From unemployed airline pilot to GA flying instructor.
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Melbourne
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exactly! For me the heavy metal job was just a means to a decent income, gave me the opportunity to do other things inc GA flying. I left the dog eat dog 'bus' industry early to finish off flying commercially with some challenge attached to it! Glad I had the opportunity but wouldn't recommend it!
Last edited by machtuk; 22nd May 2020 at 22:24.
Cannot disagree I have had a sheltered life in a small pond.
But every time a big fish (from the airlines) comes to the small pond it’s painful for all involved.
Examples that spring to mind 88/89, ex Ansett, Compass, Ozjet, Cathay, RAAF. Makes for a long day in office, crewroom or cockpit cause thats all you are going to hear..
Just my opinion and as I said good luck
But every time a big fish (from the airlines) comes to the small pond it’s painful for all involved.
Examples that spring to mind 88/89, ex Ansett, Compass, Ozjet, Cathay, RAAF. Makes for a long day in office, crewroom or cockpit cause thats all you are going to hear..
Just my opinion and as I said good luck
Last edited by geeup; 22nd May 2020 at 22:25.
For anyone contemplating doing this, I’d suggest that you study up and pass the CASA PMI exam first. The PMI exam could be quite difficult to pass without doing any pre study. Once that’s done, focus on building “your own” lesson plans. The bulk of the work in a FIR is being able to learn how to develop and give good briefings and debriefings.
It’s certainly not a walk in the park and it requires quite a lot of dedication, particularly for someone older regardless of experience. It’s a completely different mindset in my opinion, from being a line pilot in a multi crew environment.
Good luck for anyone contemplating on doing this, the industry would certainly benefit from a few more experienced people getting into training.
It’s certainly not a walk in the park and it requires quite a lot of dedication, particularly for someone older regardless of experience. It’s a completely different mindset in my opinion, from being a line pilot in a multi crew environment.
Good luck for anyone contemplating on doing this, the industry would certainly benefit from a few more experienced people getting into training.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Australia
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there could be a wealth of experience dumped on the market to train future pilots.
Good luck for anyone contemplating on doing this, the industry would certainly benefit from a few more experienced people getting into training.
A brand new Grade 3 with 300 hours may have no real life flying experience outside of his local training area. Having said that, depending on his personality he may turn out to have just the right temperament - quiet - not a shouter - and genuinely enjoy his work. Best of all he remembers that:
“At the end of the day people won't remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.”
― Maya Angelou
It is a great pity this adage is never mentioned on instructor courses - RAAF, airline or general aviation
Never did instructing. Decided way back when to not be like the 200hr warriors teaching me. And besides, l gave myself ample opportunity to die in a crash, without someone there to help me.
Thought about being a grade 3 in retirement, but that is now a past dream. Thanks China.
Sunfish is correct that airline flying has not much to bring to the table as far as basic flying skills is concerned.
Having said that, would my experience in GA doing all sorts of charter, meat-bombing, survey, Coastwatch, Air Ambulance, commuter, in all weather across the land bring anything to the table either? Probably not.
However, many an old airline operator would have plenty to offer with current or past GA experience.
Not all of us are short fused, grump, shouters.
halas
Thought about being a grade 3 in retirement, but that is now a past dream. Thanks China.
Sunfish is correct that airline flying has not much to bring to the table as far as basic flying skills is concerned.
Having said that, would my experience in GA doing all sorts of charter, meat-bombing, survey, Coastwatch, Air Ambulance, commuter, in all weather across the land bring anything to the table either? Probably not.
However, many an old airline operator would have plenty to offer with current or past GA experience.
Not all of us are short fused, grump, shouters.
halas
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: The Peninsula
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Depends on the person, major business risk to a Flight Training School, not in any particular order, losing aircraft (taken offline), losing staff (at the drop of a hat, not the young ones that you're mentoring and know are going to leave) and poor or incompetent service.
I've had two airline pilots (approaching retirement) approach me for work. Would have taken them immediately if I'd had the work for them. For a couple of reasons, they were both active in GA throughout their airline career, they were both top blokes who didn't bring an airline ego into the school and they both lived local, were staying put and weren't going to shoot through at the drop of a hat.
I've had two airline pilots (approaching retirement) approach me for work. Would have taken them immediately if I'd had the work for them. For a couple of reasons, they were both active in GA throughout their airline career, they were both top blokes who didn't bring an airline ego into the school and they both lived local, were staying put and weren't going to shoot through at the drop of a hat.
What exactly is it that "GA" wants? When I was younger the old guard were bitching and whingeing about 200 hour instructors and how they should get some experience, how can you expect to teach when you have never done it etc etc. "back in my day this would never be allowed" etc
These days people with the experience are looking into being instructors and the GA crowd are complaining?? The vast majority of airline pilots have done it all from the bottom up, VFR/IFR Single Pilot/Multi Crew etc etc why is this a bad thing? Or is it that the people invested in GA just want something to complain about or have some sort of 'small man syndrome'?
In the USA you would be encouraged to be an instructor admittedly you could do that off your own back without an AOC and a small forest of paperwork.
These days people with the experience are looking into being instructors and the GA crowd are complaining?? The vast majority of airline pilots have done it all from the bottom up, VFR/IFR Single Pilot/Multi Crew etc etc why is this a bad thing? Or is it that the people invested in GA just want something to complain about or have some sort of 'small man syndrome'?
In the USA you would be encouraged to be an instructor admittedly you could do that off your own back without an AOC and a small forest of paperwork.
Got a "C" grade instructor rating over 50 years ago, ended with a B grade rating 2 years later and hated almost every minute of it. But thats me, some people are masochists I guess.
I would rather earn twice the money, if not more, by driving a suburban tram or train for 36 hours a week.
I would rather earn twice the money, if not more, by driving a suburban tram or train for 36 hours a week.
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In the USA you would be encouraged to be an instructor admittedly you could do that off your own back without an AOC and a small forest of paperwork.
