Do I instruct?....any market?

[ralphmalph]

Hey all,
I am a military QHI completing my licenses at the moment, really just as a insurance policy. I am wondering what instructional work there is out there in Yorkshire?

Types flown are Gazelle, Squirrel and Lynx.

I can pm further details if required.

All instructional work/flying going would be appreciated. Is there a steady stream of work or has the recession hit hard?

Regards

Ralph

[g-mady]

I landed at Wallop recently... Refueler asked me where to fill it from and if it was pressure filled..... I was in a B206

[Whirlygig]

Is there a steady stream of work or has the recession hit hard?

Do they have newspapers and television in Hampshire?

There are schools that do have a few students and are keeping their heads above water but I doubt you could be choosy about location even if there are vacancies.

Cheers

Whirls

[MightyGem]

I landed at Wallop recently... Refueler asked me where to fill it from and if it was pressure filled..... I was in a B206

And what has that got to do with the price of eggs??

[VeeAny]

Mady

In fairness to the guy (or gal) at Wallop if I was asked to refuel a Sea King would I know where the fuel went in and if it was gravity or pressure filled ?

Not a hope in hell, I might be able to find the fuel filler given some time.

I was refuelled at Waddington once on a weather divert and needed fuel so they offered me what they had, it was however up to me to decide if their fuel spec was equivalent to JET A-1, the fueller may have been just being awkward but I didn't know the answer until I did some digging and at the end of the day it was me who didn't know, he didn't need to.

On a seperate but related note.
There are companies who supply fuel in the UK, who will not allow their operatives to put fuel in an unmarked fuel filler regardless of what the pilot tells him, they will however supply you with said markings usually and then sell you fuel you gotta wonder where common sense went sometimes.

Back to the subject of do you instruct, I'd say do something else at the moment, I spend most of my time writing software and doing almost no flying (which is not the way I want it but if I had no fallback times would be hard), this year has been hard on the helicopter industry at most levels.

GS

[ralphmalph]

Thanks for the response guys....even if some were a little cryptic!

I mentioned a slow down because there still seems to be a fair amount of activity up north..I suppose those really rich enough to buy a private helicopter might still be flying?

I am not intending to do this full time, but to pick up work on an ad hoc basis.

Will keep looking!

Thanks

Ralph

[[email protected]]

Ralph, unless you have R22 on your licence you won't get to teach anyway. Unless the rules have changed you need 30 hours piston to instruct on one and I seriously doubt if any company will pay for you to do that, it will all have to come out of your pocket unless you have a friend with an R22 - even then you will still need your 1179 on type first before you can log the hours.

Have you actually looked at what civvy instruction entails - it is different from what you are used to at Wallop and unless you have flown an R22 (and done an EOL in one) I suggest you do before trying to get a job teaching in it. You will be competing with hours hungry civvy low timers who will work for less than you to do the job and you will be expected to be at the beck and call of the student - slightly different to what you are used to!

You are far better off looking for air ambulance/police work where your military skills are more useful and desireable.

[ralphmalph]

Crab,
Thank you!. I spoke to a couple of guys last week about FI ccreditation for an A2 upgrade. Perhaps the water is not as clear as I thought!

I am trying to get out and about just in case things do not work out with the Military...fingers in many pies at the moment.

I have seen many Gz around and was wondering what the market will be for that.....also many Sq in and out of Dishcloth.

I am aware of the sensitivites of casting for jobs on line when people are probably struggling..I am trying to think longer term.

Hope you have a quiet Christmas......(unless you still do the xmas day Santa flight down in Chiv!!??)

Regards

Ralph

[WOMBAT45]

I left the mob a few years ago as an A2 QHI with FI rating on AS350 and found out it meant zilch to the civvy instructing world.

I did nothing for 6 years until I got my IR which then opened the doors to TRI/TRE. You then need to work for an operator who appears on the rating as your sponsor.

There are a lot of young lads (and lasses) out there who are very good on the Robbo's and only get paid when they fly! Your best bet is to do what crab says and look around for police/air ambo jobs as they mainly employ ex mill because it suits our skills. I've done both and it's a different world again.

[Non-PC Plod]

Ralph,

If you get your JAA licence and an IR, there are still vacancies around for people with the right sort of instructional background (ie- CFS(H)), as TRI/TRE/SFI etc, especially if you are prepared to travel a bit further afield than Yorkshire!
Until you see some of the (international) competition, you wont realize just what the quality of your training and experience is compared to what is out there.

[g-mady]

ralphmalph,

Hehe! Sorry about my first post... I was just alluding to the fact that as a Middle Wallop dweller you would quite rightly only have Gazelle, single Squirrel and Lynx on your types (perhaps even the AH now?)

Which are vastly superior aircraft but of no use in the civy instruction world!

MADY

NB:
Last time with my ear to the floor I heard that the instruction market is doing quite well despite the recession.