FI recruitment, could next year be a different story?
 

I know that its not been a good couple of years for flight instructors, with many instructors seeing there hours reduced as people stop flying for leisure and many newly qualified instructors left without a job.

I would however like to know the views of current flight instructors upon where things are heading next year? With recruitment from the airlines potentially picking up once again, could the picture be different and will instructors be in greater demand by the end of next summer?

I'm currently sitting tight on my MEP CPL, I have a good job which I'm reluctant to leave until the industry picks itself up. I used to teach Cadets to fly Gliders in the Air Cadets and I really enjoyed this. I think being a flight instructor could be a good first job for me, could next year be a good year to become a newly qualified instructor?

I was going to ask the very same question, I started the FIC around 18 months ago then stopped after 10 hours due to lack of full time jobs, the uncertainty in the sector and the fact I had a decent ish salary were I was, my worry was another rating to keep current and as any job openings were pay as you fly the worry of no students, bad weather and will I have enough for the bills this month all told me to pause it and reevalute some time in the future, whilst keeping current doing a couple of hours a month for pleasure.

Pausing the course has no penalties as there is no time limit.

I feel I made the right choice having seen a few FI's returning to previous trades/industries and leaving flying altogether.
I am looking at starting up again during the winter months with a view to being ready for work next year.

People tend to focus on the availability of instructors and move up of FIs into airline jobs etc.., but that's only half the story! You need to take a view on demand as well - i.e. what is the flow of new students coming into the system like. I'm seeing very different stories at different places on this, and I do wonder if a geographical divide is starting to emerge.

I think this is true, thankfully I live in a wealthy pocket of south east england and it appears that the local flight schools still have a decent amount of business, however I may be wrong.

Very true! The club I am with now has a short waiting list of about 1 month to take on new students. Slots are fully booked all during the week from 9-5. 50 hours are being done on aircraft roughly every 11 days!

Its never a good time and its always a good time to be a flying instructor. A poorly paid job will always need philanthropic souls to invest in themselves to make the wheels turn.

If you want to make money you wouldn't have chosen flying. And when the big push comes its those that are ready with their ratings that will get the jobs.

Don't do it for the money, do it because you want to.

Be nice to see a rush, but I'm rather hopeful for a steady flow. And yes, if you've got the ticket, it places you further up the list when the time does come. But then I suppose thats obvious.

On a PPL level, we are busy, but then we usually are.

I wouldn't hold your breath on this If I were you.

Suggest you take an in-depth look at what's happening to the US$ against other currencies.
Its only going one way and that's down, an example is the US$ has fallen from 35 Thai baht to less that 30 in the past 3 months.

The US$ is out of control against all currencies. You might say that the £ has improved against the $ but compare it to other currieries and see what you get. Again using the Thai baht as an e.g. back in Jan you got 53 Baht to the £ now its only 47 if you are lucky.

Some experts are suggesting that up to 400 minor US banks will fail in Q1/2 2011, also the US Federal Reserve are deliberately pursuing a policy to debase the US $. The Fed is about to embark on a second phase of quantitative easing by pumping US$ 1-3 Trillion to purchase US securities. That's double what was spent last year.

In the UK You can expect 100,000 additional job losses with the cuts that are coming up next week. With the loss of family allowance for the high paid the devaluing of the £. The net result will be Petrol going up to £1.4/ £1.5 a Litre. The cost of UK living will go through the roof with raging inflation.

Its going to be very hard on UK flying operations and some will not survive. Additionally some more Airlines will go to the wall as you UK £ is going to be much lower against all the Far East currencies.

Don't believe me!!!! Well Operations like EVA Air are now cancelling at least one flight a week to BKK. Thai airways are doing the same.

Its going to be very messy! Sorry to be talking Doom and Gloom but now is not the time to be giving up good paid jobs to be an FI / Professional pilot

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Edited to add link

To understand the problem more take a look at the following Article ny Reuters September home foreclosures top 100,000 for first time | Reuters

Good Spring for Instructors ???
 

For the last couple of months airline recruitment has restarted. Three FI friends / colleagues of mine have done their sim checks and one is already on his type rating. More will go.

So there will be more vacancies for instructors ... but schools will probably hire in the spring - why pay a salary over the winter ?. (Yes the better schools do pay a retainer).

PPL training has held well at my FTO - similar to or slightly up on last year.

Consider a FI course if you genuinely enjoy teaching and passing on your love of flying. Even if you don't want to be a career instructor, a year or so of FI work will make you a better pilot. Some airlines (and business jet operators) really like instructors.

Look at the FI courses available. If you're fortunate enough to be near a school that has lots of PPL training, you may be able to get (at least part time) work there afterwards...

For what its worth, I do see an improvement next year in instructing jobs....but then again it couldnt possibly be any worse than it is now could it?
One point I would make to any aspiring FIs (and im sure you know this already) is that it definitely isnt the "career stepping-stone" that it used to be. I loved being an instructor and it improved my skills no end but at the end of the day (unfortunetly) a lot of companies (including mine now:ugh:!) will take a 200hr guy/gal whos prepared to shell out for a TR over an FI with 1000/2000hrs...most of which are PIC. Sad but true:{

Definitely not the profession it was. Having said that, instructing is great and i wouldnt want to discourage anyone from doing it (as long as you GENUINELY want to) but do bear what I have said in mind.

Been there,done that, have the T-shirt!:ok:

Alph