Are you SICK of instructing?
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Join Date: Oct 2000
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Are you SICK of instructing?
I certainly am!!!
I'm in a job which combines instructing with charter work. Iv'e got almost 1000 hours instructing. I had enough of it about 500 hours ago, but can't seem to get away from it. Don't get me wrong. I still put 110% effort into my instructing. I constantly give more to my students than they expect and more than I probably should.
Now, I know I should get out before I strangle the next ab-initio student who fly's down base leg at 120 kts in a 172 wondering why she can't get down to the white arc. Believe me. I'm trying. But in the mean time, can anyone give me advice on how to cope with the frustration and teduim until I get a REAL job?
Thanks all........................................................H .
I'm in a job which combines instructing with charter work. Iv'e got almost 1000 hours instructing. I had enough of it about 500 hours ago, but can't seem to get away from it. Don't get me wrong. I still put 110% effort into my instructing. I constantly give more to my students than they expect and more than I probably should.
Now, I know I should get out before I strangle the next ab-initio student who fly's down base leg at 120 kts in a 172 wondering why she can't get down to the white arc. Believe me. I'm trying. But in the mean time, can anyone give me advice on how to cope with the frustration and teduim until I get a REAL job?
Thanks all........................................................H .
Join Date: Dec 2002
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I would suggest trying a job at the pub pulling beers. Not what you want to hear, I bet, but the best for your students who pay a considerable amount of money to YOU to teach them to fly.
Are any of your students CPLs? If so, a ground job for a while may help you to empathise with these up-and-coming professional pilots.
Or stop waiting for a better job to fall into your lap. Take your hours and go find one somewhere else. Success will solve the problem. A lack of success might improve your attitude.
I know you said you put in 110% still but if that's how you feel then I believe it will show through in attitude and performance, despite your efforts not to let it.
Are any of your students CPLs? If so, a ground job for a while may help you to empathise with these up-and-coming professional pilots.
Or stop waiting for a better job to fall into your lap. Take your hours and go find one somewhere else. Success will solve the problem. A lack of success might improve your attitude.
I know you said you put in 110% still but if that's how you feel then I believe it will show through in attitude and performance, despite your efforts not to let it.
Join Date: Oct 1999
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H.What a CR@P attitude!!
Seems the only one you should strangle is yourself for obviously making the wrong decission all that time ago - obviously you are using it as purely a stepping stone not realising that the gap in between instructing and a better job is a wide one
with about 1700 hours instructing I STILL enjoy instructing, and I think I always will - particularly when the student reaps the rewards of your labour ie first solo, GFPT, PPL, CPL, ME / CIR, and they are eternally thankfull. A good instructor will always leave a impressionable footprint in a students mind!
A good instructor MAY go on to better positions in regionals etc with Check and Training, etc...... particularly if they have a grade 1!
If you are disgrunteled, dont take it out on the student as all they are doing is trying to be YOU. I suggest you take a deep hard long look at your attitude, and make some decisions mate.
Oh, BTW, with 1300 hrs ME charter - its not a bed of roses there either mate. you sound like your the type that will be still winging when you are sitting out on charter for 7 hours at the back o' Burk somewhere in the hot and covered with flies waiting for "those bloody passangers" to turn up
thats my $0.02 anyway!
Edited for the spelling cops at 0450 in the morning - yawn!
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Think of the guy/gal who does not have the opportunity to flying charter and is just stuck in a full time instructing position, or for that matter no flying job.
Also the fact that your student is reflection of his or her instructor.
General aviation is never an easy road.
I can think of lots of people who would swap places with you.
The grass is not always greener the other side of the fence.
Also the fact that your student is reflection of his or her instructor.
General aviation is never an easy road.
I can think of lots of people who would swap places with you.
The grass is not always greener the other side of the fence.
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Nice attitude!! I agree with itchybum, why don't you get off your incompetent ass and go get this so called "real job". Some people with junior grade three ratings and no job would kill for your position, so why don' you give them an opportunity! 
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I instructed for 2.5 years.
Every day for that matter, my day off was when i could see the sun, and when the birds stayed on the tree the weather is so ****ty!!!
I tried to get out of it, and it took me 1.5 years to get a job, where i didn't have to tell the guy next to me what to do..
And you know what after 6 months of it, i got laid off, and believe me i missed instruction at that time.
Just enjoy it, you have a job...and you chose the condition you fly in... that is a big bonus.
I fly in canada, and i tell you there are some days where you would prefer not to be a pilot.
For instance, IFR night, with a full boat , ****ty weather and wind blowing at 40kts,... that isn't fun. And if the **** it the fan, then you 're screwed.
Sometimes i think about the good and bad old days of instruction , where you make the decision, and you are not govern by joe blow that needs to make is meeting and doesn't understand what windshear means..
Don't get me wrong, i love my job,
Just enjoy what you have it is only temporary, so make the most of it.
Try new things, challenge yourself.
Do you master you plane???? may be you should, and when you will be thenit is time to move on.
Every day for that matter, my day off was when i could see the sun, and when the birds stayed on the tree the weather is so ****ty!!!
I tried to get out of it, and it took me 1.5 years to get a job, where i didn't have to tell the guy next to me what to do..
And you know what after 6 months of it, i got laid off, and believe me i missed instruction at that time.
Just enjoy it, you have a job...and you chose the condition you fly in... that is a big bonus.
I fly in canada, and i tell you there are some days where you would prefer not to be a pilot.
For instance, IFR night, with a full boat , ****ty weather and wind blowing at 40kts,... that isn't fun. And if the **** it the fan, then you 're screwed.
Sometimes i think about the good and bad old days of instruction , where you make the decision, and you are not govern by joe blow that needs to make is meeting and doesn't understand what windshear means..
Don't get me wrong, i love my job,
Just enjoy what you have it is only temporary, so make the most of it.
Try new things, challenge yourself.
Do you master you plane???? may be you should, and when you will be thenit is time to move on.
PPRuNeaholic
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Toss the job in mate, you're obviously not cut-out to be an instructor.
I instructed full time between 1981 and 1984, then combined it with charter work for two years. After that, I moved on to other things but did part-time instructing right thru 1991. I can tell you that I enjoyed every boring, tedious, terror-filled moment of it! I enjoyed it because I saw more results for my efforts than what was in my pay packet... the first-up passes by MY trainees in flight tests for various licence and/or rating qualifications.
I felt proud to have been responsible for all of that. I'm still proud of those achievements now. Job satisfaction is what it was all about for me and I got HEAPS of that.
I have so many memories from those years and wouldn't trade them for anything. I feel privileged for having been able to devote so much of my time to teaching skills - and safe flying practices - to so many people. And it's especially nice to meet up with a former trainee now and know that he, or she, has made a successful career in this industry that we all love, love to hate, and still love.
As you're sick of instructing, you're obviously not seeing any of the many intangible rewards associated with the work. Get out now so that someone else can do the right thing by your current trainees.
I instructed full time between 1981 and 1984, then combined it with charter work for two years. After that, I moved on to other things but did part-time instructing right thru 1991. I can tell you that I enjoyed every boring, tedious, terror-filled moment of it! I enjoyed it because I saw more results for my efforts than what was in my pay packet... the first-up passes by MY trainees in flight tests for various licence and/or rating qualifications.
I felt proud to have been responsible for all of that. I'm still proud of those achievements now. Job satisfaction is what it was all about for me and I got HEAPS of that.
I have so many memories from those years and wouldn't trade them for anything. I feel privileged for having been able to devote so much of my time to teaching skills - and safe flying practices - to so many people. And it's especially nice to meet up with a former trainee now and know that he, or she, has made a successful career in this industry that we all love, love to hate, and still love.
As you're sick of instructing, you're obviously not seeing any of the many intangible rewards associated with the work. Get out now so that someone else can do the right thing by your current trainees.
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At first glance, I would suggest this is a wind-up and a fairly amateurish attempt at that. Sorry Highbypasss but you'll need to try harder. Go read jetblast and check out what the seasoned @rseholes post to amuse themselves.
No one could possibly be so out of tune as to seriously post this kind of thing. Someone's fishing for some 'out-raged replies'.
No one could possibly be so out of tune as to seriously post this kind of thing. Someone's fishing for some 'out-raged replies'.
Join Date: Oct 1999
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Me thinks the same as Mutley........... a poor attempt at a wind up!!!
If not a wind up, Your attempt get some sympathy has fallen on deaf ears, Surely you arnt that un intelegent to think you would get any sympathy from a forum of pruners that have been there, done that?
-PULL YER HEAD IN!!, and get another job, H!!
If not a wind up, Your attempt get some sympathy has fallen on deaf ears, Surely you arnt that un intelegent to think you would get any sympathy from a forum of pruners that have been there, done that?
-PULL YER HEAD IN!!, and get another job, H!!
Oops pardon me
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I,d say get a life but you already have one.......enjoy it as there are plenty of ****ty jobs out there...........you should try a few and then you would realise that u got a guddun.
Coop & Bear Flt Eng and low houred student PPL
Coop & Bear Flt Eng and low houred student PPL
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Gota love the 'herd mentality', a few people bag him so every one does, I'm sure if a few people had sympathised with him then again so would a lot of others
Come on, you all know exactly what highbypass is talking about. I thought whinging about instructing was a favourite pastime of instructors, and if there is anyone out there who hasn't on one day felt like he or she has had enough of instructing and wants to move on to something bigger and better then you are a LIAR!!!
Don’t get me wrong I loved instructing and used to hate it when I heard other instructors (especially those junior to myself) complain about instructing. BUT we have all done it at some stage or another so give the poor ****** a break
Now wheres my sheep dog??
Come on, you all know exactly what highbypass is talking about. I thought whinging about instructing was a favourite pastime of instructors, and if there is anyone out there who hasn't on one day felt like he or she has had enough of instructing and wants to move on to something bigger and better then you are a LIAR!!!
Don’t get me wrong I loved instructing and used to hate it when I heard other instructors (especially those junior to myself) complain about instructing. BUT we have all done it at some stage or another so give the poor ****** a break
Now wheres my sheep dog??
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Bypass...
If your not winding us up me ole mate, what sort of response did you really expect?
Come on.... I think you already know the answer yourself.
If your sick of it mate its because:
A. You have lost (sight of) the ability to find a new challenge every day in your current situation?
or
B. Your just not cut out for it!
Me thinks its not B, because you wouldnt have done 1000hrs of it if you wern't!
My advice H, is to find a new challenge for yourself every day to keep it interesting. Sounds like you could work on a little technique maybe if your having probs with the girl on base.
Try instructing Multi IF, if you dont already......that can be a ball of fun, and quite a challenge for yourself to get the complex high workload lessons through to your students as effectively as you can.
I dont think its the instructing job the prob here mate.
As HEALY said......"take a look in the mirror".
G
If your not winding us up me ole mate, what sort of response did you really expect?
Come on.... I think you already know the answer yourself.
If your sick of it mate its because:
A. You have lost (sight of) the ability to find a new challenge every day in your current situation?
or
B. Your just not cut out for it!
Me thinks its not B, because you wouldnt have done 1000hrs of it if you wern't!
My advice H, is to find a new challenge for yourself every day to keep it interesting. Sounds like you could work on a little technique maybe if your having probs with the girl on base.
Try instructing Multi IF, if you dont already......that can be a ball of fun, and quite a challenge for yourself to get the complex high workload lessons through to your students as effectively as you can.
I dont think its the instructing job the prob here mate.
As HEALY said......"take a look in the mirror".
G
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Bypass;
On a different note to the previous posts........
I got involved in the instructing thing and at one stage starting leaning they way you feel now although for me it was when I first began.
The reasons I later found for it were that I was quite happy in the a/c or doing groundwork with the student but what was getting to to me was 1) Over doing it (working too longer days with nearly no days off) 2) Getting caught up in other peoples problems and other political B******T that can go on at times.
I found for myself that cutting back on the instructing and going out to work parttime (not in avaition) fixed this immensley by putting a different perspective on life. If you can do that with the organisation you with do it.
On a different note to the previous posts........
I got involved in the instructing thing and at one stage starting leaning they way you feel now although for me it was when I first began.
The reasons I later found for it were that I was quite happy in the a/c or doing groundwork with the student but what was getting to to me was 1) Over doing it (working too longer days with nearly no days off) 2) Getting caught up in other peoples problems and other political B******T that can go on at times.
I found for myself that cutting back on the instructing and going out to work parttime (not in avaition) fixed this immensley by putting a different perspective on life. If you can do that with the organisation you with do it.
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Did instructors course 10 years ago and have no regrets. Got to love a job where I can teach someone to fly an aircraft to the edge of it's envelope, formation, low nav etc.
The qualification paid quite handsomely too in the The Land of Sand!
The qualification paid quite handsomely too in the The Land of Sand!
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Cut the guy some slack!!!
He's just being honest. For those of you that enjoy(ed) instructing, good for you. The fact is many pilots weren't blessed with the patience required of a teacher, unfortunately instructing is very often a necessary first step. So he’s not cut out to be a teacher, does that mean that he’s not worthy of bigger things as a pilot?
Highbypasss, as itchybum said, your students are shelling out a considerable amount of dough, and your attitude has a huge impact on the type of pilot they become – of course you knew that. Unfortunately your 110% is never going to be as good as the natural teacher’s, so do yourself and your student’s a favour, and get out of instructing.
Good luck with your career as a pilot. If you ever decide to change professions, for god’s sake don’t become a teacher!
He's just being honest. For those of you that enjoy(ed) instructing, good for you. The fact is many pilots weren't blessed with the patience required of a teacher, unfortunately instructing is very often a necessary first step. So he’s not cut out to be a teacher, does that mean that he’s not worthy of bigger things as a pilot?
Highbypasss, as itchybum said, your students are shelling out a considerable amount of dough, and your attitude has a huge impact on the type of pilot they become – of course you knew that. Unfortunately your 110% is never going to be as good as the natural teacher’s, so do yourself and your student’s a favour, and get out of instructing.
Good luck with your career as a pilot. If you ever decide to change professions, for god’s sake don’t become a teacher!
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Mikey21 got it in one!! You may not be over the moon about continuing to share your skills and knowledge with those who so eagerly lap it up and look up to you so impressionably.
At least be thankful that you are able to enjoy the relative comfort of the "reasonable weather" days. The option being of course......to launch off into the night into what any self-respecting "dog lover" wouldn't send his loyal hound to its kennel in!!!!!
Looking at the more positive aspect that OzExpat mentioned.............does anyone else have any proud and memorable tales to tell of past students that they've met years later, who are well down the fun-filled road to aviation glory themselves. I find that to be one of the surprisingly pleasant lingerings of my instructional days!!
Perhaps we could post a new thread on this??
Are positive threads allowed??????????
At least be thankful that you are able to enjoy the relative comfort of the "reasonable weather" days. The option being of course......to launch off into the night into what any self-respecting "dog lover" wouldn't send his loyal hound to its kennel in!!!!!
Looking at the more positive aspect that OzExpat mentioned.............does anyone else have any proud and memorable tales to tell of past students that they've met years later, who are well down the fun-filled road to aviation glory themselves. I find that to be one of the surprisingly pleasant lingerings of my instructional days!!
Perhaps we could post a new thread on this??
Are positive threads allowed??????????