Is part-time instructing a good idea...?

Flyingbug · Post by **Flyingbug** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 8:41 am

I am just about finished my Commercial....pending a checkride and written exam.I work full-time for the government a non-flying job Mon-Fri 8-4.I would like to get some advice/views on.... if part-time instructing would be a good idea...if feasible on evenings and weekends...most places i see are full of instructors with full-time staff. I don't know if i will be able to get students who are willing to fly only in the evenings or weekends...and even if I do i suspect it will take a long time to build hrs to job seeking level.

Any advice will be helpful....!

bizjet_mania · Post by **bizjet_mania** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 10:33 am

I would have to say it isnt a bad idea, especially in certain seasons. I mean you could work a full time or part time job on the side that pays good. And in the evening and weekends (when most people book their flights) you can instruct. I see alot of new instructos instructing full time but they are standing at the front desk doing nothing because they have no students. Most I bet have to live on KD, on the other hand with a part time job you might be able to afford Mickey Ds

Flyingbug · Post by **Flyingbug** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:21 am

that's great Bizjet...I am also considering a change of school to complete the commercial and add the instructor rating right away....Does any one recommend a flight school where a part-time instructing position would be hypothetically available...!

My background is in Bizjet Aircraft maintenance and Air ambulance dispatch....i wonder if an owner of a FTU would consider this as an asset.

I was at the island earlier but it is getting a little expensive to commute there with the parking and the ferry ride ..i can only imagine the plight of new students.

bob sacamano · Post by **bob sacamano** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 6:46 pm

Many flight schools may be interested in a part-time instructor. However, during winter, if you work 8-4, you can forget about flying, it's already dark. Weekends are your best best, pending wx ofcourse. Most schools, you gotta be there to build a student/client base. It may take time, but if you're in no rush, it's a good idea.

swords2 · Post by **swords2** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 8:57 am

It works for me. If you are not in a hurry to build hours its a good thing. Its nice to have another Income source when the weather closes in. I have too many bills to pay and I also like lifes little luxuries too much to consider going full time.

water wings · Post by **water wings** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 11:15 am

i did it.
worked out well... when i apply for jobs that like instructor time, they think it's good, and when i apply for people who don't like instructors, i blow it off like i only did it part time.. i ended up with about 140 hours in one year. not so bad, really.
just don't be complacent to your students... some part timers don't put their All into it as "well, i'm not gonna get the recommend."
keep in mind you may not get any recomends. I didn't. Part time, take what you can get, and enjoy.
fly safe
ww

Idriveplane · Post by **Idriveplane** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 11:41 am

So you mean that you eventually want to persue an aviation career? I feel you kinda have to choose one or the other, government or aviation. Aviation is going to need a full time effort if you want to pursue it. Your going to exhaust yourself working 8-5 then flying evenings and weekends. If you have cash lying around you could purchase an A/C or share of one and build hrs ie float or multi etc. on the side, and then go directly into a float job or whatnot. Or do what most of us did which is work the dock or ramp. Instructing can get u ahead of the gang but alot of times you'll just waste years and money. I have seen many many guys that instructed to ~600-1000 hrs and then just said screw it and joined the fresh 200 hr guys on the ramps and docks, essentially starting from the beginning again.

My 2 cents

Gand · Post by **Gand** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 9:25 am

Idriveplane wrote:I have seen many many guys that instructed to ~600-1000 hrs and then just said screw it and joined the fresh 200 hr guys on the ramps and docks, essentially starting from the beginning again.

BS. I hate this mentality. There is no beginning and really not even an end. You don't instruct for a 1000 hrs and then because you take a ramp job turn back into a 200 hour wonder. Sorry, but that's not the way it works. I don't mean to start yet another debate on instructing or working the ramp, but i guarantee that anyone coming off the ramp with 1000 hours instructing (aka 1000 PIC) is in a better spot than a 201 hour guy. Nothing against the ramp, but our mentality in this country is off. Your trained as a pilot, you should aim to be flying... anything. The only way you become a better pilot is to be in the plane. Work the ramp if/when you need to, but then get back in the plane ASAP.

Anyway, end rant. If you can't/won't fly full-time, instructing part-time is an ok substitute. As a fresh class 4, you may find it more difficult to do than if you were a bit more experienced and had an established reputation with students. But it's possible, just keep looking for a school that will hire you in that capacity if you do your instructor training with them. At the very least, instructing part time keeps you a lot fresher than if you were renting on the occasional weekend. You'll be surprised how much you didn't know before you started teaching. Most of all, have fun with it. Enjoy sharing knowledge and love the flying. Trust me, it's better than a ramp.

mcrit · Post by **mcrit** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 7:40 pm

Part time instructing works well, that is the way that I did it. Don't worry about only being available weekends and evenings. Given that aviation takes money, most of your students will be working 9-5 jobs, so they will be available on..... evenings and weekends. As for finding an FTU that will take on a part timer, it can be done. Ours (Canadian Flyers at Markham) has taken on part timers in the past, (if you can dig up your own students then your pretty much in). PM me if you want more info. (I am a class 1 so feel free to ask questions about the instructor rating program)

robshelle · Post by **robshelle** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 6:14 pm

Here is another question about part time instructing.
I quit flying commercialy 8 years ago, and now am in ATC making good coin.
I really miss flying for a purpose(I average only a few hours a year now going around the rhubarb patch in a rental).
I really enjoyed instructing(I know, I am one of those sicko's)
In a couple of years, once my youngest starts grade 1, I am going to have lots of free time again, and am really interested in Instructing part time again.

My dillema (lots of time to sort it out) will be if I am working part time, I will be taking potential hours and more importantly, income(which I will not need, extra money is always nice though) from other instructors who, as we all know, need every dime they can get. I know I will feel a bit of guilt at this, but should I? I know its a dog eat dog world out there, but this dog wont NEED the job, I just WANT it, but will it come at the expense of someone else? Or am I just putting too much thought into this and maybe I shouldn't care?

Rob Benusic, CYEG Tower

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 7:24 pm

robshelle wrote: My dillema (lots of time to sort it out) will be if I am working part time, I will be taking potential hours and more importantly, income(which I will not need, extra money is always nice though) from other instructors who, as we all know, need every dime they can get. I know I will feel a bit of guilt at this, but should I? I know its a dog eat dog world out there, but this dog wont NEED the job, I just WANT it, but will it come at the expense of someone else? Or am I just putting too much thought into this and maybe I shouldn't care?

Rob Benusic, CYEG Tower

Whatever you do, don't do it for free, even ground briefings. That is the worst for other instructors who need the money... And from my experience, the part timers at the school at which I worked, flew on the weekends or early mornings or late evenings, so the full time instructors had the bulk of the days with a weekend-day off. The full timers also were scheduled before the part timers, unless they were their own students of course. Seemed to work very well.