Different Instructor classes

[nott00shabby]

Hello, i just want to know how long would it take to become a class 1 instructor, also what are the differences between the different classes?

Thanks.

[Ralliart]

In a nutshell:

You start out as a Class 4 after conducting the required Flight Instructor training and passing a written exam and flight test.

After 100 hours of instruction and 3 successful solo & flight test recommends, you receive a Class 3.

After 500 hours of instruction, 10 successful flight test recommends, and passing another written exam with 70% and another flight test, you become a Class 2.

After 750 hours of instruction, and passing the same exam for Class 2 with 80% and another flight test, you become a Class 1.

If you got 80% or higher on your first attempt at the Class 2 written exam, it's valid for 2 years towards the requirement of Class 1, meaning you don't have to re-write that exam when you upgrade to Class 1.

--------------------

As a Class 4, you require supervision from a Class 1 or 2 in order to teach.

As a Class 3, you do not require direct supervision to teach or send out students for solo. You can also be the CFI at a school where you are the only instructor.

As a Class 2, you can supervise junior instructors and also be the CFI at a school with more than 1 instructor.

As a Class 1, you can supervise junior instructors and also be the CFI at a school with more than 1 instructor. You can also conduct training towards the issue of a Flight Instructor Rating.

There are some other minor details but that's it in a nutshell.

For the official requirements, it's all in the CARs:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/Regse ... htm#421_69

[nott00shabby]

also what is the pay difference (sorry i just had to ask)

[MorganAirCFI]

It took me two years to go from a Class 4 to a Class 1 Instructor. My pay tripled.

[Ralliart]

The pay depends on the company you work at, and what YOU choose to accept.

If you choose to work for peanuts, you have no one to blame but yourself.

If you refuse to work for peanuts and demand a respectable wage for a professional occupation, you will do ok for yourself.

[Kenny G]

I started as a class 4 at aprox $14,000. I am now a class one making four times as much. I started in the summer of 2004 and got my class one 3 years later.

[MichaelP]

As a Class 3, you do not require direct supervision to teach or send out students for solo. You can also be the CFI at a school where you are the only instructor.

In the Pacific Region this is apparently not true, I have been into the CARS this morning and I have not found what the TC inspector insists is written there.
In the Pacific Region at least, a Class 2 or Class 1 instructor has to be on the school's premises at all times flying is taking place and Class 3 instructors must be supervised.

All these new rules are not supported by the available Class 2 or 1 instructors and so schools will have to close when such instructors need time off or are ill.

Do TC inspectors insist a Class 2 or 1 instructor is on the premises when flying is taking place in Ontario or any other province?

[Shiny Side Up]

While a class 3 doesn't require direct supervision, they still require some supervision. The class 1 or 2 must demonstrate that adequate supervison is happening of the flight operations if they are the CFI. What adequate supervision consists of is the discretion of TC, but they base it on the size of the school and the ammount of training that goes on in any given day. For example in my case I've demonstrated to TC that with the scheduling practices we have that not a flight occurs without my knowledge, and while I might not be on the premises all the time, have demonstrated to them that adequate supervision of what goes on is happening. This is slightly different when I have a class 4 working for me in which case I must make sure that the budding instructor is directly supervised, that is to say briefed on every flight they will do, and intervening when required with their students to make sure things stay on track.

[200hr Wonder]

This is slightly different when I have a class 4 working for me in which case I must make sure that the budding instructor is directly supervised, that is to say briefed on every flight they will do, and intervening when required with their students to make sure things stay on track.

Now did TC insist that you be on premises for this? Could you do a phone briefing on a sunny Sunday morning for the five flights of the day that said instructor had booked in your PJs still in bed? Or did they want you to be "on premises". Of course that means that a CFI can never go flying if what TC is telling Micheal P is true!

[MichaelP]

According to the CARs Chief Flight Instructor has to employed on a full time basis and has to supervise all instructors and so there's no let out. CARs 426.22 5 (b) the supervision of all flight and ground instructors of the flight training unit;

If you have an Assistant CFI this can alleviate things somewhat.
If both the CFI and the Assistant CFI are away at the same time the school must close down.
The CFI job is a full time job and you can't easily employ a temporary part time CFI as he/she has to be full time.

Even with a CFI and an Assistant CFI how do you run a seven day a week operation from early in the morning to late at night and have at least one of these people on the premises?

I tend to think that a Class 1 friend of mine got it right, he closed shop for two weeks in the winter and took off on holiday.
But that's not good for the other instructors and the customers.

Whatever, we should consider the position of CFI very carefully as the requirements and regulations are becoming more severe.
For a long time I refused to do the Class 2 because the school I was working at would not give much more for the significant increase in responsibility.
I did my Class 2 for China where they paid me quite well to be an assistant CFI... It seemed they had originally lined me up to be CFI of that school! What, go in there unknowing and deal with the mayhem? No way!

Now I get paid well by Canadian standards to be a CFI, and I work for a good place and good people. But I wonder at the CARs and how they are interpreted, and about the future.

[scopiton]

I thought ou had to be class2 during at leats 12 months b4 becoming class1 ?
or you have to be class 2 during the last 12 month ?...
which is not the same meaning

[hairdo]

Hmm... well, I don't think there has to be a 1 or 2 on the premises when flying is going on. If that were the case, and there was a 1 instructor school and the CFI was a class 3, then that school wouldn't be able to do any training. I think that the CFI would have to be contactable (if that's a word), however.

As far as I know, there isn't any "direct" supervision of 3's down east, but as mentioned before, there has to be some level of supervision from the CFI, regardless of what class instructor.

[shitdisturber]

The TC inspector who approved me for the CFI position way back when told me that it wasn't necessary for me to be on the premises at all times when flying was taking place but I had to be reachable by phone. That being said, Class IV's have to have direct supervision; ie the CFI has to be on site, or a suitable delegate a Class II or they can't fly.

[MichaelP]

Class IV's have to have direct supervision; ie the CFI has to be on site,

Now they want to apply this to Class 3 supervison! At least in our region.
A Class 3 was told that it was not enough that he spoke to the Class 2 on the phone.

And they don't want the CFI or a Class 2/1 supervising if he/she is employed at another school. So we can no longer borrow people.

[shitdisturber]

Class IV's have to have direct supervision; ie the CFI has to be on site,

Now they want to apply this to Class 3 supervison! At least in our region.
A Class 3 was told that it was not enough that he spoke to the Class 2 on the phone.

And they don't want the CFI or a Class 2/1 supervising if he/she is employed at another school. So we can no longer borrow people.

If it were me, I'd tell them to show me where in the CAR's it says the CFI has to be on site for a Class III; then when they can't find it, because it isn't there, thank em for stopping by and not to let the doorknob hit em in the ass on the way out. As for borrowing people, I think they've got you on that one. It seems to me that the CFI has to be a full time employee of the school so borrowing someone is not an option.

[Hedley]

If Transport is demanding that the CFI be "on the premises"
(which is NOT a CARs requirement) then I guess the CFI job
is a non-flying position, because he can't even fly in the
circuit, let alone (horrors!) a cross-country.

What complete nonsense. Ok, if this is the "new reality"
then the CFI doesn't need a medical. Heck, he doesn't
even need a pilot's licence, because he can NEVER fly
an aircraft, according to Transport!

Meanwhile, back in the real world ... I have seen class
4's work at schools unsupervised, for many years.

[MichaelP]

If a Class Three is very good at the job he/she should consider being a freelance instructor.
Advise TC of who your students are and the aircraft they are training in, do a good job, and earn some money directly.

[MorganAirCFI]

I thought ou had to be class2 during at leats 12 months b4 becoming class1 ?
or you have to be class 2 during the last 12 month ?...
which is not the same meaning

Nope, just have to hold a valid Class 2 within 12 months of the application for a Class I

[MorganAirCFI]

Being on the premises is a rediculous requirement if you are CFI. That would mean no flying, and no time off for alot of people. Class 2's and 1's are few and far between.

I would like TC to define "Direct Supervision."

Far as I know, it means that they tell me what they're planning to teach each day, and send their students up with me before solo and flight test.

[MichaelP]

and send their students up with me before solo and flight test.

It's more than that now, and I actually agree with Transport Canada on this one.
They suggest that a supervisory flight be done with a Class 4's student within every ten hours.
I got caught by one class 4 who had done 14 hours without a supervisory flight and now we are insisting on a supervisory flight at least every 10 hours.
If this is done we can perhaps reduce the number of excessive houred students.

Regardless of who we are or what class of instructor we are, another instructor should have a look at our students once in a while and this gives us a different insight.

The CFI at a busy school will have little time to fly since the administrative requirements are huge.
The problem I have with this is that the CFI is supposed to be the best 'pilot' so to speak, and it's too easy to get a little rust.
Fatigue is the worst thing... There are more kinds of fatigue than the simple working long hours without enough rest. Concerns are fatiguing too!

There has to be a balance struck between the administrative demands made through regulation, and the ongoing work in progress demands of every day operation.

TC was suggesting the Class 1 ride next time... But, I don't think a Class 1 can be the CFI of a busy school and teach instructors at the same time.
The buck stops at the CFI.