RA-Aus Instructor Rating
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Lurking
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RA-Aus Instructor Rating
Hi All
I'm currently toying with the idea of doing an RA-Aus Instructor Rating. I figure it must improve my flying somewhat and have a vague hope of using it to earn a little extra dosh to fund this addiction of mine.
I have a few questions though:
- What does the rating involve?
- Is the course something you can do 1-2 days per week over a long period or does it need to be done in an intensive block?
- What are the prospects are of being employed as an instructor if you can only work 1-1.5 days per week?
- How much does it cost to do the course?
- How do you assess if you'd be suited to instructing?
Does anyone know of airfields around Melbourne (preferably eastern suburbs or north/south eastern) that offer the rating?
Any help/advice is appreciated.
Cheers!
I'm currently toying with the idea of doing an RA-Aus Instructor Rating. I figure it must improve my flying somewhat and have a vague hope of using it to earn a little extra dosh to fund this addiction of mine.
I have a few questions though:
- What does the rating involve?
- Is the course something you can do 1-2 days per week over a long period or does it need to be done in an intensive block?
- What are the prospects are of being employed as an instructor if you can only work 1-1.5 days per week?
- How much does it cost to do the course?
- How do you assess if you'd be suited to instructing?
Does anyone know of airfields around Melbourne (preferably eastern suburbs or north/south eastern) that offer the rating?
Any help/advice is appreciated.
Cheers!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Lurking
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for your reply.
Nah I haven't fallen out with the other forum, but figured I may as well use all the resources at my disposal.
The reason I asked about part time is because I would only be available on weekends (I have a full time day job) so wasn't sure if employers would be uninterested in hiring a weekend person or not. I don't particularly want to spend the money on the rating only to find that no employers are remotely interested in employing someone part-time.
I haven't taken many pax up yet (most of my friends are too poor and/or find the idea terrifying) but those I have taken up said I explained things well and they felt very safe with me etc, so I suppose that's a step in the right direction. I just feel that there's probably a gap between 'explaining things well' in that situation and actually teaching somebody. I really don't want to be 'that' instructor, who is a crap teacher so really shouldn't be instructing...
Nah I haven't fallen out with the other forum, but figured I may as well use all the resources at my disposal.
The reason I asked about part time is because I would only be available on weekends (I have a full time day job) so wasn't sure if employers would be uninterested in hiring a weekend person or not. I don't particularly want to spend the money on the rating only to find that no employers are remotely interested in employing someone part-time.
I haven't taken many pax up yet (most of my friends are too poor and/or find the idea terrifying) but those I have taken up said I explained things well and they felt very safe with me etc, so I suppose that's a step in the right direction. I just feel that there's probably a gap between 'explaining things well' in that situation and actually teaching somebody. I really don't want to be 'that' instructor, who is a crap teacher so really shouldn't be instructing...
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Mel-burn
Posts: 4,875
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As long as you don't end up like the instructor I know who's students were not wanting to fly with him after 3pm which is when he started to get the shakes through a lack of VB. He is still floating around in yoru area by the way.
Add to that the 30? hour PMI course on how to instruct
DarkSarcasm. As said you need 20 hours of dual instruction and from memory 30 hours of briefings as well as the PMI course. I would suggest trying to get enough time off to complete it in one go rather than a bit here and there.... its not as simple as just flying a plane anymore, you will sleep well each night 
I personally instructed part time for a while as I also had a full time job. As stated generally the full timers fly during the week.
If your prepared to go interstate, Adelaide Biplanes at Aldinga can run the course, but its "on demand".
I personally instructed part time for a while as I also had a full time job. As stated generally the full timers fly during the week.
If your prepared to go interstate, Adelaide Biplanes at Aldinga can run the course, but its "on demand".
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Lurking
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi 717. Unfortunately there's no way I can get the time off, at least not for at least a year, so part-time is my only option. If I could though, I'd definitely consider Aldinga, I've flown out of there once before, they're a good setup and the Sportys are nice aircraft
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Sydney NSW Australia
Posts: 3,051
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
go for it Darky, i did mine about 4 yrs ago now, but full time over 7 days, totalled about 25 hrs all up, plus a 2 day PMI course at temora. total cost was about 5K including accommodation and food at the aero club.
I only fly on weekends, as i work full time suffering through being a contractor to the NAVY at present.
as for work, there is plenty in NSW, we are constantly after new instructors out of Bankstown, but need a minimum of PPL as well for Class D.
I have been flying out of Bankstown now every weekend since the closure of Hoxton Park, not so much no i have bought my own aircraft, now i spend most weekends flying all over the country side for some corporate types.
the big question, how do you think you will be suited to Instructing?
well, thats a tough one, firstly is the right attitude, if your doing it for your own satisfaction in teaching and learning, then your half way there to being a good instructor. if you like helping others, and have patience in explaining stuff, you will be a good instructor, having a cool head is a good attribute,as some students will try to kill you, not intentionally of course, but keep cool, and be confident, it helps students relax. and most importantly, Make it fun!!
a lot also depends on your teaching methods, i like to get my students to think of solutions on their own,and encourage my students to do homework, to save on briefing time,( i hate giving briefs)
an example of my methods are with stalls, in briefing, explain the recovery, reduce angle of attack, increase power smoothly, and note the stick "stall"position, once in the air, demonstrate a stall then get the student to explain what they think is happening while they do it.. ask the students what they should do, let them make mistakes, but be ready to help and take over quickly when needed.
Dont just parrot stuff, and get them to parrot the same in the air. get them to think about whats going on and they will learn much faster...
Dont get impatient with students, they all learn at different paces, and some you will have personality clashes with, and some you just cannot teach, i have had some students that needed to be bordering on verbally abused before they learned anything, drill sergeant style, others will soak it up like a sponge and fly like a natural.
most important, Have Fun!
I only fly on weekends, as i work full time suffering through being a contractor to the NAVY at present.
as for work, there is plenty in NSW, we are constantly after new instructors out of Bankstown, but need a minimum of PPL as well for Class D.
I have been flying out of Bankstown now every weekend since the closure of Hoxton Park, not so much no i have bought my own aircraft, now i spend most weekends flying all over the country side for some corporate types.
the big question, how do you think you will be suited to Instructing?
well, thats a tough one, firstly is the right attitude, if your doing it for your own satisfaction in teaching and learning, then your half way there to being a good instructor. if you like helping others, and have patience in explaining stuff, you will be a good instructor, having a cool head is a good attribute,as some students will try to kill you, not intentionally of course, but keep cool, and be confident, it helps students relax. and most importantly, Make it fun!!
a lot also depends on your teaching methods, i like to get my students to think of solutions on their own,and encourage my students to do homework, to save on briefing time,( i hate giving briefs)
an example of my methods are with stalls, in briefing, explain the recovery, reduce angle of attack, increase power smoothly, and note the stick "stall"position, once in the air, demonstrate a stall then get the student to explain what they think is happening while they do it.. ask the students what they should do, let them make mistakes, but be ready to help and take over quickly when needed.
Dont just parrot stuff, and get them to parrot the same in the air. get them to think about whats going on and they will learn much faster...
Dont get impatient with students, they all learn at different paces, and some you will have personality clashes with, and some you just cannot teach, i have had some students that needed to be bordering on verbally abused before they learned anything, drill sergeant style, others will soak it up like a sponge and fly like a natural.
most important, Have Fun!
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
20 hours flying is a very limited amount of time do get a proper foundation.
30 hours on theory is even worse.
Do your self a favour - spend the extra $$ on decent training (even a "quicky" instructor rating should be 30 hours flying and 6 weeks theory - more would be better). You will only realise that it is money well spent when you finish.
30 hours on theory is even worse.
Do your self a favour - spend the extra $$ on decent training (even a "quicky" instructor rating should be 30 hours flying and 6 weeks theory - more would be better). You will only realise that it is money well spent when you finish.
more work in GA than RAA will ever be
And what exactly is your husband building hours up for, if he was going down the RAAus instructing route anyway?
The original poster sounds as if they just want to do it for fun, to keep their hand in so to speak.
I instructed RAAus and GA for a few years, and I clocked up a lot of hours very quickly. The bulk of it was ultralight though. I'd say the mix was about 70% ultralight instruction, compared to 30% GA instruction. It was a means to an end though, as my ultralight instructor rating got me my first GA instructing job.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Lurking
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Anyone know how to make pproon actually tell you when people post? *sigh*
I'm not planning on an aviation career. I've just started my first job in a law firm and I'm just thinking that instructing part time on weekends could be a fun way to earn a bit extra money. So I'm not doing it for hour building or anything.
I have nearly completed my PPL, so I do have GA experience, but don't have the money, time or (currently) inclination to do a CPL just to do a GA FI rating. The CPL is a long way down the track after I do fun stuff like tailwheel
I'm not planning on an aviation career. I've just started my first job in a law firm and I'm just thinking that instructing part time on weekends could be a fun way to earn a bit extra money. So I'm not doing it for hour building or anything.
I have nearly completed my PPL, so I do have GA experience, but don't have the money, time or (currently) inclination to do a CPL just to do a GA FI rating. The CPL is a long way down the track after I do fun stuff like tailwheel
emails when replies are posted
User CP (Control Panel) -> Settings and Options -> Edit Options -> Messaging and Notification -> Default Thread Subscription Mode.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Lurking
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cheers. I have it set there to alert me and it usually does then sometimes I come back and there's 10 new posts and it hasn't bothered to tell me. It's rather indescisive really...
I did most of my instructing in Melbourne. There is Tooradin, Lilydale, Coldstream, Tyabb etc. just to name a few. More airfields and flying schools than you can poke a stick at down in Victoria! I worked at a couple of these places and we couldn't get enough RAA instructors.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Lurking
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks Maverick
I currently fly out of Lilydale but they don't offer the rating. I'm emailing Coldstream at the moment about possibly doing the rating with them, so have to see how that goes. I'd prefer to say on the eastern side since it's closer to home and I'd prefer not to travel too far for it, so Coldstream would be a pretty ideal option since Lilydale aren't offering it.
I currently fly out of Lilydale but they don't offer the rating. I'm emailing Coldstream at the moment about possibly doing the rating with them, so have to see how that goes. I'd prefer to say on the eastern side since it's closer to home and I'd prefer not to travel too far for it, so Coldstream would be a pretty ideal option since Lilydale aren't offering it.
Yes sorry, I don't think any of those places would offer instructor training itself, I was just saying that they all operate busy RAAus schools. I'm sure once qualified though you would pick up a weekend instructing gig easily enough. Not sure who's doing instructor ratings these days though, best off going with VH-XXX's suggestions, or better still ring up RAAus and ask, I'm sure they'll point you in the right direction
.
.
I did an RA IR a while ago and found it a great learning experience..
If you are happy to work part time on your weekends, then it will be pretty good for that too.
The school I did it with teaches GA and RA, and they made me do the GA briefs
Choose a school that has good standards in both prac and theory otherwise you may be teaching some poor sod a thousand different ways to die..
Knowing something and then knowing it to teach are two very different things, and it really plugged some of the holes in my knowledge particularly around aerodynamics...
Id say if you want to bring your knowledge along, and understand the principles behind what youve already learnt, then an IR is a good way to go.
It is also a good way to get into the air on someone else's coin, but it is a responsibility.
Down the track if you decide to do a GA I rating it lops 10 hours of the course(from memory), but thats about it..Also no matter what anyone sais here, if you have a certain amount of hours instructing RA, then you will be attractive to a GA school once you have passed your GA rating
Good luck
If you are happy to work part time on your weekends, then it will be pretty good for that too.
The school I did it with teaches GA and RA, and they made me do the GA briefs
Choose a school that has good standards in both prac and theory otherwise you may be teaching some poor sod a thousand different ways to die..
Knowing something and then knowing it to teach are two very different things, and it really plugged some of the holes in my knowledge particularly around aerodynamics...
Id say if you want to bring your knowledge along, and understand the principles behind what youve already learnt, then an IR is a good way to go.
It is also a good way to get into the air on someone else's coin, but it is a responsibility.
Down the track if you decide to do a GA I rating it lops 10 hours of the course(from memory), but thats about it..Also no matter what anyone sais here, if you have a certain amount of hours instructing RA, then you will be attractive to a GA school once you have passed your GA rating
Good luck
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Mel-burn
Posts: 4,875
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Matt75 (or your better half), your experiences have been "tainted" around RAA. At Tyabb RAA training was a very low priority. They felt that GA was the way to go and they priced their RAA aircraft at almost the same figures (if not more) than the lower GA aircraft that they had. Aside from a "few" students, it never really took off there, so to speak. You'll never attract new students with that pricing structure. Tooradin on the other hand, only 10 miles from there, don't even do GA and they probably fly way more hours, with cheaper prices and less politics.