Future lack of FI's
Joined: Nov 1998
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: England
SNIGS: It's a thought. Shame that it will never happen 
The whole flying industry makes for an interesting study in human behaviour: the dream of flying being fed on by those who need things flown.
I assume that as the cost of helicopter maintenance was expensive from the start then the training was expensive from the start. Then again, I have heard that rotary instructors are paid much much more per hour than fixed wing. Hmmm, maybe that in itself is a Catch 22 in that there aren't as many instructors due to (a) cost of training and (b) smaller transport industry.
ooops, I would prefer that we don't yaw (!) into rotary specifics gradually
I know that the UK "scene" can never be the same as the USA but I will always remember a check-ride I had over there once, with a Gold Seal instructor who "punched in" using a time recording system when we started the pre-flight briefing and "punched out" when we completed the debrief. I was then charged for his time distinctly on the invoice - everything presented in a nice transparent manner. His fee: $35 per hour.
Can you imagine (a) this sort of overt charging system here and (b) the "outrage" of some customers at such "high prices" for such expert instruction ?
The whole flying industry makes for an interesting study in human behaviour: the dream of flying being fed on by those who need things flown.
I assume that as the cost of helicopter maintenance was expensive from the start then the training was expensive from the start. Then again, I have heard that rotary instructors are paid much much more per hour than fixed wing. Hmmm, maybe that in itself is a Catch 22 in that there aren't as many instructors due to (a) cost of training and (b) smaller transport industry.
ooops, I would prefer that we don't yaw (!) into rotary specifics gradually
I know that the UK "scene" can never be the same as the USA but I will always remember a check-ride I had over there once, with a Gold Seal instructor who "punched in" using a time recording system when we started the pre-flight briefing and "punched out" when we completed the debrief. I was then charged for his time distinctly on the invoice - everything presented in a nice transparent manner. His fee: $35 per hour.
Can you imagine (a) this sort of overt charging system here and (b) the "outrage" of some customers at such "high prices" for such expert instruction ?
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 3,130
Likes: 17
From: U.K.
Rotary FI's can get anywhere between £30-60/Hr for PPL work! But an R22 costs about £200/hour dual. Mind you, they then rent them out at around £130ish SFH.
The pay structure for F/W FI's is an absolute joke, but blaming hour building guys and gals for the situation is as much of a nonsense.
Personally, I always saw instructing as the lowest form of aviation until I became an instructor as a necessitity. Now I love it and strongly believe that it should be an essential part of everybodys training. I have learnt an enormous amount in 3 years and it has made me a much better communicator, people person, team player and not least a cynic!
I do feel that eventually there will be a lack of instructors, in the way of cheap labour as at the moment, but certainly not in the forseeable future.
Schools are churning out airline clone wannabees who want to fly the latest, shiniest jets. not some clapped out Cessna. Most pilots only instruct out of necessity. So when airlines start to recruit properly again, FI's will be leaving in their droves. Leaving alot of gaps and p*ssed off punters behind them. Good luck to them I say. It's nice to be able to afford to eat AND put petrol in the car.
The pay structure for F/W FI's is an absolute joke, but blaming hour building guys and gals for the situation is as much of a nonsense.
Personally, I always saw instructing as the lowest form of aviation until I became an instructor as a necessitity. Now I love it and strongly believe that it should be an essential part of everybodys training. I have learnt an enormous amount in 3 years and it has made me a much better communicator, people person, team player and not least a cynic!
I do feel that eventually there will be a lack of instructors, in the way of cheap labour as at the moment, but certainly not in the forseeable future.
Schools are churning out airline clone wannabees who want to fly the latest, shiniest jets. not some clapped out Cessna. Most pilots only instruct out of necessity. So when airlines start to recruit properly again, FI's will be leaving in their droves. Leaving alot of gaps and p*ssed off punters behind them. Good luck to them I say. It's nice to be able to afford to eat AND put petrol in the car.
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 10
From: uk
There will never be a shortage of flying instructors.
There will always more instructors than jobs available.
I,m always amazed that people moan about the poor money instructors receive after 'they' have had the benefit of cheap instructors on their way up the ladder.
My advice in the past to anybody wanting to be an instructor unless you can get into a very busy school, keep it part time, say weekends and get a good paid job during the week.
If you are at a busy school you haven't got time to worry how bad the pay is. Just keep busting your**** to keep your students happy. They will come back for more and you be the richer in more than monetary terms.
Remember flying instructing is one of the few jobs where you are surrounded by people who want to be there. After 14 years as a flying instructor/CFI/Examiner i'm taking time out and now in a job outside aviation and surrounded by people with long faces all day.
There will always more instructors than jobs available.
I,m always amazed that people moan about the poor money instructors receive after 'they' have had the benefit of cheap instructors on their way up the ladder.
My advice in the past to anybody wanting to be an instructor unless you can get into a very busy school, keep it part time, say weekends and get a good paid job during the week.
If you are at a busy school you haven't got time to worry how bad the pay is. Just keep busting your**** to keep your students happy. They will come back for more and you be the richer in more than monetary terms.
Remember flying instructing is one of the few jobs where you are surrounded by people who want to be there. After 14 years as a flying instructor/CFI/Examiner i'm taking time out and now in a job outside aviation and surrounded by people with long faces all day.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: In the seventh house with Mars
Flying 4 Love or Money?
Dear All, esp. Walkingthewalk & WWW,
Well said on your comments about instructing..
I've used a fire extinguisher in anger.
I love my job, and I fly and instruct with my heart and soul. But, I wouldn't say "no" to a job in the RHS of a Boeing... or any other
Fiery Chariot.
In your quest for the ideal aviation career, It's the same for flying: no one forgets a good teacher.
Happy vapour trails.
Well said on your comments about instructing..
I've used a fire extinguisher in anger.
I love my job, and I fly and instruct with my heart and soul. But, I wouldn't say "no" to a job in the RHS of a Boeing... or any other
Fiery Chariot.
In your quest for the ideal aviation career, It's the same for flying: no one forgets a good teacher.
Happy vapour trails.
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
From: UK
Ok...caveat again..im drunk but...
1. Cheap instructors = who are you kidding? IU ave had some of the moszt expensive in the industry...
2. If my students remember me the better
3. I *wish& my students have good *fond* memeroies of me - but more importanly remember what I taught them....
4. I wish I was as good as Pete Hamlet @ Aeros Gloucester or one of th echaps at Barkstonh Heatrh......
p.s.. did I mention I had too much tio diurnk.???
1. Cheap instructors = who are you kidding? IU ave had some of the moszt expensive in the industry...
2. If my students remember me the better
3. I *wish& my students have good *fond* memeroies of me - but more importanly remember what I taught them....
4. I wish I was as good as Pete Hamlet @ Aeros Gloucester or one of th echaps at Barkstonh Heatrh......
p.s.. did I mention I had too much tio diurnk.???
