From PPL(A) to FI - some pointers please
 

Hi All,

Apologies in advance if this has already been covered in previous threads. I had a good search around last night but struggled to find what I'm looking for.

I'm currently 35 hours into my PPL and waiting for the great British weather to let me do my QXC. Upon passing I want to start to earn some sort of living from flying and see instructing as the best way to start. Depending on time and finances I'll see how far I get after qualifying as an FI but this, right now, is my goal. I currently work full time in a pretty well-paid job and right now I seem to have enough disposable income to finance my flying. I also have some savings and equity in my car that I would, if necessary, be prepared to sell.

Can people give me some guidance on what I do next? I mean, a definitive list of milestones please, that will really help me out. I have a general idea but if somebody can detail each step I'd be very grateful.

Cheers

Tim

1)Night Rating
2)CPL plus mayb consider ur atpls first??
3)multi/IR (this not essential for FI obviosly) can be done alongside cpl
4)FI rating

U cant b FI until completin these (apart from multi/IR)

John - can you write in proper English - I cannot understand half of what you are saying, particularly on the other thread

Fastest way to FI: PPL, build 200hrs TT, CPL exams, FI rating.

Fastest way to FI so you can be paid: PPL, Night, hour build, CPL exams, CPL, FI

Most common way to FI with airline career in mind: PPL, Night, hour build, ATPL exams, CPL, FI. Then make damn sure you get your ME/IR done and issued before your exams expire!

If you don't want to be an airline pilot, DO NOT bother with the ATPL exams. It's extra work for no benefit.

John
 

You do not need a CPL to take your FI but you do need the 200 hours and having passed the CPL theory exams. That said you will need a minimum of a CPL if you wish to be paid for your instructing.

You will need to take a pre-entry flight test before starting the instructor course, and have completed at least 5 hours flying in the 6 months before that test. Also you will need to have completed 20 hours of cross country flight including at least one long (540km XC).

There is also no official requirement for a night rating although I cant remember hearing of an instructor who didn't have one (certainly not in my neck of the woods).

RIX

Rishy,

Movements are afoot to remove the CPL requirement for FI's. As it stands at the moment you still need to complete the CPL or ATPL theory exams but that will hopefuly be removed before long.

It is really geared towards the PPL who wants instruct for the long term, rather than the airline hours builder.

If however you wanted to move onto airline's at a later time then you will have to do ATPL's etc.

Not for a PPL/FI, no. You cannot however gain a CPL without completing the Night Qual training at some point.

Shunter
 

Quite right.

It all depends on the context with which an Instructor rating will be required and used.

Hi Mike,

Do you have any idea as to when this may happen? Can you point me in the direction of some info on the web?

Cheers

Tim

Its still(I think!) at the EASA proposals stage just now so nothing cast in stone as yet. If things have moved further towards finalisation then somebody im sure will correct me. I think we're probably still looking a year or 2 away yet though. If you have google EASA part-FCL 2008-17b at FCL.205.A PPL(A) you might find the finer details of the proposals.

I would simply do PPL then the FI course. Keep your day job and instruct at the weekends. Although this would be unpaid the few quid that you would get from instucting doesn't warrant the signifcant time and expense of obtaining a CPL.

The airline pilot market going to be pretty dead for the next 4 years or so. But when it does picks up you will have a few thousend hours under you belt and you will find the CPL a lot easier.

Also in the future there is the added bonus that they may well allow renumeration for instructing with a PPL.

Also it is possible to pick up a few hours here and there (when picking up dropping off aircraft) with a fellow instructor which can be used towards your night and IMC ratings.

I used instruct and never held a night rating (although I do on a FAA PPL)

common sense
 

Well things are different here in canada, you cant be a FI unless you are a commercial pilot.

Also, I have to say, I wouldnt want to be instructed by a mere PPL (im a PPL by the way so dont take offence other ppls!) Id only want instruction off a proffesional, fully commercially trained pilot + How much would it cost to insure yourself as a mere PPL instructor - i`d imagine loads and loads and loads, also i doubt any flyin club would rent you a plane if you were goin to instruct somebody in there aircraft!

Re-heat,

I`ll write how ever i like so go and annoy someone else you stupid little person!

For the benefit of you, in this one thread, ive written properly, so your simple brain can understand my short hand computer type!

Is a CPL really that much a greater expense? If you have to hour build to 200 hours (250 for rotary) anyway, why not use that time with an instructor and get the CPL course?

Cheers

Whirls



JohnGV, of course my dear, you write however you want. It's just that you might not earn any respect for your comments and opinions if they're in nerdy textspeak!

u know wat squirly poo or wat ever your name is, lol only jokin, I dont care bout gettin respect, I'm not to fussed on what any other argumentative little fuss pot thinks of me on here,

It gets my message across and its quick

It really aint that it hard to understand now is it??

Ahhh really!!!

Thanks for all the responses people, much appreciated.

Because I'm keen to become an FI as a career, if only part-time, then I'm going to need my CPL. Like Whirls said, why not use the time I'll be building to put towards the CPL? My aim is to fly as a career, not a hobby.

One other thing: if I decide to do my CPL ground exams instead of the ATPL exams (which is likely), am I able to do the additional exams to convert the CPL to ATPL?

Tim

yes you are. But you wont be able to get the frozen atpl if you dont get your atpl and cpl done within 18 months of starting the first exam, or something like that

im sure ill be corrected by someone but thats the basic jist of it mate

Which means if you dont get the frozen, youl have to accrue loads of hours before being considered employable by an airline. again, im sure some1 will attack this post and try and correct me in some way, but thats the basic jist again.

John, here's a correction. "Jist" should be spelt "gist".

The point about punctuation and grammer are that they provide common rules to ease understanding of the written and spoken word. It probably takes you longer to put together your crappy text-speak bollox than writing things properly.

And then people might be able to read your comments without wondering at the imbecility of that mode of communication.

Undrstnd m8?

Errr......

No, you're not able to do the additional exams. If your long term aim is to get an ATPL licence, then you need to sit ATPL exams, not CPL exams with IR exams; they are not equivalent in the eyes of JAA.

If however, you only want a CPL/IR licence, then CPL and IR exams will be sufficient. However, you would not be able to fly multi-crew.

Cheers

Whirls

Crikey, it's getting bitchy on here!

Interesting thread though, I too am in a similar situation and would very much like to continue into FI once I have my PPL (which should be in about 3 weeks).

Does anyone think it's a good idea to do an IMC rating after PPL, or is the cash better spent later on on a proper IR??:confused:

P.S. I hope my grammar is up to scratch!!!!!!!!