Aerial sensing vs instructing?

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Z28
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Aerial sensing vs instructing?

Post by Z28 »

Hello aviators

Possible job offer to fly light twins doing aerial sensing vs current instructor position which with this weather has been awful.

Can’t decide to either take the sensing job (2 and a half weeks away from home ) vs being home instructing.

Sensing job is salary so get paid whether flying or not.

I know it’s a personal matter but getting ideas if others were in the same situation.

Fly safe
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pelmet
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Re: Aerial sensing vs instructing?

Post by pelmet »

Only you can decide what is best based on various non-flying issues.

But I would suggest strong consideration for the aerial sensing. Your instructing background gives and advantage for future employers who like that(and for any skeptics, you can say that you like doing training of new pilots which could at some point be an advantage for them). Meanwhile, the aerial sensing makes your experience more rounded. Multi-time, and a different set of flying skills that could give an advantage for the next step. If it doesn't work out, it should be easy to fall back onto an instructor job again.
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Z28
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Re: Aerial sensing vs instructing?

Post by Z28 »

pelmet wrote: Fri Jan 23, 2026 7:05 am Only you can decide what is best based on various non-flying issues.

But I would suggest strong consideration for the aerial sensing. Your instructing background gives and advantage for future employers who like that(and for any skeptics, you can say that you like doing training of new pilots which could at some point be an advantage for them). Meanwhile, the aerial sensing makes your experience more rounded. Multi-time, and a different set of flying skills that could give an advantage for the next step. If it doesn't work out, it should be easy to fall back onto an instructor job again.
Thank you for your valuable feedback much appreciated.

I just feel bad about potentially leaving my students !
Hard decision
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pelmet
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Re: Aerial sensing vs instructing?

Post by pelmet »

Z28 wrote: Fri Jan 23, 2026 4:24 pm
pelmet wrote: Fri Jan 23, 2026 7:05 am Only you can decide what is best based on various non-flying issues.

But I would suggest strong consideration for the aerial sensing. Your instructing background gives and advantage for future employers who like that(and for any skeptics, you can say that you like doing training of new pilots which could at some point be an advantage for them). Meanwhile, the aerial sensing makes your experience more rounded. Multi-time, and a different set of flying skills that could give an advantage for the next step. If it doesn't work out, it should be easy to fall back onto an instructor job again.
Thank you for your valuable feedback much appreciated.

I just feel bad about potentially leaving my students !
Hard decision
Most of your students will leave you as well.

As for leaving students in the middle of training, I had that with my instructor during my ppl.
Quite disappointed but one advantage can be getting different perspectives from different instructors and learning that there are varying qualities and capabilities of instructors and therefore pilots in general.

One of the most important things I have learned about from many years in aviation, that is applicable to life has been personality issues.
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cdnavater
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Re: Aerial sensing vs instructing?

Post by cdnavater »

Z28 wrote: Fri Jan 23, 2026 4:24 pm
pelmet wrote: Fri Jan 23, 2026 7:05 am Only you can decide what is best based on various non-flying issues.

But I would suggest strong consideration for the aerial sensing. Your instructing background gives and advantage for future employers who like that(and for any skeptics, you can say that you like doing training of new pilots which could at some point be an advantage for them). Meanwhile, the aerial sensing makes your experience more rounded. Multi-time, and a different set of flying skills that could give an advantage for the next step. If it doesn't work out, it should be easy to fall back onto an instructor job again.
Thank you for your valuable feedback much appreciated.

I just feel bad about potentially leaving my students !
Hard decision
Just to be clear the sensing job requires 2.5 weeks away at a time? How many days off after that?
I get your feelings of being obligated to your students but they aren’t paying you while sitting around are they, weather is a factor in initial training and I remember a six week period where nothing happened and then my instructor left for a twin job. I didn’t resent that one bit and in fact later on I recommended him for a job at the company I was working at.
Aviation is a career that requires moving forward until you get to the place where you want to retire, take any opportunity that will make that happen. If your current employer valued you, you would be paid whether you flew or not!
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SpyPilot
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Re: Aerial sensing vs instructing?

Post by SpyPilot »

If a Flight School isn't flying it isn't earning.

Paying instructors a salary would put the school out of business.
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Bede
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Re: Aerial sensing vs instructing?

Post by Bede »

SpyPilot wrote: Tue Jan 27, 2026 12:41 am If a Flight School isn't flying it isn't earning.

Paying instructors a salary would put the school out of business.
Nonsense. I worked for a school where all instructors were paid a salary + benefits.
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Roar
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Re: Aerial sensing vs instructing?

Post by Roar »

In my opinion, take the sensing job.
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