Flying Instructor Rates
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Flying Instructor Rates
Hey,
I've just completed my Instructor Rating and want to know what to expect from an employer. I've heard that some schools exploit there instructors. Can anyone tell me where I would find out the minimum wages / rates for flying instructors and the additional loadings assosciated with twin training / NVFR / IFR etc Also - Are you paid an annual salary or are you paid per flight?
I've just completed my Instructor Rating and want to know what to expect from an employer. I've heard that some schools exploit there instructors. Can anyone tell me where I would find out the minimum wages / rates for flying instructors and the additional loadings assosciated with twin training / NVFR / IFR etc Also - Are you paid an annual salary or are you paid per flight?
Moderator
Go work it out yourself: Pilots (General Aviation) Award 1988
Just remember you will be starting out as a junior Gr 3, which means constant supervision which can be a bit of a hassle for some companies and so they will pay peanuts until you reach senior gr3 or gr2.
A previous company I worked for paid a weekly retainer plus an hourly rate for each flying hour. This was quite good as there was potential to earn a decent pay however as instructing goes, the weather always played a major part so some weeks the pay was very dismal
The next job I got was full time, so no worrying about having a bad week. Bonuses were paid for multi engine charter and IF training. Having said this though, the pay was still very low.
Had an absolute ball instructing though, and would do it all over again as it finally paid off in the end.
PS I worked for a company once who wanted me to be a contractor to them. This meant getting an ABN, paying my own tax, super etc etc. DO NOT DO THIS! I told them where to go after a couple of weeks.
A previous company I worked for paid a weekly retainer plus an hourly rate for each flying hour. This was quite good as there was potential to earn a decent pay however as instructing goes, the weather always played a major part so some weeks the pay was very dismal
The next job I got was full time, so no worrying about having a bad week. Bonuses were paid for multi engine charter and IF training. Having said this though, the pay was still very low.
Had an absolute ball instructing though, and would do it all over again as it finally paid off in the end.
PS I worked for a company once who wanted me to be a contractor to them. This meant getting an ABN, paying my own tax, super etc etc. DO NOT DO THIS! I told them where to go after a couple of weeks.
PS I worked for a company once who wanted me to be a contractor to them
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Huntsman my thoughts exactly... what is with you people these days! Do you ask any questions before forking out the $$$ If not come and see me and I'll have some of your cash!!!!! 
Well as a general idea, I am currently finishing my CPL and am paying $103.80 per hour for the instructor
Just remember the flying school has to take their cut.
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Just a little perspective on what any business, be it flying school, engineering accounting etc has to charge out for the employee's hours. Multiply your hourly rate before tax by around 2.5 to 2.7 and then add GST.
So if you get $38/hr before tax the school to cover all the overheads, and Tail Wheel will confirm this no doubt, will have to be charging you out at $95/hr plus GST.
Now this all depends on the industry, some may be 2.0 times, but any where there is heavy ongoing training, be it on the job learning discovering or trial and error, or formalised training programs, they all cost heaps in time and money. Add to that Super, admin costs, accounting and legals, OH&S, phone power and dunny paper........
Now which of you want to run a flying school? I have enough trouble running a good successful engineering business!
What do you think TW?
So if you get $38/hr before tax the school to cover all the overheads, and Tail Wheel will confirm this no doubt, will have to be charging you out at $95/hr plus GST.
Now this all depends on the industry, some may be 2.0 times, but any where there is heavy ongoing training, be it on the job learning discovering or trial and error, or formalised training programs, they all cost heaps in time and money. Add to that Super, admin costs, accounting and legals, OH&S, phone power and dunny paper........
Now which of you want to run a flying school? I have enough trouble running a good successful engineering business!
What do you think TW?
Moderator
In the present context, there is no such thing as a Sub Contrator Pilot/Instructor. I also do not see how or where "payment per flying hour" is condoned or permitted under the Award or any Australian industrial legislation.
If you are remunerated, directed and tasked, then you are an employee in one form or another.
You may be casual (although I find that difficult to accept, considering the CAR and AOC obligations), in which case your entitlement is Award plus (from memory) around 23% as compensation for loss of sick, annual and long service leave. As a casual employee, you are also entitled to a minimum number of hours "call out" - check the Award.
You may be part time, in which case your entitlement is Award plus pro rate sick, annual and long service leave.
Or you may be full time, in which case your entitlement is Award plus sick, annual and long service leave.
If your salary exceeds $450 per month, you are also entitled to mandatory employer contribution superannuation.
Full time employment is 1,824 hours worked per year. CAO48 restricts flying hours to slightly less than half that total (900 hours per year). In practice, a high utilisation pilot will achieve at best, 750 to 800 flying hours per year. A Grade 3 cost (wages + leave accruals + super + workers compensation + uniforms etc) must be around $45,000 per annum; 700 hours flying = $65 per hour at cost.
For a flying instructor, where the business recovers all costs within an hourly aircraft hire rate, and considering the constraints of CAO48, I would expect the instructor cost within that hourly aircraft hire rate would need to be at least three to four times the instructor's hourly rate of pay, depending on instructor utilisation (i.e. ratio of flying hours to total work hours.)
$100 to $120 per flying hour for a Grade 3 Instructor would be about right?
Please do not come to PPRuNe and whine about being paid less than the Award or working under an employment agreement that is not in accordance with Australian industrial law. You can not contract out of your legal entitlements, your employer is acting unlawfully - and your complaints are boring!
If you are remunerated, directed and tasked, then you are an employee in one form or another.
You may be casual (although I find that difficult to accept, considering the CAR and AOC obligations), in which case your entitlement is Award plus (from memory) around 23% as compensation for loss of sick, annual and long service leave. As a casual employee, you are also entitled to a minimum number of hours "call out" - check the Award.
You may be part time, in which case your entitlement is Award plus pro rate sick, annual and long service leave.
Or you may be full time, in which case your entitlement is Award plus sick, annual and long service leave.
If your salary exceeds $450 per month, you are also entitled to mandatory employer contribution superannuation.
Full time employment is 1,824 hours worked per year. CAO48 restricts flying hours to slightly less than half that total (900 hours per year). In practice, a high utilisation pilot will achieve at best, 750 to 800 flying hours per year. A Grade 3 cost (wages + leave accruals + super + workers compensation + uniforms etc) must be around $45,000 per annum; 700 hours flying = $65 per hour at cost.
For a flying instructor, where the business recovers all costs within an hourly aircraft hire rate, and considering the constraints of CAO48, I would expect the instructor cost within that hourly aircraft hire rate would need to be at least three to four times the instructor's hourly rate of pay, depending on instructor utilisation (i.e. ratio of flying hours to total work hours.)
$100 to $120 per flying hour for a Grade 3 Instructor would be about right?
Please do not come to PPRuNe and whine about being paid less than the Award or working under an employment agreement that is not in accordance with Australian industrial law. You can not contract out of your legal entitlements, your employer is acting unlawfully - and your complaints are
boring!
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As an instructor you should have a complete understanding of the award, how it works, what you are entitled to etc..
You need to teach your students this too. It is important they enter the industry with a knowledge of their rights so they can make informed choices when it comes to employment. Too many fresh CPL's out there willing to work for nothing. Sure there are times when we have to go above and beyond our job description, but not being compensated for hours of work is not on.
I find some students start training under the delusion that they will be a millionaire by 30. The sooner you show them what they are legally entitled to, the sooner they can develop a mature outlook and expectation to future pay and employment.
I can't believe anyone would complete a CPL, let alone a FIR without knowledge of the award.
You need to teach your students this too. It is important they enter the industry with a knowledge of their rights so they can make informed choices when it comes to employment. Too many fresh CPL's out there willing to work for nothing. Sure there are times when we have to go above and beyond our job description, but not being compensated for hours of work is not on.
I find some students start training under the delusion that they will be a millionaire by 30. The sooner you show them what they are legally entitled to, the sooner they can develop a mature outlook and expectation to future pay and employment.
I can't believe anyone would complete a CPL, let alone a FIR without knowledge of the award.
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in which case your entitlement is Award plus (from memory) around 23% as compensation for loss of sick, annual and long service leave. As a casual employee, you are also entitled to a minimum number of hours "call out" - check the Award.
As I have just posted on another thread, the award is a minimum (safety net award), not something to aim for!
* Source: AFAP website GA pilots award dated 30/10/2008.
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Well said Tailwheel. I get sick of the "I'm not getting paid enough" brigade AFTER they have AGREED to and ACCEPTED rubbish wages in the first place.
Walk away and look for a decent job!
And although it seems odd to do a course without doing this research first, good on this guy for asking around now and hopefully other newbies are reading this too.
If the employer tells you that you will have to get an ABN and be a "Contractor" then turn around and walk away. A flying instructor acts under the direction of the CFI at all times so it instrucing doesn't fall under the definition. Plus it could leave you with some very unpleasant insurance liabilities if something goes wrong. The only way we will stop these "You are a contractor" types is if no-one will work for them. Tell me I'm dreaming.
They undercut the employers who are doing the right thing because they wriggle out of super, compo etc. And they do it by telling the eager newbie that this is the only way they will ever get a start in the industry.
Walk away and look for a decent job!
And although it seems odd to do a course without doing this research first, good on this guy for asking around now and hopefully other newbies are reading this too.
If the employer tells you that you will have to get an ABN and be a "Contractor" then turn around and walk away. A flying instructor acts under the direction of the CFI at all times so it instrucing doesn't fall under the definition. Plus it could leave you with some very unpleasant insurance liabilities if something goes wrong. The only way we will stop these "You are a contractor" types is if no-one will work for them. Tell me I'm dreaming.
They undercut the employers who are doing the right thing because they wriggle out of super, compo etc. And they do it by telling the eager newbie that this is the only way they will ever get a start in the industry.
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Well said CFI.
If looking for a flying school, research and see if there pilots are full time award pilots. If not, go else where. You will also find the quality of training will be higher at a more professional school who treats their instructors as professionals. It will pay off in the long term if you spend a little extra now.
Better still, look for a school who has an instructor or 2 who has seen some variety in the industry and can also mentor the younger instructors.
My first instructor was an ex AG pilot, Regional pilot and former Cat A (an old qualification). Having said that, I still fly like ****e
If looking for a flying school, research and see if there pilots are full time award pilots. If not, go else where. You will also find the quality of training will be higher at a more professional school who treats their instructors as professionals. It will pay off in the long term if you spend a little extra now.
Better still, look for a school who has an instructor or 2 who has seen some variety in the industry and can also mentor the younger instructors.
My first instructor was an ex AG pilot, Regional pilot and former Cat A (an old qualification). Having said that, I still fly like ****e
Moderator
Yes CFI. And I get bored to death in Dunnunda Forum with the repetitious number of posts and questions about "contractors", "rates of pay", "am I underpaid?" etc etc.
I simply can't understand how or why a mature, presumably rational person would decide to become a commercial pilot, fork out zillions of $$'s to a flying school, study CPL and learn to fly for a year or two - and still have no idea what return to expect on his/her investment!!!
A wise old mining company Managing Director once said to me: "A person is judged by the company they keep."
Junior instructors should be aware that if they work for free or below Award there is a 99% chance they are working for a cheap skate operator with less than acceptable standards and reputation.
Aviation is a small industry - by adding a shonky operator to your resume you are probably dooming any application for employment to rejection.
I simply can't understand how or why a mature, presumably rational person would decide to become a commercial pilot, fork out zillions of $$'s to a flying school, study CPL and learn to fly for a year or two - and still have no idea what return to expect on his/her investment!!!
A wise old mining company Managing Director once said to me: "A person is judged by the company they keep."
Junior instructors should be aware that if they work for free or below Award there is a 99% chance they are working for a cheap skate operator with less than acceptable standards and reputation.
Aviation is a small industry - by adding a shonky operator to your resume you are probably dooming any application for employment to rejection.