What Did You Buy Your Instructor!?

[VFR800]

Fit boirds are best, see my previous post(s). Problem is with my instructor is, she IS an absolute honey however

a. She's going out with the CFI, so watch yer P's and Q's
b. She's a bit of flirt, plus being good looking, can be a bit distracting in the ole ... ahem ... joystick dept.

[TAF Oscar]

Couldn't afford much, so I bought mine some coffee, he'd been nicking mine all the way through the course, and gave him a (rather posh) automatic pencil I'd been using on my navlogs, he kept asking where he could get one.

Hi Desipilot! You were one of the best instructors I ever had, good job you know what it's like to be on a budget, couldn't afford to give you anything but my thanks for helping me when things weren't going well - it was all worth it!

[TheKentishFledgling]

I bought my instructor a four pack of his fave beer (Caffreys, IIRC) after my first solo.

tKF

[expedite_climb]

VFR800,

If you find you grip the controls during your lessons just remember flying an aeroplane is just like making love to a beautiful woman....

[knobbygb]

...and about as expensive too

[foxmoth]

Yes, but you get less hassle from an aeroplane

[Pink_aviator]

TEEEEEE HEEEEEEEE HEEEEEE

I KNOW WHAT I WANT TO DO (or for ) FOR MINE .

I want to take him to my highland retreat ,
and ,aaaand ,aaaannd
(is it against the law to kidnap an adult? ) (its the only way i'll get him there )

I would feed him paella ,and pour beer down his throat.
i'd be good to him. I WOULD ,I WOULD.

WELL buy a plane (cosy two seater )and make him fly with me every day ,then.

He would like at least that wouldn't he.?
Teaching me all he knows.
umm

from the dreamer
PINK-AVIATOR
THE PINKSTER

[flyingfemme]

My IR instructor bought ME a present! A fabulous cheesecake from his local bakery (he knew I was a dessert freak).

[madzone]

A bottle of Famous Grouse for my first solo, after which I found out he wasn't a whisky drinker. Then a botttle of Remy Martin for skills test pass. And the occasional bag of donuts for the other instructors/staff

[You want it when?]

VFR800 - The lady in question, her name doesn't ryhme with Kangaroo does it?

[MLS-12D]

Why would you buy your instructor a pressie? You have been paying her/his wages for the last 50ish hours!? It's their job....

There are arguments for and against.

For: flying instructors are notoriously underpaid, and many are barely getting by. If you can afford it and if they have done a good job of getting you through your training with minimum time and headaches, it would seem a reasonable gesture.

Against: flying instructors are notoriously underpaid, and if people want to pursue this line of work, that's their own choice. If/when they land a lucrative airline job, will they refund any of the fees that they charged you?

Ultimately it is a matter of personal choice. If an instructor really puts forth a good effort (e.g., is constantly good humoured and encouraging), I think that it should be rewarded. Personally I didn't give my PPL instructor a monetary gift, but I sent a detailed letter to the CFI and said what a good job he had done, how professional he always was, etc. Hopefully that letter will be of use when it comes time to look for another job or to negotiate a raise in salary.

BTW, I gave a copy of the letter directly to the instructor, which is good because the CFI never said anything about it to him!

[englishal]

Never bought an instructor anything, partly becasue they have all been ugly freaks rather than blonde honeys BUT I have ended up getting pissed with more than a few of them, and possibly buying one or two beers, so does that count?

EA