What would you do? (Class 4 renewal)

[bluenote]

I haven't been able to land a flight instructing job as I am presently a class 4 which I got initially in the summer of 2009. I already renewed once through the ground school seminar way without doing the whole flight test thing.

I haven't been flying a whole lot and I am getting rusty so if you were me would you renew it again through the ground school seminar way and get it over with or should I pick a school that might eventually hire me if I did some brushing up with a class 1 and did some flight and ground prep lessons and did the flight test again so I don't lose touch.

What have others done in terms of getting ready for that first job.

Any thoughts?

bluenote

[modi13]

I had a similar problem; although I was employed as an instructor, I only had two solos and no recommends when my rating was coming up for renewal. Rather than drop another $500 with no guarantee of getting enough flying in the next year to be worth it, I cut my losses and found another job. There were a few other factors involved, like having to work a full-time dead-end job to pay my bills, but it's worked out so far and I definitely don't regret it.

[bluenote]

so modi13 did you do another flight test or the groundschool, I am confused what route you took to renew, sorry.

[modi13]

I didn't want to pay for a renewal, so I left instructing and got a job with an airline. I didn't get too many hours instructing, so it didn't play a significant role in getting hired, and I did it in the current hiring market.

[bluenote]

Congrats modi and good luck.

[Walker]

A few thoughts;
-you can only renew twice via something other than a ride; so keep that in mind as to when you upgrade to a 3..... So doing a ride in feb may not be a bad idea depending on how much instructing you are going to do over the next 2 years...
How close are you to your 3?


And now for a bit of insight that may or may not be of use; Jobs are slim pickings because there is only a limited quantity of business at flight schools at a given time. No company want's another mouth to feed when the folks that have been there X/years are hungry....
SO what is an intrepid young class 4, or 3 to do if they are unemployed at this time of the year???

Find a student, or two.... and THEN approach the school of your choosing, Now assuming you have no reason to give anyone pause; almost ANY CFI would be more than happy to let you in the door...

I personally would be more than happy to higher a class 4 or better if they had prospective students (assuming interviews/references etc checked out)

[JAHinYYC]

It took me three and a half years to upgrade from a IV to a III (I taught part time).

The first renewal I did via the ground seminar. It was very good, but expensive relative to boning up with our CFI and doing the re-ride. Subsequently I did two TC rides to renew.

Honestly the rides were faster and cheaper.

[bluenote]

Thanks for all the info guys,

Now another thought,

I am having a hard time deciding which way to go because I am still unemployed as a flight instructor with no actual instructing under my belt. My gut keeps telling me to go around the schools in my area of the province and ask the CFI if I re-newed with them would they give me an opportunity or even just picking a school and doing some training as obviously because of my inexperience of instructing it wouldn't hurt me to get back into things.

But then I might not find a school that might give me an opportunity to an instructing job so maybe doing the ground course which would be my last time as I did it this way last year might be the fastest and easiest way.

Looking for anything from you guys that might have experienced this.

[I Я Instructor]

I think... (at it hurts when I do) that the industry is going to pick up again in 2011. There is lots of hiring in the US... hopefully the Americans finally go back south and make more room up North Plus oil just hit a 2 year high so Canada might start moving as well. With that in mind there are lots of instructors around with 1500+ hours eager to move on. Once the boys with turbine time find jobs again those instructors will be next.

There is a handful of Class 4's floating around in your position. Much like in the 703 ops, those who will be ready to go will get hired. If I were you I would be hitting the schools around your area shaking hands and kissing babies. Try to talk to some of the instructors as well... internal recommends supersedes experience in a lot of cases.

On the flip side, if the industry is picking up, getting a ramp job now might be a good idea too... there might be some quicker movement.

Thoughts?

[tdp19]

I was in a similar situation 2 years ago... I was a class 4 with around 700hrs TT with 2 flight test recommnds, and 3 Solo recommends. I got laid off because the flight school had no students within 2 months of my class 4 expiring. I didnt know what to do, I didnt want to spend money on renewing my FIR without having a job in hand. I threw my resume to everyone (charters. medivacs. flight schools). I worked construction for a few months til I got a call and it was for a kingair F.O. I personally didnt like instructing that much so it was no brainer to take the f.o gig even if it meant getting my ATPL later on as oppose to keep on instructing and building PIC time. Just be patient, something will come along when you least expect it and when it rains it pours. I accepted a position with a company and the next day 2 other companys called for bigger and faster equipment..

[Chaffey]

(1) An applicant for renewal of a Flight Instructor Rating - Aeroplane or Helicopter shall have the rating provided that the applicant:
(amended 1999/03/01; previous version)

(a) successfully completes a flight test for the appropriate flight instructor rating;
(amended 2000/09/01; previous version)

(b) successfully completes a flight instructor refresher course, in which case the rating shall be renewed from the date of the last day of the course. When the last day of the course is within 90 days of the valid to date of the existing rating, the renewed rating shall be valid to the same date as if the refresher course was completed during the month prior to the valid to date of the existing rating; or
(amended 2000/09/01; previous version)

(c) in the previous 24 months, has acquired at least 300 hours of flight instructor experience and had, in this period, at least 80% of candidates recommended for the applicable flight tests pass on the first attempt. The renewal shall be based on no fewer than 5 flight tests.
(amended 2000/09/01; previous version)

(d) When an instructor flight test for the renewal or upgrade of a flight instructor rating is conducted within the 90 day period prior to the valid to date of the existing rating, the renewed rating shall be valid to the same date as if the flight test was done during the month prior to the valid to date of the existing rating.
(amended 2000/09/01; previous version)

(2) Where the applicant has renewed the instructor rating twice consecutively by means other than a flight test, the next renewal shall be through successful completion of a flight test for the appropriate flight instructor rating.
(amended 2000/09/01; no previous version)


this being said. I would pick the instructor refresher course. You could learn new things that your original rating didnt teach you. If you still cant find a job after a few renewals, then you're forced to use a flight test.

[loopa]

If you decide on doing a refresher, these guys are in Ontario, and have an excellent refresher program. I've recommended it to a number of people who have taken it, and all had nothing but positive things to say about the program. I enjoyed theirs as well.

http://www.aviationsolutions.net/instructor.php

If you're debating between a flight test, or a refresher course, I would suggest the refresher course. The flight test is also a learning experience, but 3 days of attacking weakness areas in flight instruction, or a 3-4 hour session with a TC inspector. Both have their pro's and con's.

If you think however that you might "fail" an instructor flight test, I would suggest working with a class 1 and fixing those areas of weakness that you feel you might fail on, as you want to try avoid becoming rusty.

Good Luck!

[Freddy_Francis]

Question...

Is taking the refresher course an automatic renewal..as in is there some sorta exam in order to pass? Or is it just take the 3-4 day course and its up to the descretion of the instructor?

[dumbitdown]

it's an automatic renewal.

[Freddy_Francis]

Thanks for the reply!