Questionnaire for Employers/Pilots

[bwilly]

Hello,

I'm looking to talk to some aviation employers & employed pilots. I'm trying to secure funding to start flight training, and the provincial government would like know some labour market information to ensure I'm a reasonable investment.

Questions for employers include:

Qualifications for new pilots?
Who is the ideal candidate for a entry level F/O job?
Starting salary range for new pilots?
What employers look for in a pilot?
Career progression for pilots?

Questions for employed pilots include:

Background (Education, Skills, Aviation ratings held)
What was you first flying job?
Typical work day, hours?
Salary range, first job to current (career progression)
Most challenging parts of the job?
Best part of the job?

I know some of this is personal, so feel free to send me a PM if you wish privacy.

Thanks in advance everyone. I'm eager to here your replies!

Have a great day!

[Hot Fuel]

Let me be the 1st to say....Wow! I don't have anything of real value to add so I'll make my comment short. I bet your eagerness for responses from this crowd falls off quickly.

[Big Pistons Forever]

bwilly

You are kidding......right, because if by some slim chance you are actually serious, you are asking questions that are so basic that it would mean you have no idea about this business.
Engage a consultant if you want to proceed further

[bwilly]

bwilly

You are kidding......right, because if by some slim chance you are actually serious, you are asking questions that are so basic that it would mean you have no idea about this business.
Engage a consultant if you want to proceed further

Actually, I'm quite aware these are basic questions. However, these are the exact questions I was given by the goverment to ask people in the industry. Yes, I could just take the easy route and apply my current knowledge to these questions, but I'm being honest and looking for people's anwsers, as is required of me. Can you blame a guy for trying to get help for funding?

Big Pistons Forever - this is quite optional. I realize you may find it difficult to respond in a positive manner, but there is no need to insult my intelligence. After all, you didn't suddenly wake up one day and know the industry inside out, neither did I, neither will the lady behind the desk who wants these exact questions anwsered. Simple questions = simple anwsers, why don't you give it a try! I would like to know where you obtained all of your knowledge!

Hot fuel - Eagerness and a positive attitude will get you a long way in life. I promise you that!

Cheers!

[cdnpilot77]

Actually, I'm quite aware these are basic questions. However, these are the exact questions I was given by the goverment to ask people in the industry. Yes, I could just take the easy route and apply my current knowledge to these questions, but I'm being honest and looking for people's anwsers, as is required of me. Can you blame a guy for trying to get help for funding?

Big Pistons Forever - this is quite optional. I realize you may find it difficult to respond in a positive manner, but there is no need to insult my intelligence. After all, you didn't suddenly wake up one day and know the industry inside out, neither did I, neither will the lady behind the desk who wants these exact questions anwsered. Simple questions = simple anwsers, why don't you give it a try! I would like to know where you obtained all of your knowledge!

Hot fuel - Eagerness and a positive attitude will get you a long way in life. I promise you that!

Cheers!

Careful...might want to read this active thread from top to bottom before you get to argumentative.

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=64887

[c_172pilot]

bwilly, I commend you on wanting to improve the flight training business however I don’t think you are qualified to be running a flight school. From your previous posts you just finished your PPL (ref this post: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=60106&p=565947#p565947

I would recommend that before you use all your life savings and get yourself into big debt with the government that you obtain you commercial license and an instructor rating to see if you really like instructing. You can bring new ideas to the table as a class 4 instructor and learn a whole lot under the tutorage of an experienced class 1 or 2. Once you have the experience and still have the ambition to open your own flight school then go for it!

That being said a flying school can be effectively run by a person who isn’t a pilot. Providing them and the chief flying instructor work well together and you have a large enough client base. Realistically you would need a medium sized flying school doing a few million dollars a year in flight training alone to support your salary as a manager who doesn’t fly. I very much doubt that the government would loan you enough to buy a large fleet of aircraft, hanger space, advertising and employing 10 instructors full time.

Don’t let what I have said discourage you. You just need to be a little more realistic with your ambitions. Is there anyone you know in the industry that you would trust with your ideas? You could partner with someone who currently owns a flying school. If they like your ideas they could incorporate them into their school and have you assist them. But the idea of starting a flying school from scratch is not a great one. Many have come before you with lots of experience and good ideas and lost everything they put into it.

[iflyforpie]

***removed due to misunderstanding of topic***

IFFP

[bwilly]

haha thanks c172

Boy, this has turned into a messy thread

I'm not trying to open a flight school!! They do help out with funding commercial liscenses, multi, etc... I appreciate the very well thought out response though, very insightful if I was ever crazy enough to attempt that is this stage. Maybe someday, in the very,very distant future though!

Thanks mate!

[bwilly]

Ahhh, now I understand the confusion.


My original wording was quite confusing. I put that I wanted to ''start flight school''. I meant, start some more training. Not start a flight school haha

Wording changed**

This is a good example of how aviation accidents happen. One small mistake leads to the snowball effect!

[fingersmac]

What provincial government agency are you trying to secure funding from? What province?

[c_172pilot]

Ha! Glad we got that one sorted! Aviation is a funny business and we would all hate to see someone go in with out all the information. As for your questions I would recommend getting Wings Magazine. (http://www.wingsmagazine.com/) They usually have a "state of the industry" issue that has all the facts and figures that you need. In addition it comes from a reputable magazine has a lot of merit with the boards who will review your request.

On a little personal history back in 2003 I applied to the federal gov for assistance in obtaining my instructor rating. I had my commercial ticket and over 300 hours. Having just been laid off from the forest industry in BC there was lots of money available for retraining. I had all the facts and figures supporting the notion that if I received this training I would be off EI and well on my way to a career in aviation after completing the rating (I know a little white lie). I even had a letter from a flying school saying they would employ me for the air cadet contract after completing my rating.

After several weeks of deliberation the board decided that aviation was not a good gamble and they denied request. Best of luck with your request.