SEP(LAND) flight instructor to an airline transition
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2017
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From: Absolute ceiling
SEP(LAND) flight instructor to an airline transition
I am an EASA flight instructor teaching currently on a piper up north (EUROPE), I have around 2000TT. I am currently 30 and would like to apply to an airline.
Does anyone know if i am still a cadet when I apply to an airline, does any airline offer jobs to FIs?
I would really appricate if some can help me answer my questions!
Many thanks!
Does anyone know if i am still a cadet when I apply to an airline, does any airline offer jobs to FIs?
I would really appricate if some can help me answer my questions!
Many thanks!
Last edited by Willtofly; 27th January 2023 at 08:49.
Joined: Mar 2002
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
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From: near an aeroplane
The main question is, do you have all the other needed bits: ATPL theory, CPL with ME/IR and MCC? I suppose you do, but consider the fact that if you got all that several years ago, an airline may be less interested. Still, it's fair game, so apply and you will find out.
Joined: Dec 2005
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 4,970
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From: Hong Kong
Anyone with no multi crew time is a cadet. Once you have 500 hours multi crew then you can go for the TR/NTR jobs.
Unfortunately as an instructor every hour over 200 will potentially count against you.
Unfortunately as an instructor every hour over 200 will potentially count against you.
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 852
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From: Utopia
I´ve recently finished the FI course, and I´ve flown commercial (B744 and down), Private Ops (G650 and down), Bush flying (B1900 and down) for 25+ years, and I´m seeing a lot of quality stuff that FI´s can carry with them onwards. So, why do you say that? thanks for clarifying mate.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2017
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From: Absolute ceiling
Why are the airline less interested if I did that several years ago, completed my training in 2019 and did the FI straight after! Are flight instructors looked bad upon?
Joined: Oct 2017
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From: Bressuire
The main question is, do you have all the other needed bits: ATPL theory, CPL with ME/IR and MCC?
Joined: Dec 2005
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: Hong Kong
It varies from airline to airline obviously, but anecdotally the big players who take a lot of cadets prefer people who are young and fresh out of training with minimal hours. Something about younger inexperienced people being easier to mould and the more single pilot hours you have, the harder it is to train you to fly in a multi crew environment.
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 539
Likes: 336
From: Blue sky
I don't have the impression FI's are considered "different" from any other cadet when applying for flying jobs. There is a lot to be learned, it's a different world. There are some advantages to FI experience, there are also disadvantages. I have seen FI's blast through training because they wanted to learn. And I have seen FI's retrained and retrained with no succes because they couldn't question themselves.
So apply for the cadet job, and go for it. It's your own mentality that will make you succeed.
Last edited by BraceBrace; 27th January 2023 at 11:30.
Joined: Oct 2017
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From: Bressuire
Does anyone know if i am still a cadet when I apply to an airline, does any airline offer jobs to FIs?
I would say that a future employer cares little whether you are an instructor or not.
Joined: May 2004
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
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From: Ташкент
Unfortunately as an instructor every hour over 200 will potentially count against you.
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 140
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From: Copenhagen
Yeah, having actual flying experience is what counts when you applied for an Airline job in the US… instead of euro airlines wanting cadets who are cheap to hire but no skills. Even the airlines themselves say the intergrated training is useless in producing the candidates they want.
You likely have better CRM skills as an instructor in real life situations so your qualifications should count more than a newly graduated gear-swinger with 98% average across their ATPL written guff
You likely have better CRM skills as an instructor in real life situations so your qualifications should count more than a newly graduated gear-swinger with 98% average across their ATPL written guff
Joined: Apr 2022
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From: Italy
Some training departments have had issues training some former instructors and other pilots with only single pilot ops experience due to bad habits they picked up over the years and were not suited to a multi-crew environment.
But it all comes down to attitude.
But it all comes down to attitude.
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 140
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From: Copenhagen
But that boils down to attitude issues and not so much specific to single pilot or instructors… Unless Airlines start paying up and paying training for zero hour direct entry pilots, then they need to accept the fact that pilots come in all sizes and abilities, Also, alot of training departments are poisoned by the old-boys ex RAF/armed services and as such anybody who doesnt come from same background is immediately labeled.
So there must be reflection on both sides, the cocky CFI who thinks they are the bees bollox in their local pond, and the training department who rubbishes everybody unless they are a fast jet jock or zero hour graduate whom they can brainwash easily.
But if the OP is willing to admit he/she is on new territory and can dial in to the company compass, it’ll be good and the airlines will get a good asset they can use internally for line training etc..
So there must be reflection on both sides, the cocky CFI who thinks they are the bees bollox in their local pond, and the training department who rubbishes everybody unless they are a fast jet jock or zero hour graduate whom they can brainwash easily.
But if the OP is willing to admit he/she is on new territory and can dial in to the company compass, it’ll be good and the airlines will get a good asset they can use internally for line training etc..
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 140
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From: Copenhagen
(Like I said, KSA was introduced to specifically address issues the airlines are having with new cadets… an Instructor has learned alot of that in real life instead of BS building of bridges over lava or making stick men out of spagetti on team building excercises)
Joined: Feb 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: UK
Willtofly
Firstly, best of luck! My advice is don’t listen to the naysayers and negative comments. Just be yourself and keep sending out those applications. I was in exactly the same situation as you so I’m slightly biased. In the end I got lucky. Right place, right time.
Here’s something to cheer you up. I was in the sim couple of years back and we were looking at UPRT. The trainer mentioned that pilots that still flew outside of the airline seemed to cope well with the recoveries. Seems the old stick and rudder skills counted for something. My point is you have a lot of time both general handling and analysing someone else flying in other words PF and PM in airline speak.
I’m not criticising cadets or MPL candidates but you have plenty of aviation experience. Don’t knock it although you’ll probably find a type rating course intense. I think we all did that came from an instructor background. Hope that helps.
BBK
Firstly, best of luck! My advice is don’t listen to the naysayers and negative comments. Just be yourself and keep sending out those applications. I was in exactly the same situation as you so I’m slightly biased. In the end I got lucky. Right place, right time.
Here’s something to cheer you up. I was in the sim couple of years back and we were looking at UPRT. The trainer mentioned that pilots that still flew outside of the airline seemed to cope well with the recoveries. Seems the old stick and rudder skills counted for something. My point is you have a lot of time both general handling and analysing someone else flying in other words PF and PM in airline speak.
I’m not criticising cadets or MPL candidates but you have plenty of aviation experience. Don’t knock it although you’ll probably find a type rating course intense. I think we all did that came from an instructor background. Hope that helps.
BBK
Last edited by BBK; 30th January 2023 at 07:17.
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 123
Likes: 1
From: uk
Some training departments have had issues training some:
former instructors, former single seat fast jet pilots, former bush pilots, former biz jet pilots, former air taxi pilots, former military pilots, former cadets, former glider tug pilots, former SAR pilots, former pilots from other airlines etc etc.
Not all candidates are perfect. Not all training departments are perfect.
Do your best and keep at it.
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 852
Likes: 6
From: Utopia
Some training departments have had issues training some:
former instructors, former single seat fast jet pilots, former bush pilots, former biz jet pilots, former air taxi pilots, former military pilots, former cadets, former glider tug pilots, former SAR pilots, former pilots from other airlines etc etc.
Not all candidates are perfect. Not all training departments are perfect.
Do your best and keep at it.
former instructors, former single seat fast jet pilots, former bush pilots, former biz jet pilots, former air taxi pilots, former military pilots, former cadets, former glider tug pilots, former SAR pilots, former pilots from other airlines etc etc.
Not all candidates are perfect. Not all training departments are perfect.
Do your best and keep at it.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Absolute ceiling
Willtofly
Firstly, best of luck! My advice is don’t listen to the naysayers and negative comments. Just be yourself and keep sending out those applications. I was in exactly the same situation as you so I’m slightly biased. In the end I got lucky. Right place, right time.
Here’s something to cheer you up. I was in the sim couple of years back and we were looking at UPRT. The trainer mentioned that pilots that still flew outside of the airline seemed to cope well with the recoveries. Seems the old stick and rudder skills counted for something. My point is you have a lot of time both general handling and analysing someone else flying in other words PF and PM in airline speak.
I’m not criticising cadets or MPL candidates but you have plenty of aviation experience. Don’t knock it although you’ll probably find a type rating course intense. I think we all did that came from an instructor background. Hope that helps.
BBK
Firstly, best of luck! My advice is don’t listen to the naysayers and negative comments. Just be yourself and keep sending out those applications. I was in exactly the same situation as you so I’m slightly biased. In the end I got lucky. Right place, right time.
Here’s something to cheer you up. I was in the sim couple of years back and we were looking at UPRT. The trainer mentioned that pilots that still flew outside of the airline seemed to cope well with the recoveries. Seems the old stick and rudder skills counted for something. My point is you have a lot of time both general handling and analysing someone else flying in other words PF and PM in airline speak.
I’m not criticising cadets or MPL candidates but you have plenty of aviation experience. Don’t knock it although you’ll probably find a type rating course intense. I think we all did that came from an instructor background. Hope that helps.
BBK
Thank you!
