FIC instructors
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 20
Likes: 3
From: UK
FIC instructors
There is a huge shortage of FIC instructors in the UK and Helicopter Services are looking to train new candidates
Is there any interest from the industry from instructors with considerable experience
Is there any interest from the industry from instructors with considerable experience
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 20
Likes: 3
From: UK
Guest
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 67
Likes: 7
From: scotland
I guess this is one of the consequences of very few "new" FIs coming through the system, and most experienced FIs are only doing it part-time/hobby and don't want the hassle of being an FIC/dealing with CAA
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 76
Likes: 13
From: Manchester
That's way too high!!
Most ATO/DTO's pay 50GBP per flight hour for freelancers. Max 4 flight hours a day, I would say 200-300GBP a day is the maximum.
A very experienced FI might be able to get a higher hourly rate but 450/day, that's rare, very rare.
And that's one of the 2 reasons the industry has a shortage:
- pay for an FI is too low
- shortage in offshore/hames/police makes tnew pilots go for jobs like that instead of first become a FI
years ago pilots didn't get hired unless they had 1000hrs which made most pilots go for an FI job, get some hours/experience and move on. Now people straight out of a CPL+IR get hired so they skip the FI step leaving the industry with a shortage.
Most ATO/DTO's pay 50GBP per flight hour for freelancers. Max 4 flight hours a day, I would say 200-300GBP a day is the maximum.
A very experienced FI might be able to get a higher hourly rate but 450/day, that's rare, very rare.
And that's one of the 2 reasons the industry has a shortage:
- pay for an FI is too low
- shortage in offshore/hames/police makes tnew pilots go for jobs like that instead of first become a FI
years ago pilots didn't get hired unless they had 1000hrs which made most pilots go for an FI job, get some hours/experience and move on. Now people straight out of a CPL+IR get hired so they skip the FI step leaving the industry with a shortage.
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 62
Likes: 1
From: UK
I think there is scope for more experienced flying instructors to make a career out of it, but the circumstances need to be right. Like everything, it’s too simplistic to think of the lack of (experienced) flying instructors in the UK (and worldwide actually) as a pay issue, although it generally tends to be placed as front and centre of any discussion of this nature. If the instructing is almost always weekends, bank holidays, evenings etc then it just is not compatible with any sort of life (stand fast the hermits amongst us).
There are plenty of ex-mil rotary instructors and I dare say, rotary re-treads coming out of O&G, HEMS, VIP, who would at least entertain the thought of going into a valued instruction job but, as I said at the very beginning, the circumstances have to be right. Issues such as: 1. What is the working routine, 2. who are we going to teach, 3. is it just instructing or will there be CAT jobs on top, 4. is it commutable (linking back into 1), 5. What is the working environment like etc
Most aviation jobs are on a rotation basis, so why not instructing? Make it attractive- how about a 4 on, 4 off rotation that is commutable, teaching career students with a reasonable salary? I think once we as an industry start to think on these terms when it comes to teaching and instructing, then we will attract quality, experienced individuals. If we are thinking of going after hour-builders (who are in their own right, motivated, dedicated and high-quality individuals to have got that far) then we will just go round in circles. Just my 10p.
There are plenty of ex-mil rotary instructors and I dare say, rotary re-treads coming out of O&G, HEMS, VIP, who would at least entertain the thought of going into a valued instruction job but, as I said at the very beginning, the circumstances have to be right. Issues such as: 1. What is the working routine, 2. who are we going to teach, 3. is it just instructing or will there be CAT jobs on top, 4. is it commutable (linking back into 1), 5. What is the working environment like etc
Most aviation jobs are on a rotation basis, so why not instructing? Make it attractive- how about a 4 on, 4 off rotation that is commutable, teaching career students with a reasonable salary? I think once we as an industry start to think on these terms when it comes to teaching and instructing, then we will attract quality, experienced individuals. If we are thinking of going after hour-builders (who are in their own right, motivated, dedicated and high-quality individuals to have got that far) then we will just go round in circles. Just my 10p.
Guest
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 67
Likes: 7
From: scotland
how about a 4 on, 4 off rotation
Make it attractive
Can you really see an Offshore/VIP/HEMS captain taking a 50-70% pay cut to go teach in an R22? (answer: no)
And most Offshore/VIP/HEMS captains do not hold an instructor rating, nor do they have any instructional experience.
Last edited by PPRuNeUser445748; 2nd December 2025 at 16:28.
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 76
Likes: 13
From: Manchester
Ideally you do the FI course with 1 other pilot so you can train eachother with briefings etc.
But it's not uncommon to do the FI course just by yourself and I never heard of FI courses with more then 2 pilots.
Leon is great, you'll learn a lot !!
But it's not uncommon to do the FI course just by yourself and I never heard of FI courses with more then 2 pilots.
Leon is great, you'll learn a lot !!
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 20
Likes: 3
From: UK
Just to clarify an FIC course is for instructors to train instructors
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 118
I think there is scope for more experienced flying instructors to make a career out of it, but the circumstances need to be right. Like everything, it’s too simplistic to think of the lack of (experienced) flying instructors in the UK (and worldwide actually) as a pay issue, although it generally tends to be placed as front and centre of any discussion of this nature. If the instructing is almost always weekends, bank holidays, evenings etc then it just is not compatible with any sort of life (stand fast the hermits amongst us).
There are plenty of ex-mil rotary instructors and I dare say, rotary re-treads coming out of O&G, HEMS, VIP, who would at least entertain the thought of going into a valued instruction job but, as I said at the very beginning, the circumstances have to be right. Issues such as: 1. What is the working routine, 2. who are we going to teach, 3. is it just instructing or will there be CAT jobs on top, 4. is it commutable (linking back into 1), 5. What is the working environment like etc
Most aviation jobs are on a rotation basis, so why not instructing? Make it attractive- how about a 4 on, 4 off rotation that is commutable, teaching career students with a reasonable salary? I think once we as an industry start to think on these terms when it comes to teaching and instructing, then we will attract quality, experienced individuals. If we are thinking of going after hour-builders (who are in their own right, motivated, dedicated and high-quality individuals to have got that far) then we will just go round in circles. Just my 10p.
There are plenty of ex-mil rotary instructors and I dare say, rotary re-treads coming out of O&G, HEMS, VIP, who would at least entertain the thought of going into a valued instruction job but, as I said at the very beginning, the circumstances have to be right. Issues such as: 1. What is the working routine, 2. who are we going to teach, 3. is it just instructing or will there be CAT jobs on top, 4. is it commutable (linking back into 1), 5. What is the working environment like etc
Most aviation jobs are on a rotation basis, so why not instructing? Make it attractive- how about a 4 on, 4 off rotation that is commutable, teaching career students with a reasonable salary? I think once we as an industry start to think on these terms when it comes to teaching and instructing, then we will attract quality, experienced individuals. If we are thinking of going after hour-builders (who are in their own right, motivated, dedicated and high-quality individuals to have got that far) then we will just go round in circles. Just my 10p.
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