Hey there,

I'm planning on starting my instructor rating within the next month and was wondering if anybody would be able to recommend anyone/places that would be able to accommodate me

I live in the Grimsby/St. Catharines area. I know there is the St. Catharines Flying Club, however some people have warned me against getting it done there for various reason. Obviously I'm willing to travel in order to get it done as I don't have very many options in terms of schools to get it done at.

Right now I'm looking at Brampton, Brantford, and Welland.

Any help would be appreciated,

Typhoon

I was just out in Ontario, looks like instructor jobs are kind of a long shot. But keep in mind, with companies like ACA hiring 20/month and other companies to follow, this means that instructor's are most likely moving on. I would research not only which place offers the better training, but as well, which flight training units will be losing their senior instructor's causing movement at the school. Once you pin point that, see which one already has a waiting list (ie: instructors waiting to get online currently working the front desk), and narrow your search to a flight training unit where you can get your foot in, perhaps start working the front desk relatively soon and use that together with your work ethic doing the rating to put an impression on the management to hire you.

Remember, the moment you walk in to the flight training unit discussing the instructor rating, you are putting an impression on the class 1 instructor, which if not currently the CFI, will probably be in close ties with the CFI. The impression you put on this individual is crucial! Show up with a "dress for success" attitude. However, if you're walking into a flight training unit where the instructors wear joe boxers as a uniform, then you get the hang of what to wear - joe boxer's and a shirt. (Always one step above and beyond what is worn) lol. BPF always says this and I agree 100% that the first 5 hours of your instructor rating course acts like an interview. It proves your work ethic, attitude, etc. That doesn't go to say however that once the first few hours of impression has been put in place that you can slack.

I highly recommend Phil Brasher @ Spectrum Airways or Scott Peter's if you're doing your instructor rating. Those guys are people I'd like to learn from if I was doing my instructor rating again.

Great, thanks for the advice loopa. I appreciate it.

Out of curiosity, how hard is it to get on with a school where you didn't complete your Class 4? I've heard some schools almost exclusively hire their own instructor students while some will hire those taught elsewhere.

Thanks again.

Edit

Akbar Bashiri at WWFC no question. Huge success rate, a career instructor, does anything for his candidates and overall just a great guy. Not to mention he'll get you through it with spending the least amount of money. I know the school has a reputation of being a bit of a money pit, but he's a total class act.

flyingpooch wrote:Akbar Bashiri at WWFC no question. Huge success rate, a career instructor, does anything for his candidates and overall just a great guy. Not to mention he'll get you through it with spending the least amount of money. I know the school has a reputation of being a bit of a money pit, but he's a total class act.

+1. Did my cpl and mifr with him and have known him for nearly 12 years, never seen him have a bad day!

gaamin wrote:Who trains you is at least as important as where you train.

Not all, but most schools that offer instructor training will recruit only Class 4 who were trained in-house.

Some schools do not train instructors. Back in fall 2008, I had contacted 4 schools in BC that were advertising on avcanada, looking for Class 4 instructors. None of them was willing to train me, all of them recommended the same place/person as their first pick to get my Class 4 rating so I would be in position to be hired. That school wasn't looking to hire instructors at that time. That's where I went to do it, and got hired halfway through my Class 4 training. I still work here now, my advice may be biased.

Alex Denham was my Class 1 instructor. He is my CFI. I strongly recommend him as a Class 1 to teach you towards your Class 4, if you're willing to come train in Pitt Meadows.

As said by some others, I suggest finding and contacting the schools that need or will be needing instructors soon, ask them how you could put yourself in a good position to be employed by them, and give your best through the extended interview that is your training.

All the best in your search for the right person / right place.

+1 If you're going to BC, Alex Denham is the man to do it with for sure. I completed my rating with him. As for the hiring - it is school dependant. But it's true that most schools like to hire their in-house instructors for the exact reason I posted. They have a better impression of your work ethic at first hand.

Great thanks for all the info guys! It's definitely got the gears turning.

As far as WWFC goes, do they normally hire back their instructor students? I'll be making a trip down soon to speak to people, however was just wondering if anybody knew off the top of their head.

Also, one more quick thing. If anybody was starting from scratch in the industry again, would you go the instructor route or would work the ramp/office type jobs. Just curious.


Thanks again

If you're going to get an instructor rating, do it with a class 1 that has successful experience teaching new instructors.

No names mentioned, but there are lots of class 1 instructors around that have either never taught an instructor candidate, or have not been successful at it.

Hey guys,

Another quick question. I've heard at WWFC you have to book planes well in advance in order to get them at a good time, and if you're weathered out it's highly unlikely that you'll be able to pick up a flight the next day. Just out of curiosity, would it be best to then steer towards a school that isn't quite as busy that would be able to accommodate the student (myself) better? I'm not trying to say that I'm entitled to 100% of the instructor's time, but at the same time don't want the rating to take a dragged out extended period of time, especially if I have to drive 2+ hours each way every time I go in.

In terms of busyness and class 1s, how are Brampton and Brantford. I understand Brampton is a fairly busy school, but is it as busy at WWFC?

Thanks again!