Best route to FI

[GolfWhiskyKilo]

Next challenge will be identifying a school close enough to do this part time while working, to the North East.

Do any of you far more knowledgeable people have any suggestions?!

thanks,
GWK

[beamer]

I have been thinking about doing an FI and I’m in my late sixties……a step too far ?

[Michael S]

Originally Posted by beamer

I have been thinking about doing an FI and I’m in my late sixties……a step too far ?

Depends on your experience, but I think there are more exciting ways of having a heart attack.

[fly_webbv2]

Good luck

I’m 58, PPL over 600 hours TT. Lapsed IMC. Last year I undertook the FI course at Andrewsfield, Essex. Best course I’ve taken, most useful, practical flying I highly recommend taking the FI. Schools need good instructors but there is no currency for LAPL only, so if you are serious about FI you need the CPL theory exams. I also work, so my study time is limited to after work and weekends. The CPL TK is a long course you need to put in the hours ,think two hours/ day for 12 months at least. I chose CAPT, similar course material to the bigger ATO’s, but all on line and best value out there. There are other providers. When I took my assessment flight I also renewed my CRI. As others have said you need 200 minimum, before starting the course so I’d definitely hours build ( buy a share and enjoy your flying) get to know a school nearby, on track in wellsbourne have a good reputation and they are a good source of information. As is Irv Lee. As others have said don’t accept anything less than excellent flying, height, heading, speed. The FI course demands toy fly accurately, good luck and enjoy every minute

[GolfWhiskyKilo]

Originally Posted by fly_webbv2

I’m 58, PPL over 600 hours TT. Lapsed IMC. Last year I undertook the FI course at Andrewsfield, Essex. Best course I’ve taken, most useful, practical flying I highly recommend taking the FI. Schools need good instructors but there is no currency for LAPL only, so if you are serious about FI you need the CPL theory exams. I also work, so my study time is limited to after work and weekends. The CPL TK is a long course you need to put in the hours ,think two hours/ day for 12 months at least. I chose CAPT, similar course material to the bigger ATO’s, but all on line and best value out there. There are other providers. When I took my assessment flight I also renewed my CRI. As others have said you need 200 minimum, before starting the course so I’d definitely hours build ( buy a share and enjoy your flying) get to know a school nearby, on track in wellsbourne have a good reputation and they are a good source of information. As is Irv Lee. As others have said don’t accept anything less than excellent flying, height, heading, speed. The FI course demands toy fly accurately, good luck and enjoy every minute

Thank you.

I’m not in any rush, it’s a long term aim, so all noted.

A share would be good, but slim pickings in the North East currently. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for that as an option too.

GWK

[CyclicRick]

Reading this thread with interest indeed. I’m thinking of doing the same thing myself. I’m an ATPL(H) IR holder with just shy of 10k hours and also a PPL A holder about three years away from retirement. I presume/hope all that will count towards the requirements. Anyone have any experience with training establishments up in Scotland?

[Prob30Tempo TSRA]

Is PPL instruction still really badly paid ? i was getting £14 an hour in 2002..

Thise above bearing in mind " as a retirement plan ", the weather makes the income very uncertain obv especially in winter .

Also bear in mind , in an ideal world , all your students would be keen enthusiastic folk doing full PPLs so you get a variety of flying , in my experience 60-70 % of what i ended up doing was trial lessons or red letter days or similar and after a few hundred of those it gets dull quickly

[Mickey Kaye]

I know numerous FI without CPL TK who work either full-time time or part-time time. Admittedly they're are all CRI's as well All of them do little LAPL instruction offering microlight, Aeros, URPT, SSEA, SEP, TMG, Tailwheel, GR. One is even an FE. I'd do the FI rating first and then if the work doesn't come do the CPL TK.

[Anodyne]

What's the current UK market like for instructors? Would a new (or recently renewed) PPL instructor get snapped up, or are there experienced people twiddling their thumbs due to the lack of students?

[TheOddOne]

Very short of instructors in the South-West.
TOO