Truth about Flight Instruction on a resume

[volez]

Hy everyone

This is my very first post on your forum that I really appreciate by the way. I decided to post my first post on your forum ( at last ) cause I'm reaching the end of my training (currently finishing my multiIFR), and as a newbie in Aviation(300 piston + 90 glider) like hundred of new pilots , I'm trying to find a path that would help me the most to get to an airline job ( in 10 years let's say).
Among the possibilities, I would like the most beeing an air taxi pilot on a 172 or If I get lucky on a 206. I already sent some resume, but no answers, I guess it's due to my lack of experience. Even if I am available right now, really ready to work hard but not for free, I'm still below the minimum requirements I guess.

That's why I thought ( even if I'm still looking for a job within a charter company) about becoming an instructor. I used to teach Physics for high school students, so I could try to teach to those who are interested in, BUT couple friend of mine(who are flying charter and medevac) told me : Carefull , being an instructor is not really well appreciated by many companies, cause you have no "operational experience".

What do you guys think ?

Thank you for you answers, it helps to go forward !

[Cubester]

I wouldn't cut yourself short with instucting. By your post I can ony assume that you're not to keen on in. Lodge season is starting in the North, so if you start sending out alot of resumes and hounding those companies who you'd really lke to work for you'll be fine. Mind you I did indeed say in THE NORTH. You'll have to like the bush, or can easily adapt else you'll have an awful time. If you are city person, then if you're lucky enough to find a job .. it's unlikely you will make much.

But for any job, it's all about timing

Good luck,

[Wacko]

Personally I've noticed that companies these days need guys with the 1000, 1500+ hours. At this point in the game I doubt many of them care where you get it. It's all about insurance costs and how quickly they can promote you to the left seat.

There is a point where instructing hours become a negative, depending on your path. I know a guy who stopped logging his hours at a certain point.

Instructing is also not for everyone. If you can't find value in flying circuits 15 times a day you will get bored stiff. Your students will pick up on it too... and may become resentful of you.

As for the companies that look down on instructor hours... there's a post about Borek which kind of touched about this. Some guys CHOSE to grind it out on the ramp for 2 or 3 years before sitting in the right seat while watching instructors slip into the right seat without having to do ramp and probably getting promoted faster because they have way more hours... It's human nature to be resentful!

Thoughts?

[Wacko]

.... did I just feed a troll? I hate feeding trolls....

[teacher]

In this climate instructors are moving along much faster than when I was doing it and yes, we couldn't "move on" because we had no operational exerience. It took a long time to get out of it. But now I know of many instructors who have flown for a year or so, got 500-1000 hours and got FO jobs on everything from PC12s to 1900s. If you have the opportunity, and choose instructing work for a larger school if you can where there is alot more flying available and most importantly, the chance to get on a twin to teach. THAT is your insurance!! I enjoyed teaching however the lack of movement did wear on me after a while. Things are different now but who knows how long the good times will continue to roll. The good thing is you'll be able to live in the city if that's what you so desire.

[lilfssister]

Troll? maybe, maybe not.

First post? No. Says twelve right there under their username.

I am always amazed that more people don't hit the profile button at the bottom of each post, read some of their previous posts and research WHO they are responding to.

[FLYaJET]

If you want to instruct ........DO IT. If you have no interest or just want to use it to build hours....do you students a favor and forget it.

People are looking for 1000-1500 hours for right seat on anything from King Airs to Dash 8's and RJ's. Alot of companies cannot be too picky about where you got the time or they wont have the pilots with those hours.

Its a pilots market. If the ultimate goal is the airlines......stay instructing for 1000-1500 and move on. It took me 2 years from instructing to the airlines.

Good luck

[Wacko]

Troll? maybe, maybe not.

First post? No. Says twelve right there under their username.

I am always amazed that more people don't hit the profile button at the bottom of each post, read some of their previous posts and research WHO they are responding to.

There's a profile button? Ohhhh there it is! But the reply button is sooooooooo much bigger

[4hrstovegas]

Yep, I'd say your friends are full... well, they're wrong. Granted, if a charter company had a choice between 2 guys with similar hours, one with teaching time and the other with charter time, they'll likely take the guy with charter experience first. But everybody's right... it's about putting guys with time in seats right now.

Consider this, though: if you haven't started your instructor rating, you'll likely miss the busiest time of the year by the time you are flight tested and get a job. Given that, how many hours will you log by this time next year? It's not too late to get a foot into the door of charter ops, though, as they are hiring NOW. By next year, you'd likely be flying (if not sooner), and you'll probably enjoy it more.

If you teach, try to find a school that has a charter side so you can do more than instruct. That's what I did: 500 hours teaching, about 200 charter, and then I couldn't stand it anymore. I hit the bricks, and was offered a couple jobs after a month long road trip. After getting your foot into a charter/sked operation, your instructor/charter time will help you move more quickly up the flight line. Once in, nobody will care what kind of time you have... just that you can fly a plane, learn fast, and work hard.

[Spokes]

I'm still trying to figure out where people are getting the idea that instructors spend so much time in the circuit. Or is that just a metafor? When I was instructing, I spent maybe 1 in 5 or 6 trips doing circuits.

If you like instructing, do it. Other operators only want to see time in the logbook. Not a grat measure of skill, but it is the way it seems to be done.

[volez]

I thank you very much for the time you took to answer me.

I know I am a newbie, I know that I know nothing about this industry. By the way, when I said, it's my first post, I wanted to say in this part of the forum "employment", sorry that's not a troll ...

right, so bottom line is :

We can't say instructing is bad either good, it just depends on how long I am supposed to work as an instructor, on which airplane I am going to teach after a while, and if I am ready to really help people rather than just logging PIC in my logbook.

I'm going to take into consideration all your advices, thanks again for your help.

See you !

[just curious]

No Volez, the bottom line is that no matter where you wind up in this business, these is always a requirement for trainers. Right up to the Space Shuttle level. Do the best you can at it, learn from it, and when you feel you aren't learning much new, move on to the next job at the next level.

[Wacko]

Guys that do check rides etc... they don't need an instructor rating do they?

[SQ]

and even more
having a trainer background is allways good if you want to get more involved doing training or checkride & in a far future, training captain.
a friend of mine had 2000hrs of instruction 1000MPIC. he is now working for Bombardier as instructor in YMX.
another friend has done 3000 hrs of instruction in canada and is now training capt on 737 in europe, doing line indoc for easyjet in UK.
that's a great outcome I believe and this is not wasting time as long as you know HOW to use this experience later to improve your situation in a company and keep your job interesting after years of routine.
you can also participate to a lot of things, proposing, deciding... do much more than just following
all you'll have seen as an instructor will help you as a pilot, captain, trainer, CP...

well... I believe.

[teacher]

I agree with yah "Spokes". The don't wanna be a circuit flyer stuff always confused me. I spent way more time inverted and down low than flying in circles.

The thing is it all depends on the instructor, some guys put more effort into it than others. Sure, you gotta do circuits to teach people to land but how about doing low level nav in marginal weather to a grass strip and doing a few there. Flying in less than ideal weather, doing night flying even when it's not required or logable and combining multiple excercises to maximize a students learning is the way to go.

[just curious]

Guys that do check rides etc... they don't need an instructor rating do they?

Guys that do the check rides for Private, commercial and Instructor ratings, yes.

Guys that do 703,704,705 Proficiency checks. No. That having been said, company training departments are always looking for people in their organization that are willing to do training and groundschool. Generally, people with an instructing background are less reluctant, or intimidated by teaching.

Check pilots in 702-705 are usually drawn from the ranks of training pilots.
JC

Editted for thinking I could spell without coffee in my system

[flying4dollars]

Hy everyone

so I could try to teach to those who are interested in, BUT couple friend of mine(who are flying charter and medevac) told me : Carefull , being an instructor is not really well appreciated by many companies, cause you have no "operational experience".

What do you guys think ?

Thank you for you answers, it helps to go forward !

tell that to all the instructors at pasco.

I have 5 friends at pasco who were instructors prior to getting on with them. One of them is now a 1900 captain...put this in perspective, they were all in my flight college class..

i'm still a co-joe with not even 1000 hours