Am I too old to instruct?

[Seb_Pk]

Hey guys and girls.
I have a quick question for all you instructors out there.
I am working towards my commercial licence, paying for it with my full time job as an engineer.
I am hoping to make the jump to instructing in a couple of years when I will be 33.
I am looking at having my multi all done, as well as a total of +/- 450 hours and my instructor certification (I am sorry if I do not have the lingo down). Is this too late to start instructing if I do hope to end up flying for an airline?
If I go at it full time, how long should I expect to instruct before landing some kind of job?
I know experiences vary immensely, but an average number would very much help me decide whether I am going make the jump, or merely keep flying for the shear pleasure.
I am willing to take the pay cut, and the sacrifice, but not if it's too late in the game for me. I understand airlines look to hire young pilots in order to get a return on their investment.
Thank you guys so much for your informed input, and not sugarcoating it!

[Bronco Billy]

Hello,

You might see it as an advantage at least on the instructing side. I started giving instruction I was 19, I can assure you that it was much harder for me to get people's confidence then someone around the 30's. I have seen couple of instructor starting at ages around the 40's. I am not telling you they are working for major airlines now but they are in regional airlines. You will probably find lots of people with your experience and age around the industry. Not everyone starts in their early 20's. So if you are willing to stop the big pay job and sell the bmw to fly, I think its totally doable.


Cheers,

[Seb_Pk]

Hello,

You might see it as an advantage at least on the instructing side. I started giving instruction I was 19, I can assure you that it was much harder for me to get people's confidence then someone around the 30's. I have seen couple of instructor starting at ages around the 40's. I am not telling you they are working for major airlines now but they are in regional airlines. You will probably find lots of people with your experience and age around the industry. Not everyone starts in their early 20's. So if you are willing to stop the big pay job and sell the bmw to fly, I think its totally doable.


Cheers,

Thank you for your opinion and encouragement. I don't own a bmw, but that fancy 21 speed bicycle is totally going!
Once I get my multi-engine instructor certification, how many hours can one reasonably expect to instruct on twins per year?

[Cessna driver]

Hello,

You might see it as an advantage at least on the instructing side. I started giving instruction I was 19, I can assure you that it was much harder for me to get people's confidence then someone around the 30's. I have seen couple of instructor starting at ages around the 40's. I am not telling you they are working for major airlines now but they are in regional airlines. You will probably find lots of people with your experience and age around the industry. Not everyone starts in their early 20's. So if you are willing to stop the big pay job and sell the bmw to fly, I think its totally doable.


Cheers,

Thank you for your opinion and encouragement. I don't own a bmw, but that fancy 21 speed bicycle is totally going!
Once I get my multi-engine instructor certification, how many hours can one reasonably expect to instruct on twins per year?

Intially, don't expect any twin time. Most places only put instructors on that are class 3 and the company knows they will be sticking around for a while. Many places will bond you if you get put on a twin. Its not unheard of for a class 4 to be teaching on a twin but it is also very rare. There isnt a "multi instructor rating," its just 2 separate ratings.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

It has been quite some time since I have flown in Canada but as I recall the minimum requirements to give dual in a multi engine airplane was a Commercial pilots license and 50 hours on multi engine airplanes.

However I seem to remember that if you get an instructor rating class 4 you don't need to have 50 hours on a multi engine airplane to give dual on one.

Is that correct?

[rob-air]

50 Plus 10 on type instructor rated or not.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

Thanks.

How do new class 4's with new multi engine ratings get 50 hours on twins?

[rob-air]

And no, you are not too old. And by the time you get to apply for the majors you might have changed your mind about working for a major. I am pretty sure there are some really cooll jobs for a pilot engineer like flight testing and cetification. Never too old if you are still breathing. Go for it and if it dosent work out you have something to fall back on. Most of all enjoy the ride. Money cant buy you memories.....I am kind of deep tonight...

[rob-air]

Well i might be wrong but
(5) A person who conducts flight training in a multi-engine aeroplane where the trainee does not have a multi-engine class rating shall:

(a) be the holder of a Commercial Pilot Licence or an Airline Transport Pilot Licence;

(b) have multi-engine pilot experience, which if acquired on centre thrust multi-engine aeroplanes may be credited toward qualifying a pilot to provide centre thrust multi-engine flight instruction only; and

(c) have experience of not less than 50 hours flight time on multi-engine aeroplanes with not less than 10 hours on the type of aeroplane used for the training.

How to get that 50, i guess the time to get the multi ifr out of the way takes about 35 maybe more, then if your lucky your school gives you the checks on type and maybe some charters...I dont know.

[Seb_Pk]

So 50 hours, with ten on the type.
Awesome.
This is all so useful, thank you guys so much!
So, how do you go from class 4 up the ladder? I guess as you crank out students and based on their performance?
Also, which I know is probably a dumb question given the variety of experience out there; how long did you guys instruct before landing some kind of permanent non-instructing job? I know some people get lucky, but what is a reasonable full time instruction period before catching a break?

[Cessna driver]

To move up the ladder from class 4 you need 3 solos and 3 recommends for a ppl flight test. Basically as class 4 your a rookie andunder direct supervision of a class 2 or higher. Once you get class 3 you can go free lance (not working at a ftu)

[Bronco Billy]

Most of the guys at my flight schools where doing between 400 to 800 hours per year. It was a pretty busy FTU. I saw most of them leave after about a year or two. They would get into some navajo,king air, pc12 small operator kind of thing. Some of them where more in a rush to go fly the big jets and left after a few years in those small 703-704 company others stayed for the lifestyle of being able to be home every night. It all depends.

Instructors make from 0 to about 45 k when CFI.

[Cessna driver]

The pay is terrible when your not flying, when your flying its ok, you can eat 99 cent kraft dinner instead of the 59 cent no name crap

[Seb_Pk]

So how many twin hours before one of those 703's 704's even looks at you?

[Flips]

I got 50 hours of twin time by teaching IFR on multi-engine aircraft. These students already have a multi rating, so you can provide dual instruction for the instrument rating and you don't need to have 50 multi hours . Past 50 hours, then the school may consider letting you teach the multi rating as well. At least that's how it works at my school.