Likes:

You learn a lot about everything including regs, book work, flying, people, learning, etc. Ill be the last one to admit it (actually the first one in this case) but it is actually quite rewarding to see someone solo for the first time and you taught him to do it. In fact instructing is prolly when you have the most impact on society at large because those people you taught will one day be in a position to save lives, keep power going, etc.

Dislikes:

Mundane, monotonous, tedious work. Same thing day after day, hour after hour, with a couple seconds of shear horror thrown in just too screw with your head. High stress levels, sometimes unachievable expectations, students stresses and complaining, etc. Sitting there while the other guy gets to fly, fighting complacency and fatigue, losing the "touch."

Overall:

Don't enjoy doing instructing full time but part time with more commercial work might not be a bad gig. Its invaluable experience I wouldnt do again if I would have had another choice :)

Instructor Courses
 

Here's a simple question for you all.

Who would you recommend to teach an FI(H) course in the UK?

Oxford, Cabair, Fast, Tiger.........?

Cheers

Fast was brilliant, but Mike Green has left....... :{ :{

Jcooper

great fun and if you are the type of person that enjoys helping people then this is a great job in aviation with the added bonus of increased flying skill and personal confidance, it can be tedius if this is the only flying you get and therefor a mix of commercial work and instructing can be a very rewarding career, the company I trained with in Canada had a policy of sending thier insrtuctor pilots out into the bush every now and again so as not to burn them out.

This was good for them and good for the students as the instructors were able to teach more than just the flying sylabus and tended not to be low time recently qualified guys, but very experienced working pilots.

Like most jobs in aviation, it should not be the only one that you aspire to do, but I can recommend it to anyone who enjoys helping others develope thier own skills.

Cheers

I can recommend Glen Wells at Heliair - Wellesbourne

FAST still are brilliant, just go to Shoreham and ask for Ian MacGregor:ok:

FI(H) courses
 

I'd give Helicopter Services at Wycombe Air Park a try. They have wide experience, can train and examine at all levels and are great group of people to work with. Leon Smith (Chief Pilot) operates on the 'straightforward' (i.e. no bullsh!t) principle. They can be reached on 01494 513166 or [email protected].

2Sticks

Instructing is a good way to get into the business and you can learn a lot initially, however you will get bored beyond belief with only the break of having the odd student who is enjoyable to fly with. It needs to be mixed with some other flying or only done for a couple of years otherwise you will go mad and never go anywhere:8

I like instructing, I find it very satisfying to watch my students graduate, learn tyo hover and so on.

I have also learned a great deal, about mistakes I won't make again, and mistakes i won't let others make when I'm in the aircraft, flying with various people, with different personality trends and so on. Great fun, but also like to work occasionally.

MaxNg, would the name Modak tell you anything?

KMS - you wouldnt happen to be ex fast staff would you?

KMS,

Not staff with FAST, and never have been:{

But know you aren't able to say likewise :E

SEL

You might want to consider training with a company that promises work after you pass. . ?

Good luck

KMS - I may have been closer than you think!! PM me if you like

KMS,

Guessed as much:E

Can assure you I'm not DE or ML.
Might share one day :uhoh:

What News JAR Instructor ?
 

Heard from several sources that the JAR instructor pre-course hours requirements were coming down from 300 to 250 this summer.

Someone even mentioned to me 200 ??

Does anyone know if and when this may be happening?

FB

Hours came down to 250 about a week ago.

Although yet to see any AIC confirming this.

Morning all,

As with all changes to JAR FCL documents the amendments have to go through the proper consultation process which can take quite a while. The change to entry requirements for instructors (250h) has been agreed on by the JAA Licensing Sub-Sectorial Team for helicopters earlier this year. This and other proposed changes to JAR-FCL 2 are now published as NPA FCL-2-20 (Notice of proposed amendment) until the 1st of September 2004. This will give everyone the opportunity to register any concerns they may have on the document. Once the consultation is over the Licensing Sectorial Team will discuss the matter again and suggest further changes if necessary which are then referred to the Sub-Sectorial team. With a bit of luck it could all be agreed by this summer. Also as soon as the text has been formally approved by the JAA the CAA will be able to issue a temporary exemption until JAR-FCL 2 has been reissued.

The NPA FCL-2-20 can be found here.

Hope this helps, just hang in there it’s going to happen!

Woolf

I don't really think I'm really happy about a new chum with 250 hrs doing helicopter instructing !!!!

I know this will probably stir up all sorts of invective but I'm afraid I've probably been around a bit too long and no doubt seen too much !

:uhoh: :oh:

Well how about me doing commercial with my 240 hrs then?? (actually I haven,t yet but could). Didn,t it use to be 200 and still is for planks I belive.
I wish they would hurry up and change it as more work for instructor than commercial.

It's always very difficult to come up with numbers like these. I am sure there are very good pilots with 250h and there are others .... It's worth remembering though that this is a pre requisite requirement and only allows you to start an FI(H) course. Additionally the applicant must also take a pre entry flight test with an FIE(H) who will assess suitability.