Day in the life of an Instructor v Day in the life of a charter pilot
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It all depends where you do instructing, what kinda students you get and the same applies to charter. Everyone has different experiences. I have enjoyed instructing, but I will be moving on soon to charter. During Instructing, I have met some wonderful people who I had the privilege to teach and now they have their PPLs and moved on to Aerobatics rating. The paper work can drive you nuts at times and some students can really test your patience.
If you are just after hours, or in a rush to get into the Airlines, charter would be the quicker way. Although, I would recommend that both charter and instructing experience can really benefit any pilot.
In regards to getting your first job, if you have an instructor rating, you are opening your options, you can instruct and do charter.
If you are just after hours, or in a rush to get into the Airlines, charter would be the quicker way. Although, I would recommend that both charter and instructing experience can really benefit any pilot.
In regards to getting your first job, if you have an instructor rating, you are opening your options, you can instruct and do charter.
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Somebody referred to washing planes before, as being a negative thing. You'll find that whatever road you take, be it Instructing, Charter, flying for a Cotton cocky, you'll be looked upon much more favourably if you are enthusiastic about such a task. It's character building, gives you a sense of pride, and teaches you to look after your aircraft. All good stuff, which cannot hurt a young Gen Y'er. Don't be scared to do a bit of hard yakka.
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If you elect to instruct, you need to want to instruct. People like avturbound, who get into it purely for their logbook, are never going to be happy teaching someone else how to fly. If that's how you feel (and be honest with yourself - it's not a problem if you don't want to teach) then charter is your answer.
On the other hand, if you think you would enjoy teaching, it can be great fun. The main thing is to keep pushing yourself. Don't settle for flying around the circuit for hundreds of hours. Seek out more advanced types of training as your experience allows, upgrade your rating as soon as possible and teach a mix of IFR and VFR flying, aerobatics if you can stomach it, and try to make yourself as useful to your students as you possibly can. I had a ball instructing and feel genuine satisfaction about all the careers I hopefully got off to a good start.
Oh, and don't work for sausage factories for any longer than you absolutely have to. You will end up questioning your will to live.
On the other hand, if you think you would enjoy teaching, it can be great fun. The main thing is to keep pushing yourself. Don't settle for flying around the circuit for hundreds of hours. Seek out more advanced types of training as your experience allows, upgrade your rating as soon as possible and teach a mix of IFR and VFR flying, aerobatics if you can stomach it, and try to make yourself as useful to your students as you possibly can. I had a ball instructing and feel genuine satisfaction about all the careers I hopefully got off to a good start.
Oh, and don't work for sausage factories for any longer than you absolutely have to. You will end up questioning your will to live.
Join Date: May 2006
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I have done both and thoroughly enjoyed instructing and charter for different reasons.
I began instructing with little experience but made up for this with enthusiasm and doing the best I could for each student. Despite the lack of hands on flying - I found that I gained experience through teaching and my stick and rudder skills actually improved. I worked best at smaller flying schools and flying clubs, where I was able to dedicate more time to each student pre and post flight. I got alot of satisfaction from sending a student solo and helping them overcome difficulties and obtaining a licence. Some are even working in G/A and a few are in airlines. They keep in touch and I'm still proud of their ongoing achievements.
I have left instructing for now, but would consider returning to it one day - to bring some experience back as a CFI, ATO or even get a little flying school started. I left with a S/E Grade 1 rating. I chose not to pursue Multi engine and IFR instructing as I had minimum experience in both areas - and so chose to move into a charter role to obtain it.
With some charter experience I had obtained during my instructing years, I went into a M/E charter job 13 months ago and have loved it. Yes it has its moments - living out of a bag for days at a time, early mornings, long days, challenging weather conditions at times, unforseen changes - like extra pax or gear turning up, pax running late, sitting around in remote communities for hours ... waiting. But the flying is fantastic! It is interesting - you meet interesting people, stay in different places and will see different landscapes, seeing parts of the country you never knew would be so picturesque.
If you dont have the passion for it, and are just doing it for the hours - dont instruct. Its unfair to students paying $$$ for their training, makes life difficult for other instructors who have to do remedial with the students you didn't have the time for and gives young/less experienced instructors a bad reputation - including amongst charter operators, many of whom now are not keen to employ ex instructors due to a lack of skill and airmanship shown by some who probablly didnt put much effort in, evident by the claim that they 'didn't get anything out of it'
Good luck with the choice and have fun doing whatever path you take!
Mo
I began instructing with little experience but made up for this with enthusiasm and doing the best I could for each student. Despite the lack of hands on flying - I found that I gained experience through teaching and my stick and rudder skills actually improved. I worked best at smaller flying schools and flying clubs, where I was able to dedicate more time to each student pre and post flight. I got alot of satisfaction from sending a student solo and helping them overcome difficulties and obtaining a licence. Some are even working in G/A and a few are in airlines. They keep in touch and I'm still proud of their ongoing achievements.
I have left instructing for now, but would consider returning to it one day - to bring some experience back as a CFI, ATO or even get a little flying school started. I left with a S/E Grade 1 rating. I chose not to pursue Multi engine and IFR instructing as I had minimum experience in both areas - and so chose to move into a charter role to obtain it.
With some charter experience I had obtained during my instructing years, I went into a M/E charter job 13 months ago and have loved it. Yes it has its moments - living out of a bag for days at a time, early mornings, long days, challenging weather conditions at times, unforseen changes - like extra pax or gear turning up, pax running late, sitting around in remote communities for hours ... waiting. But the flying is fantastic! It is interesting - you meet interesting people, stay in different places and will see different landscapes, seeing parts of the country you never knew would be so picturesque.
If you dont have the passion for it, and are just doing it for the hours - dont instruct. Its unfair to students paying $$$ for their training, makes life difficult for other instructors who have to do remedial with the students you didn't have the time for and gives young/less experienced instructors a bad reputation - including amongst charter operators, many of whom now are not keen to employ ex instructors due to a lack of skill and airmanship shown by some who probablly didnt put much effort in, evident by the claim that they 'didn't get anything out of it'
Good luck with the choice and have fun doing whatever path you take!
Mo
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If your full-time at both and love it then their both great paths to take.
If your casual or worse contracted then both can be nightmares.
Both can teach you alot.
Better yet save your money and go charter... Then when you got your hours up and feel like you could give something back with your experienced gained do instructing.
Done both and can't fault either experiences except in my opinion (Just mine leave me be) Instructing taught me the rules and charter taught me to get home alive.
If your casual or worse contracted then both can be nightmares.
Both can teach you alot.
Better yet save your money and go charter... Then when you got your hours up and feel like you could give something back with your experienced gained do instructing.
Done both and can't fault either experiences except in my opinion (Just mine leave me be) Instructing taught me the rules and charter taught me to get home alive.
Ok, figured i'd throw my 2cents worth in!!
I'm still a low-timer myself but at the start I considered Instructing or Charter work and in the end decided that whilst Instructing could be rewarding, I personally found that my instructors whom had Charter experience from companies outside of the flight training school I was with were able to teach me a lot more and its the things they taught me that have kept me alive so far!! I also found those with actual charter experience were able to teach me a lot more in a far smaller period of time and generally made better instructors and decided to go charter so that if in a year or two time I still have an urge to go in as an instructor I'd feel like I have something to pass along to my students and would be preparing my students for the types of situations they would actually come across.
Knowing the rules and the black and white is great, but when it all hits the fan following those rules to the letter could get you killed. A very wise very experienced instructor once told me two absolute gems:
1. You can break any law you want, but you'd better have a bloody good reason for doing so!!
2. Rules are there to keep you, your passengers and your aircraft safe... until they can't or don't!!
I'm still a low-timer myself but at the start I considered Instructing or Charter work and in the end decided that whilst Instructing could be rewarding, I personally found that my instructors whom had Charter experience from companies outside of the flight training school I was with were able to teach me a lot more and its the things they taught me that have kept me alive so far!! I also found those with actual charter experience were able to teach me a lot more in a far smaller period of time and generally made better instructors and decided to go charter so that if in a year or two time I still have an urge to go in as an instructor I'd feel like I have something to pass along to my students and would be preparing my students for the types of situations they would actually come across.
Knowing the rules and the black and white is great, but when it all hits the fan following those rules to the letter could get you killed. A very wise very experienced instructor once told me two absolute gems:
1. You can break any law you want, but you'd better have a bloody good reason for doing so!!
2. Rules are there to keep you, your passengers and your aircraft safe... until they can't or don't!!
Join Date: Jul 1999
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from one who has been there and done that.... ?
get your ATPL.
get your hours up.
and GET THE HELL out of GA!
whichever way works out quickest... do it!
airline flying MAY be repetitive. it may be monotonous.... but it beats the hell out of GA!!!!!
get your ATPL.
get your hours up.
and GET THE HELL out of GA!
whichever way works out quickest... do it!
airline flying MAY be repetitive. it may be monotonous.... but it beats the hell out of GA!!!!!
from one who has been there and done that.... ?
get your ATPL.
get your hours up.
and GET THE HELL out of GA!
get your ATPL.
get your hours up.
and GET THE HELL out of GA!
Hope you did get out of GA as quickly as you could, simply so you didn't ruin it for everyone else!
morno
Join Date: Jul 2010
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Airlines provide a better lifestyle (generally) and that's it!
Even the better lifestyle is disappearing, soon GA will be the chosen career for many.
Look at companies like the RFDS and Surviellance Aus.
A Dash check Capt with sA is making more$$$$ than most airline capts these dats.
Even the better lifestyle is disappearing, soon GA will be the chosen career for many.
Look at companies like the RFDS and Surviellance Aus.
A Dash check Capt with sA is making more$$$$ than most airline capts these dats.
Join Date: Jul 1999
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And THAT, is why GA in this country is going backwards so quickly.
If I could get 100k to fly a Baron, l'd be back GA tomorrow.
The way the experience requirements are heading though, I wouldn't be surprised if a Baron driver will be commanding this type of money!
As for the charter vs instructing thing Roxy it's like Boeing vs Airbus, or Ford vs Holden. Both sides think their choice is better, and are just as passionate about it.
I suppose what is best, depends on what is best for you. If you want to teach and stay home, instructing is a good start to a career. If you want to get some life experience and interesting flying, you can't beat charter.
As you're getting your grade 1 approvals a charter pilot is generally getting his first command on a turboprop. Can the instructors stomach it?
GG
The way the experience requirements are heading though, I wouldn't be surprised if a Baron driver will be commanding this type of money!
As for the charter vs instructing thing Roxy it's like Boeing vs Airbus, or Ford vs Holden. Both sides think their choice is better, and are just as passionate about it.
I suppose what is best, depends on what is best for you. If you want to teach and stay home, instructing is a good start to a career. If you want to get some life experience and interesting flying, you can't beat charter.
As you're getting your grade 1 approvals a charter pilot is generally getting his first command on a turboprop. Can the instructors stomach it?
GG
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If you have a genuine passion for teaching and wanting to see your students succeed then instructing is good for building total time. The downside is unless you instruct for a sausage factory the progression to twins is in most cases slow.
I can't wait to finish my study and work hard in GA.
I can't wait to finish my study and work hard in GA.
Join Date: Jul 2010
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What are some of the other opportunities out there for a low hour or fresh CPL, specifically jobs that might be available in say regional NSW rather than up north (family reasons). Jobs like survey, spotting, photography, ag work etc.
Maybe I just have watched too much Flying Wild Alaska, but I quite like the idea of working in GA as it seems like the flying might be more varied and a bit more "hands on" than RPT.
Maybe I just have watched too much Flying Wild Alaska, but I quite like the idea of working in GA as it seems like the flying might be more varied and a bit more "hands on" than RPT.
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Instructing is awesome just doing the rating itself improves you flying, I miss the interpersonal aspect of the job and the satisfaction of seeing someone grasp a concept and progress. on the downside I don't miss working for a flying school with instructors who were a student one day and an instructor the next, running around with a Rambo attitude and Donald duck capabilities, turn up late never wash an aircraft or write up a fault and never do today what can be put off till tomorrow.
If I had my way I would put a min hours requirement on instructor trainee's like they do on helicopters, say 400 or 500 hours before you can do an instructors rating. Give the instructor some experience to pass teach them how to work as a pilot and weed out those that don't really want to instruct and improve the conditions for those that do.
Charter and airwork I find much less stressful, chief pilots are far easier to deal with than CFI's. If you ask a chief pilot a question you get an answer, ask a CFI a question you get another question. When you park the aircraft and do your time and duties at the end of the day the job is done and you don't have to worry about it till your next shift.
If I had my way I would put a min hours requirement on instructor trainee's like they do on helicopters, say 400 or 500 hours before you can do an instructors rating. Give the instructor some experience to pass teach them how to work as a pilot and weed out those that don't really want to instruct and improve the conditions for those that do.
Charter and airwork I find much less stressful, chief pilots are far easier to deal with than CFI's. If you ask a chief pilot a question you get an answer, ask a CFI a question you get another question. When you park the aircraft and do your time and duties at the end of the day the job is done and you don't have to worry about it till your next shift.
Ask a CFI a question you get another question
Half the time, the CFI does not know themselves. To keep up their 'godlike' demeanour, and to persist with their own myth that the can fly anything, anytime. Along with the self perpetuated scam that their knowledge of the regs is unequalled, they will throw it back on you with a 'where do you think you will find the answer to this?'
Whilst you go away, frustrated, and begin to the hunt for the answers, the CFI is sitting in his/her ivory tower finding the answer for him/herself.
CPs out in the charter world are generally much more street wise and are happy to pass on what they know. They invest in their troops and gain pleasure from watching them progress. CFIs seem to delight in holding people back. "You need 3000 hours to fly the partenavia", "You need to be a Grade 1 before you can teach stalling".
CFIs often are bitter, have a big bloody chip on their shoulder, and delight in telling you why they didn't make it into Qantas because of the 28 year old cut off and how they turned down the interview to care for their mothers sick dog missing the cutoff, or insert some other bull**** here.
telling or learning?
TGG
sorry have to disagree. I'm not in aviation but in education for 15+ years. Giving the answer is "easier" than playing "20 questions" to help them work out the answer.
If you "tell" them they ask again next time.
If they find out for themselves, they remember and work out how to find the answer. 'Learning how to learn' is a life-skill whatever the profession.
I agree, there are those that don't know and hide it, but most times it's about helping them understand how to develop an answer.
The question might not change, but the answer will often be just a bit different next time.
And it's not always easy to do when they say "I've paid my money. Just give me the [expletive deleted] answer." ...
cheers
layman
sorry have to disagree. I'm not in aviation but in education for 15+ years. Giving the answer is "easier" than playing "20 questions" to help them work out the answer.
If you "tell" them they ask again next time.
If they find out for themselves, they remember and work out how to find the answer. 'Learning how to learn' is a life-skill whatever the profession.
I agree, there are those that don't know and hide it, but most times it's about helping them understand how to develop an answer.
The question might not change, but the answer will often be just a bit different next time.
And it's not always easy to do when they say "I've paid my money. Just give me the [expletive deleted] answer." ...
cheers
layman