Becoming FI after 40
 

Hi all,

I am a private pilot 220 hrs SEP complex, with aerobatic rating, considering to go for an EASA FI(A) here in UK. Having just turned 42, I know I am a bit late to make a living out of it, but passion call is strong...Actually the target is part time teaching blending with my other (main) job, licensed aircraft maintenance engineer for a major aerospace company. I hold as well a degree in aerospace engineering. I understand that my age is really playing against me, but considering that I have been involved in aviation for over 20 years I hope it will count toward creating a "convincing" professional figure. Hence here I am asking for comments...Don`t be gentle, if a reality check is due, then let it be.

Lots of good instructors started well after 40 so not an issue. Many students prefer older instructors.

Avir... I would agree with previous posts, 42 is not to old, but you need to consider if you can survive on the pay, as hour builders, part timers and retired airline pilots tend to keep the pay down.

However if you have a day job, that you are not going to give up, that is all for the better.

Thanks for the comments everyone...No, It will not be my main job obviously and not interested in hour building, still enjoying being a tech full time. If age is not an obstacle, I hope that being a low timer will not be either! Any good school to recommend in North Wales/Liverpool/Manchester area?

I did my initial issue Class 1 medical and FI course aged 57 and have been instructing for the past 10 years (you needed Class 1 in those days for FI, not now, though). I'd done the CPL exams in 1990 and had an unrestricted BCPL issued against a Class 2 medical, hence the initial issue at 57. I had around 500 hours, all SEP, when I started the FI course, all paid for by myself, having never progressed to a commercial job. I had a great career elsewhere in the aviation industry, which packed me up when I was 57.

It is undeniably harder and takes longer to learn new things when you're older, but I believe that maturity brings other things to the table.

Go for it!

TOO

I did my FI 20 years ago at age 45 & instructed part time since. I've never found a problem in obtaining work, indeed I often have to turn down requests in order to manage the demands on my time. I live in the North West and after a lapse whilst working offshore I did some refresher & my last renewal at Central Flight Training Tattenhill Central Flight Training ? Quality Professional & Advanced Pilot Training UK | Central Flight Training & found them excellent.

Thanks l10fly and TOO, you gave me some good motivation, rare stuff these days :).

Got mine aged 50 plus after 20 years of other flying. Now running a Club where I only ever employ mature guys and gals! (At least so far that is)


Where do you live?

I know a chap who became an instructor at just over 60, when he retired from NATS after 40 odd years as a controller.
He said he wanted something relaxing to do in his retirement.!!

I live in Chester, but frequently abroad for the nature of my job. Plenty of encouraging comments...Time to look for a good ATPL distance learning package to cover the theory!

Avir

You don't need to do the whole atpl stuff but just the cpl ones.
You hold a ppl and at least 200 hours, class 2 medical and need to pass a flight assessment to see if you are ok or not.
Have you tried to contact ravenair the price of fic seems pretty reasonable?

Hope it helps

Hi n.dave, Ravenair seems a good option, will visit them soon. You are right CPL theory is enough, but I believe that gaining more knowledge will play in my favour...

In my experience, what you REALLY need for the FI course is an excellent understanding of Theoretical Knowledge at the PPL level, so that you can prepare long briefings with confidence and get the most out of the course. We had regular tests of our TK and it was amazing how many gaps there were or just plain misunderstanding of the basics, that the CPL exams may not equip you for.

TOO

Good point TOO. I didn`t mean to go for rocket science! I just love to learn. But I agree most of the times we just forget the basics...After all what we learn at PPL stage is the foundation of everything else and if not properly addressed, we are never going to be proper flyers.

I may have missed that point, is a PPL FI entitled to be paid or do you need a CPL as well?

You don't need a CPL or CPL exam passes to be an FI,

You can do it all on a PPL and be paid.

And I know of two full time instructors who are PPL/FI's and they are rushed off their feet with work.

Ppl fi can be paid.
I pretty sure that if you skip the cpl exams you are restricted to lapl course only.

avir
n.dave is correct. Don't be tempted to be a LAPL only instructor, your options for paid work will be severely limited. Let me know if you ever move south!

Thanks everyone for the replies. I just need to gage the difference between ATPL a CPL theory, shouldn't be that much...
@MrAverage, always tempted to move south for the more lively aviation scene, might be in the near future!

As I have said before I know two instructors without CPL TK and they both work full time as FI's. They fly and earn just as much as their colleges who have the CPL TK.

The only restriction is that they can't teach ab initio PPL students. But they can teach for the LAPL, NPPL, SSEA, SLMG, Microlight, SEP, TMG, Night, IMC and aero's. They can also do all forms of differences training, one hour dual with the instructor, check out flights and trial flights.

I'd suggest do the FI rating first then if the work doesn't come do the CPL TK.