Instructing vs Charter

[Oktas8]

I think that toughening the flight test criteria is a cheap but not hugely effective way to improve industry standards from "satisfactory" to "good". It's sometimes all the industry can afford, so I don't mean to shoot the idea down. However people always find ways to scrape through tests by ticking the regulator's boxes on the flight test, despite examiners recognising a weak candidate when they see one. It is so important for instructors to be trained by the best instructors in industry, which is certainly not always the case.

In my experience charter pilots often make outstandingly good cross-country and IFR instructors. But a well-trained instructor of any background can be excellent at handling exercises.

[Homesick-Angel]

I've trained at a few different schools from small country strips to large city, and probably been exposed to around 15 different instructors , all different experience levels.
The one thing I can say about teaching is that some people have it, and some don't. I have flown with excellent pilots who are useless teachers I.e no skill at passing on their knowledge but by watching them fly you can learn alot ( backseating is a bloody awesome priviledge), and I've also flown with fresh stamped instructors who's passion and skill at handing over knowledge have been invaluable. The ones who sucked were the ones who were too selfish (or afraid) to actually let me make safe mistakes or the ones who obviously hated it. To do this frickn thing as a career you need a fair dose if passion, anyone who douses that with a crap vibe is doing the industry no favors.

I would also say that more often than not, the students unwillingness to accept their faults, or not do the non flying work is a massive hurdle to someone becoming a proficient pilot.

[Checkboard]

Charter
Good for learning how to actually fly and make decisions (no standard lesson plans)
Good for learning to deal with commercial pressures.
Good for operating into different aerodromes and marginal weather, can range from departing an international airport and landing on a dirt track.
Generally pretty good for progression onto bigger and more complex machines including twins.
Bad if you want to live in a big city.

Bad for picking up bad habits, under the guise of "that's just the way it's done" or "commercial pressure".

- such as not checking weight & balance/flying overweight/sloppy or non-existent pre-flights etc.

[travelator]

Bad for picking up bad habits, under the guise of "that's just the way it's done" or "commercial pressure".

This is true for both sides. Bad habits can be picked up anywhere there are humans involved. It comes back to an individuals self discipline and resourcefulness.

- such as not checking weight & balance/flying overweight/sloppy or non-existent pre-flights etc.

How many load sheets get done for ab inito flights?
How often does the instructor do a load sheet or walk around after it's been shown to the student?

I agree that there is a tendency in charter to pressure guys to fly overweight and this doesn't really exist at the flying schools. Again, this comes down to self discipline and knowing your job. If I discovered (after doing a thorough pre flight including weight and balance) that I was overweight then the flight wouldn't go until the problem was solved. These situations teach the pilot how to manage problems and find a solution. There is commercial pressure on the pilot to accept the condition and go. In all my years in GA, I was never fired or demoted or suspended for standing up to owners/ops/passengers. Again, self discipline.

[Lufc7294]

Thanks

Thanks Everyone!
But could anyone just mention some charter companies up north that you know would hire a fresh CPL, maybe where you started or someone you know started.
And what are these places like, I mean pay, flight hours etc. Could you get over $60k, or are $ like in charter?

[Lasiorhinus]

Go to Kununurra, or all over the Kimberley. Or Arnhem Land. Or Cape York. Or the middle of the desert.

[Lufc7294]

Thanks

Thanks Everyone!
But could anyone just mention some charter companies up north that you know would hire a fresh CPL, maybe where you started or someone you know started.
And what are these places like, I mean pay, flight hours etc. Could you get over $60k, or are $ like in charter?

[Lasiorhinus]

You should expect to be paid the bare minimum in line with the Air Pilots Award. Im not going to google that for you - you can do that yourself.

There are places that will try to make you work for less than this - do not work for them.

There are places that will pay above minimum - but they are few and far between up north.

I am also not going to provide a list of companies that hire fresh CPLs, but once again I suggest you look at companies operating out of Broome, Derby, Halls Creek, Kununurra, Darwin, Jabiru, Katherine, Arnhem Land, and Horn Island.

[DropYourSocks]

Read the "bush experience" thread, pretty well sums up what it's like. Throw your hat in the ring out there, and have a blast!

[Lufc7294]

What about a place like Kimberly Aviation or Alliagtor Airways, they both want a CPL, NVFR, DG certificate and a bit of experience on a C208? How many hours would you acctually to to fly? I mean with these low requirements they'd brobabally have heaps of pilots, so would you get about one flight a week or is private charter quite popular up north as well
Thanks!

[damo1089]

Don't get a multi turbine rating. For one I dont think there is such a thing. It's an MECIR and can be done in a piston twin. Who would employ someone to fly a Kingair or similar on a bare CPL credentials anyway? It's just a cash grab by the flying school if they are offering that in the first place.

[MakeItHappenCaptain]

A 208? Think you mean some 206/210 time.

And WTF is private charter???

Word to the wise. Research the reputation of potential employers. **** sticks to employees.