school before someone with 1000hrs of FI. Indeed BA will not take you on as a DEP until you have several hundred hours in a multi-crew environment - theywill take you on straight from Oxford etc. (albeit on a reduced salary for a few years - SSP rates)
There will always be a handful of operators that will recruit FIs before a 100hr wonder! It invariably (in the smaller operators) comes down to the Chief Pilot's preferences (in larger organisations, policy will be set by committee, and the companies may well have close ties to schools) - many smaller operators have a higher percentage of self-improver type pilots, which may well include the Chief Pilot in turn steering him/her one way or the other!
As for whether being an FI improves your handling, well sure, it'll improve lots of things; I was pretty fair at throwing an aircraft around as a QFI, I had been taught well in the UAS and bought a lot to the table of instructing. My handling then changed/improved further by flying Sheds for 5 years with no autopilot (although my aeros became a bit rusty.) But since moving to airlines proper, i.e. Heavy Metal stuff, my handling skills have been eroded significantly through the years - and you know what? on a day to day basis - it doesn't matter! Airlines don't care how good your 'handling' is, as long as it's 'good enough' for the usual suspects, RTO, EFATO, limiting X-Wind etc. Most of the time, we are systems operators, and on modern FBW jets, even with the autopilot un-plugged we aren't really flying the aircraft ourselves. Hell, in my company, we aren't even allowed to use manual thrust, unless the autothrust has failed!!
Handling skills aren't what it's about, airlines are looking for someone that will adhere to SOPs, be 'company' minded, generally 'fit-in', and not be a total w*nker!! Ticking those boxes, is far more important than any blatting around in a SEP, no matter how good you are at it!!
Do I wish the above wasn't true? Hell, yes! I fly with many (most) good guys and gals, but just occassionally, I feel like I've gone back to instructor days - so not only am I looking after nearly 200 pax down the back, but I'm keeping an eye on matey who doesn't seem to be particularly aware of what's going on. I'd suggest that the self-improver has the advantage there, in that it's the 'awareness' of your surroundings, and what else is going on 'outside'of your own flight-deck that the 100hr guys lack, and the FI peeps win.
It's not me you've got to convince though (I've experienced all of the above at first hand!) The fact is, the difference between a good and a poor FI candidate can be immense. The difference between a good school graduate and a poor one, is less marked - purely because the really poor ones don't graduate. There's a certain safety there for the airlines, it's not so much of a gamble when they hire from the schools, as they're getting a known quantity, that will have had reports written about them many times over as they progress through the system.
Maybe not what you want to hear, but don't despair. If you are totally dedicated things will happen for you (you may have to make them happen!) I got qualified just before the 1990 downturn, I managed to join an airline where the Chief Pilot was sympathetic to self-improvers, a few years later I did my own 75' rating and worked for a charter outfit, finally joining my current mob 11 1/2 years ago. After 10 years I got my command (guess who I work for
) and it'll be another 7 or 8 years before I get back to LongHaul.
What I'm trying to say is, just because you may consider your 1000's of hours instructing worthwhile, don't expect everyone to think the same way.
If I had my time again, to get into an airline, I would NOT have done the self-improving route. But, for a great personal experience (and a great leveller) it's hard to beat.
I just wanted to point out a few things for those aspiring to airline style ops, as there seems to be some confusion as to whether FI hours count for much.
There are many airlines that don't give diddly-squat for how many hours instructing you've done, and indeed, will take on someone straight from an approved school before someone with 1000hrs of FI. Indeed BA will not take you on as a DEP until you have several hundred hours in a multi-crew environment - theywill take you on straight from Oxford etc. (albeit on a reduced salary for a few years - SSP rates)
There will always be a handful of operators that will recruit FIs before a 100hr wonder! It invariably (in the smaller operators) comes down to the Chief Pilot's preferences (in larger organisations, policy will be set by committee, and the companies may well have close ties to schools) - many smaller operators have a higher percentage of self-improver type pilots, which may well include the Chief Pilot in turn steering him/her one way or the other!
As for whether being an FI improves your handling, well sure, it'll improve lots of things; I was pretty fair at throwing an aircraft around as a QFI, I had been taught well in the UAS and bought a lot to the table of instructing. My handling then changed/improved further by flying Sheds for 5 years with no autopilot (although my aeros became a bit rusty.) But since moving to airlines proper, i.e. Heavy Metal stuff, my handling skills have been eroded significantly through the years - and you know what? on a day to day basis - it doesn't matter! Airlines don't care how good your 'handling' is, as long as it's 'good enough' for the usual suspects, RTO, EFATO, limiting X-Wind etc. Most of the time, we are systems operators, and on modern FBW jets, even with the autopilot un-plugged we aren't really flying the aircraft ourselves. Hell, in my company, we aren't even allowed to use manual thrust, unless the autothrust has failed!!
Handling skills aren't what it's about, airlines are looking for someone that will adhere to SOPs, be 'company' minded, generally 'fit-in', and not be a total w*nker!! Ticking those boxes, is far more important than any blatting around in a SEP, no matter how good you are at it!!
Do I wish the above wasn't true? Hell, yes! I fly with many (most) good guys and gals, but just occassionally, I feel like I've gone back to instructor days - so not only am I looking after nearly 200 pax down the back, but I'm keeping an eye on matey who doesn't seem to be particularly aware of what's going on. I'd suggest that the self-improver has the advantage there, in that it's the 'awareness' of your surroundings, and what else is going on 'outside'of your own flight-deck that the 100hr guys lack, and the FI peeps win.
It's not me you've got to convince though (I've experienced all of the above at first hand!) The fact is, the difference between a good and a poor FI candidate can be immense. The difference between a good school graduate and a poor one, is less marked - purely because the really poor ones don't graduate. There's a certain safety there for the airlines, it's not so much of a gamble when they hire from the schools, as they're getting a known quantity, that will have had reports written about them many times over as they progress through the system.
Maybe not what you want to hear, but don't despair. If you are totally dedicated things will happen for you (you may have to make them happen!) I got qualified just before the 1990 downturn, I managed to join an airline where the Chief Pilot was sympathetic to self-improvers, a few years later I did my own 75' rating and worked for a charter outfit, finally joining my current mob 11 1/2 years ago. After 10 years I got my command (guess who I work for
) and it'll be another 7 or 8 years before I get back to LongHaul.What I'm trying to say is, just because you may consider your 1000's of hours instructing worthwhile, don't expect everyone to think the same way.
If I had my time again, to get into an airline, I would NOT have done the self-improving route. But, for a great personal experience (and a great leveller) it's hard to beat.
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just a query...
...but why is it always about the hours. Or more to the point, why do the 'discussions' start mainly about the hours AND the money?! FI's are paid poorly, its well known by the FI's and not so well known by others -a friend of mine was recently shocked when told how little I earn - and came out with the usual two questions,
1)Don't you want to fly for the airlines? (answer - no, never felt the desire to, can't promise i never will but am quite happy not doing so at the moment) and
2)how do you afford to live? Simple, I have a job and I have a career. the job pays the bills - its only part time but it allows me to spend the rest of my time doing what i love doing. No, not just the flying but hanging around at the club, socialising with members and students, enjoying the sunshine (ok that may be wishful thinking) and teaching people something. I WANT to pass on my knowledge, i WANT to see people enjoy what I enjoy, I WANT to be able to go to work and know that when i finish the job, the LIFE is waiting for me elsewhere. I enjoy the Job, but I love the flying.
I appreciate that hours count for jobs further up the line, and money certainly helps with living. but honestly - did you start flying because you enjoyed it? and did you carry on getting qualified and picking up ratings because you were driven by money or the bug? I was lucky enough to have a great instructor who instilled the JOY of flight in me, I want to pass that on! It may sound naieve but i really do believe that you start flyingf or whatever reason you start flying, but unless you enjoy it you won't carry on. Its not all about the money, its not all about the hours!
I am not ashamed to say that I accepted the awful FI wages, as many of us do, but though my bank manager knocks at the door in the back of my mind about the money i have ploughed into getting here, I can't go back to the time BA (before aviation). Keep your chins up when you are gettingdepressed about the conditions. who else in the world gets 360 degree views with no buildings in the way, a variety of people to work with and the freedom to soar?!
1)Don't you want to fly for the airlines? (answer - no, never felt the desire to, can't promise i never will but am quite happy not doing so at the moment) and
2)how do you afford to live? Simple, I have a job and I have a career. the job pays the bills - its only part time but it allows me to spend the rest of my time doing what i love doing. No, not just the flying but hanging around at the club, socialising with members and students, enjoying the sunshine (ok that may be wishful thinking) and teaching people something. I WANT to pass on my knowledge, i WANT to see people enjoy what I enjoy, I WANT to be able to go to work and know that when i finish the job, the LIFE is waiting for me elsewhere. I enjoy the Job, but I love the flying.
I appreciate that hours count for jobs further up the line, and money certainly helps with living. but honestly - did you start flying because you enjoyed it? and did you carry on getting qualified and picking up ratings because you were driven by money or the bug? I was lucky enough to have a great instructor who instilled the JOY of flight in me, I want to pass that on! It may sound naieve but i really do believe that you start flyingf or whatever reason you start flying, but unless you enjoy it you won't carry on. Its not all about the money, its not all about the hours!
I am not ashamed to say that I accepted the awful FI wages, as many of us do, but though my bank manager knocks at the door in the back of my mind about the money i have ploughed into getting here, I can't go back to the time BA (before aviation). Keep your chins up when you are gettingdepressed about the conditions. who else in the world gets 360 degree views with no buildings in the way, a variety of people to work with and the freedom to soar?!
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Just trying to give you a heads up 'cause I can see you selling yourself and the profession of instructing short mate. Any training captain worth his weight will admire someone who shows commitment to instructing. Don't kid yourself
I hear what you are saying, honestly. to clarify i used to instruct full time and now do so once a week; the reason being that i like it. I orginially was a full time FI in order to gain hours like many thousands before me (and because i thought i would enjoy it hence didnt get into paradrops or something different). So my motivation was and still is personal gain AND enjoyment. nothing wrong with that i hope. When asked why i wanted to join the flying school i was completely honest as above.
my main point was a future airline employer is not likely to care about your motivation for working in a flying school in the past now are they?? They may care about how you got on while you were there and if you contributed something positive. Sure the airline interviewer will want to hear about your flying past, but it will all be about how you got to this point in your flying career, and of course where you may be going (where do you see yourself in 5 years?). When you go through your story and tell how you were an FI then bit of air taxi etc you will likely get a knowing nod and smile because guess what? Answer= the interviewer has likely been there and done that..
