A penny for your thoughts, ladies and gentlemen.
I will be completing my commercial license with a float endorsement by next summer. I had the opportunity to spend a summer working on the docks of a very fine float operation and place seaplanes as my pinnacle of flying(this is my dream at the moment. The Airbus will have to wait until I actually earn my wings in a few thousand hours). I also have a vested interest in becoming an instructor as I believe I have the qualities and commitment to efficiently pass on the knowledge I have obtained(and will always be obtaining) in a way that will appeal to potential students.
So getting to the point, I plan on working only from May through Sept for the first two years after receiving my commercial. I will be completing my university studies in the Fall/Winter months. This will take roughly two years as I've completed the majority of my courses online while focusing on getting my flight hours. Unfortunately I'll have to attend the campus in order to finish the degree(located in St.John's, Nfld).
My question is, do flight schools tend to hire seasonal instructors or am I better off scrapping the idea of instructing(and shelling out 10,000 clams) and just getting on with my float flying aspirations? I embrace the challenge of the living conditions, the learning curve and the hard work of float flying. But it seems instructing jobs are more abundant. Also as a city guy, I'd be more cut out for that type of work. Simply meaning, I'd be more hireable as opposed to being the Bass Pro loving type of guy that would be more suited up North.
Not trying to take the easy way here, guys. Just looking for some input, cuz at the end of the day I'll be making my own decision and hitting the Trans Canada to sniff out some work. I've got a million questions, but this is just something that's been bugging me and I'd like to clear up. My flying career is my number one priority, but I'd like to have university done(let's just say I've been chipping at it for the better half of a decade). Pilotage comes relatively easily and enjoyably to me, while school has always been my Achilles heel. But I finally found the formula. Attitude+work(+getting older/wiser?)=Performance. Things happen and I want to have all my cards lined up before I hit the big 3-0 and family/kids enter the equation.
Sorry for the length of this. But if you made it this far, appreciate any and all responses. Your penny will be in the mail.
Cheers, mates!
Aviators of Canada: Advice, please!
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- White Bird
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Re: Aviators of Canada: Advice, please!
Hey there,
Well, some schools will hire seasonal intructors, but not something you probably would want to do, as its a dog eat dog world in instructing, and you'd want to get in, establish your student base while looking/hunting for new students. Some students rip thru the course, but a large majority take alot longer, having other priorities in life. (Recreational pilots for example).
From what I have seen, carriers look more favorably on actual experience (i.e. IFR, sched ops, etc) than instructing. Don't get me wrong, instructing is the means to an end, but getting a job up north for a smaller operator will give you tons of experience that employers like to see. Its not easy to land that first job, but hard work and a good attitude will get you noticed.
If you're not prepared to leave everything behind and move, you might be in for a long run, but you might get lucky!
NC
Well, some schools will hire seasonal intructors, but not something you probably would want to do, as its a dog eat dog world in instructing, and you'd want to get in, establish your student base while looking/hunting for new students. Some students rip thru the course, but a large majority take alot longer, having other priorities in life. (Recreational pilots for example).
From what I have seen, carriers look more favorably on actual experience (i.e. IFR, sched ops, etc) than instructing. Don't get me wrong, instructing is the means to an end, but getting a job up north for a smaller operator will give you tons of experience that employers like to see. Its not easy to land that first job, but hard work and a good attitude will get you noticed.
If you're not prepared to leave everything behind and move, you might be in for a long run, but you might get lucky!
NC
- White Bird
- Rank 0
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:34 pm
Re: Aviators of Canada: Advice, please!
Thanks, man. That's kinda the answer I was looking for and the drift I've been getting around most circles. Up North time seems to hold more value(although most Class 4 instructors probably won't wanna hear it). Hopefully I'll be able to find a gig that will coincide with those two years of school I have left. And I have absolutely no problem leaving the city behind, in fact I relish the idea of getting as far away as possible. So thanks again.
I will have completed a survival course and thinking about doing some egress training. Would you suggest any additional courses/ratings to tack on after getting my float endorsement?
I will have completed a survival course and thinking about doing some egress training. Would you suggest any additional courses/ratings to tack on after getting my float endorsement?