Instructor scene in Southern Ontario

classiv · Post by **classiv** » Mon Mar 01, 2004 6:30 pm

I'm thinking about re-locating to Southern Ontario to look for a Class IV instructor job and/or dispatch position.

I'm not too familiar with the area. Where's the best place to go? Toronto? (Don't know how any instructors afford to live there). London? Hamilton?

Will go anywhere to work in my choosen industry, but you'd think most of the jobs would be near the major population centres.

What da ya think?

ClassIV

jimdandy · Post by **jimdandy** » Mon Mar 01, 2004 6:49 pm

Keep your eyes open, things r moving fast, even in the instructor world. Look for a room at the YMCA, and find a Tim Horton's wher they don't mix the old dounuts with the coffee grinds. Its gonna be hard, but hopefully it will all pay off.
best of luck to u.
PM me if u need to know anymore

mcrit · Post by **mcrit** » Mon Mar 01, 2004 7:16 pm

Your best bet is to try and scrape up a few students of your own before you go knocking on doors.

chewsta · Post by **chewsta** » Mon Mar 01, 2004 9:44 pm

Working on my class 4 right now. Seems like everybody is only hiring instructors who they trained. I know a class 2 who wanted a job at my location and they wouldn't give him one becuase of that - and he had a few students to bring too.

I think the busiest area is in the GTA from Oshawa to Waterloo, Hamilton to Buttonville.

I just think it's going to be hard to find someone who wants a class 4 who they didn't train. I would at least try to get to Class 3 first to show you're worth the investment (in their minds anyway).

ahramin · Post by **ahramin** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 12:09 am

What the hell. This sounds like the multi argument again.

How can you get a class III if you can't get a job as a class IV?

mculshaw · Post by **mculshaw** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 6:18 am

I got a job as a class IV at a flying club where I did not do my training.

During your Instructor training, get to know different folks, at your own school and ask them to be references for you at other schools. The aviation community is SOOOO small; everyone knows everyone else. If you have a couple good references, when opportunity rises - you're in.

Just like the rest of aviation its being at the right place at the right time.
A bit of a road trip could be done in a day or two, dropping of resumes and saying hello to different schools in the area.

ihavecontrol · Post by **ihavecontrol** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 6:41 am

Talk to the CFI's, if they really like you you'll probably still get an interview, even if you didn't train with their school. If your looking to get that upgrade to a Class III, try applying to work at one of the centres that gets awarded a contract to train the Air Cadets. That's two guaranteed recommends. Until a few years ago they gave you three students. These centres are often looking for Class IVs to work the summer. Try Lindsay, they usually get the contract and from what I remember I think they help with room and board. It's also 40 minutes to Toronto so you can build contacts from there. Cheers.

I'd Rather Be Flying · Tue Mar 02, 2004 9:42 am

Stay away from the larger cities...go to a small flight school where there is only a couple of instructors. You'll likely be busier and do more flying that way. I'm from southwestern Ontario but live out West now...when I was working at CYYC and CYBW, I wasn't very busy.

So, I went further West and found a smaller community to work in. I am very busy...and happy.

I'm sure there is work in southwestern Ontario, but I'd recommend some smaller places to stay busier and learn more. You'll probably get your III quicker.

TopperHarley · Post by **TopperHarley** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 3:48 pm

Windsor Flying Club is looking for an instructor, try them. I found this posting in the job forum. There were a couple there for instructors.

Good luck!

Shiny Side Up · Post by **Shiny Side Up** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 3:50 pm

Go ask at the Windsor Flying Club, I hear they need instructors.

Some places prefer to get class fours over threes because they're a little easier to mold to the way a particular organization conducts its operations, on the downside they also can get away with paying you less. Having a class 4 around also means that the person will stick around for a bit to get up to their class 3. Class 3s with lots of time or class 2s who aren't planning on making a career out of instructing are probably looking for their first charter job and so aren't as good of choices as they aren't intending on staying. Or unles there's a CFI position available.

Wheels · Post by **Wheels** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 4:42 pm

Try looking for an air cadet contract. Thats the way I got my start. They look for IV's cause they dont have to pay them as much. You can get your Class III in a matter of 6 weeks asuming none of your Little Top Guns bomb the ride.
From there its a little bit easier to find work as your lazy CFI wont have to do pre-solo and sim flight tests with your 45 hr wonder.
Not that you will be able to afford them but they like donuts too. Attach them to your resume whenever possible.

Cheers

shitdisturber · Post by **shitdisturber** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 9:16 pm

Wheels wrote: Not that you will be able to afford them but they like donuts too. Attach them to your resume whenever possible.

Cheers

Do NOT attach donuts to your resume, they smear the ink! Put them neatly beside it; bonus points if you can find out what kind of donuts the CFI likes beforehand.

Shiny Side Up · Post by **Shiny Side Up** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 10:23 am

I like the sour cream glazed ones, but I'm not really picky. In fact if you just send the donuts that would be fine too.

cedarjet · Post by **cedarjet** » Sat Mar 06, 2004 8:46 am

we gotta give out donuts now?!?!??! i got an idea....

shitdisturber · Post by **shitdisturber** » Sat Mar 06, 2004 9:09 am

Remember, CFI's are still flight instructors; as such they need all the free food they can get their hands on.

FA28 guy · Post by **FA28 guy** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 3:55 pm

Everyone seems to be forgetting the Coffee and Wine for after breakfast

shitdisturber · Post by **shitdisturber** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 5:13 pm

I only whine when I see the size of my paycheque.

XPitotX · Post by **XPitotX** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 8:36 pm

[quote="classiv"]I'm thinking about re-locating to Southern Ontario to look for a Class IV instructor job and/or dispatch position.

Maybe a road trip in southern ontario would be a good idea. It won't take too long. Walk in & look around. See if the flight instructors are happy or complaining about the CFI. I don't mean ask for a job, just look around & decide if you would want to work there.

I chose the FTU I'm at now because of that. I worked slightly over 50 hours the last two-week invoice, yeilding around $1000.00 That's unusually high for February/March for a class four, but it happens. I'm lovin' it right now. We hire when an instructor leaves. Qualifications (class) comes first, then personality. I think the CFI tries to hire someone who will get along with the staff. It's super-friendly & everyone gets along.

Getting hired:
If you fly there, and get along buddy-buddy with the staff, add an extra point. Add two if you did your rating there. Add an extra point for each higher class. Add a point if gender equalization will work in your favor. Add a point if you live close. Add a point if you've worked ramp/dispatch/desk.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 8:45 pm

What is gender equalization?

Do you have to get neutered?

And what does gender have to do with instructing?

Cat

XPitotX · Post by **XPitotX** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 9:23 pm

Quota: I heard it straight from management, "...the next instructor we hire is going to be a girl..."

They want about a 50/50 ratio m/f

So, it does matter.

Flying skills are the same of course.

Right Seat Captain · Post by **Right Seat Captain** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 9:46 pm

Cat Driver wrote:What is gender equalization?

Do you have to get neutered?

And what does gender have to do with instructing?

Cat

I'm sorry to say it, but this happened where I work. We had a female instructor on staff, and she moved on. So for a year, it was all males. Finally the Ops Manager decided we needed another female on staff. He looked through his stack of a few hundred resumes, and found two women. Basically forgetting about the rest of the better qualified males in the pile. He chose the best one of the two, but I can guarantee, if it weren't based on gender, she certainly wouldn't have been hired.

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 7:41 am

He looked through his stack of a few hundred resumes, and found two women. Basically forgetting about the rest of the better qualified males in the pile. He chose the best one of the two, but I can guarantee, if it weren't based on gender, she certainly wouldn't have been hired.

I happen to be female and an instructor, and let me tell you, it pisses me off SO much when this happens. I think it's stupid to pass over an experienced, more qualified pilot for someone who is less qualified but happens to have - I mean, happens to be female. For gods sakes, if I were a student again I'd want to have the most skilled person teaching me... Do you know HOW much students learn by example (even when a skill is not being specifically demonstrated)???
And we wonder why females may be regarded as "bad" pilots... all their male counterparts see are the ones that were hired only because they are female and happen to have the correct printing on their license.

Had to get that off my chest.
G'day all.

ndb · Post by **ndb** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 8:51 am

Let me get this straight - you don't like that the current politically correct conditions are in your favour?

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 9:58 am

I would rather fly & work with someone who knows I got the job because I have the skill/experience, rather than because I was needed to "diversify" their company.
Maybe I'm just bitter because I have yet to see my gender work in my favour.

ndb · Post by **ndb** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 10:50 am

Heh. If you want to see your gender help you out, put an application into Air Canada. Some hours would help, but they're not really necessary if the past is any indication.

Instructor scene in Southern Ontario

Instructor scene in Southern Ontario

Re: Instructor scene in Southern Ontario

gender equalisation

crazy business

rant