Is the UK flight instructor industry heading for crisis?
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It's hard to tell. As this also includes type rating instructors in VIP, Offshore, Police and HEMS roles.
At a rough guess...there are about 20 PPL/CPL schools in the uk (ie R22/R44/Cabri), so at an average of 4 instructors per school, that means about 80-100 instructors who are working?
Although I think there are more people who have the FI rating but don't use it, or it's expired.
At a rough guess...there are about 20 PPL/CPL schools in the uk (ie R22/R44/Cabri), so at an average of 4 instructors per school, that means about 80-100 instructors who are working?
Although I think there are more people who have the FI rating but don't use it, or it's expired.
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It's hard to tell. As this also includes type rating instructors in VIP, Offshore, Police and HEMS roles.
At a rough guess...there are about 20 PPL/CPL schools in the uk (ie R22/R44/Cabri), so at an average of 4 instructors per school, that means about 80-100 instructors who are working?
Although I think there are more people who have the FI rating but don't use it, or it's expired.
At a rough guess...there are about 20 PPL/CPL schools in the uk (ie R22/R44/Cabri), so at an average of 4 instructors per school, that means about 80-100 instructors who are working?
Although I think there are more people who have the FI rating but don't use it, or it's expired.
Does that include DTO's?
However many instructors are out there, I expect at least a third of them will be engaged in commercial work or doing it part time and therefore not full time instructors. It's more likely these guys will give it up if the going gets too tough.
Most of the FIs I know are part-time and have "real" jobs/pensions/rich spouses/other income, instructing is just a hobby for them, as full-time instructing very rarely pays enough to live on (unless you are single with cheap rent), especially in the South East of the UK
Last edited by hargreaves99; 8th Jan 2024 at 21:03.
At a rough guess...there are about 20 PPL/CPL schools in the uk (ie R22/R44/Cabri), so at an average of 4 instructors per school, that means about 80-100 instructors who are working?
Although I think there are more people who have the FI rating but don't use it, or it's expired.
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That's interesting, roughly how many hours would you fly per year? And if you don't mind sharing, what was the average rate per hour?
Last edited by hargreaves99; 23rd Jan 2024 at 20:22.
I think 200-400 hours without checking my logbook. I do remember £60 per hour with a £600 per month retainer. First ten hours a month was taken from the retainer!
It looks like UK flight instruction pays about £20-£30k a year, if done full time. With very little progression to bigger/better things.
Offshore co-pilots start on £60k+. £100k+ once you get command.
Offshore companies don't care about R22 hours, they just want young people with a valid IR
This is why people are not becoming instructors.
Offshore co-pilots start on £60k+. £100k+ once you get command.
Offshore companies don't care about R22 hours, they just want young people with a valid IR
This is why people are not becoming instructors.
Last edited by hargreaves99; 24th Jan 2024 at 08:51.
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