HELP ME!!!
 

Hello all, just popped in from the wannabee section with a question. I am attempting to squeeze a loan out of the bank to convert from PPL to CPL/FI with the intention of building hrs for the airlines. Can anyone tell me the typical starting salary for an instructor, how many hours a month is average, whether there is a healthy demand for instructors at present, oh and what the job is like!!?

In a word the salary is poor but the job is supurb if you take a real pride in it. Hours are long, adrenaline is often brown but the satisfaction is enourmous. I'm sure you will get a post from people working full time in the field who can give you recent knowledge, mine is out of date by five years.

Good luck.

Hi Crankcase

If you get CPL/FI are you having to do the full ATPL exams? Am I right in thinking that CPL theory alone is not yet upgradeable to ATPL?

Crankcase,
Salary! From a UK point of view.The pay is sometimes on an hourly basis £10, and sometimes a retainer for showing up with flying pay over a certain amount of hours, value equivalent to the retainer amount.Yes I'm sure when you aspire to the dizzy heights of CFI or a commercial school you can command a reasonable salary, but until then your pay depends very much on your hours flown.Having said all that it is rewarding although hard work and therefore worthwhile!!

Thanks to all! The CPL/FI incorporates all ATPL exams up to IR/Multi rating and MCC, a further 20k cost. I am hoping for a miracle to get that kind of spare cash after a couple of years as FI, but it seems too risky to go for the full ATPL to start! It seems like a fun job, although I did the PPL in Florida so my experience of UK flying is limited. (still lots of weather and serviceability problems there too!)