The worst thing about instructing is ________________?

I'd Rather Be Flying · Sun Mar 21, 2004 3:14 pm

What are the best and worst things about being a flight instructor?

Personally, I enjoy the pay (yes, I'm one of the lucky ones who gets paid a decent wage). Of course, successful flight tests and written exams are a bonus! The one thing I dislike are those people who seem to know it all and have 'attitude.' I have a hard time with that one.

Have fun everyone!!

cyyz · Post by **cyyz** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 3:23 pm

4. Inconsistent pay. One week you're working 40hrs. The next week you're not booked for anything, not even a FAM.

Best;

You're not outside working the ramp, getting paid more than the rampies, and building time. w00t

upn@m · Post by **upn@m** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 3:47 pm

Worst - scorn and derision provided by other pilots.

Best - observing joy and sense of accomplishment each time a student learns a new skill.

N2 · Post by N2 » Sun Mar 21, 2004 3:50 pm

Worst - Making less than the paperboy.

Best - Ummm still thinking about this one.

shitdisturber · Post by **shitdisturber** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 3:58 pm

Worst - looking at your paycheque and knowing a highschool kid at rotten ron's makes more.

Best - the look of terror on a student's face when you tell em they're on their own, and the look on their face when they get back.

Shiny Side Up · Post by **Shiny Side Up** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 4:38 pm

Worst - Waiting for students to come back from cross country flights, Oh, and the pay.

Best - It beats doing real work.

Right Seat Captain · Post by **Right Seat Captain** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 4:57 pm

Worst: Inconsistent pay and schedule

Best: I get to fly an airplane.
2nd best: I have a job.

dont_snag_it · Post by **dont_snag_it** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 5:15 pm

Worst: students that blame you for the weather
Best: chicks dig it

FA28 guy · Post by **FA28 guy** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 5:40 pm

Worst : Sendinf someone solo
Best :Look on his/her face after the first solo

And the neat jackets with all the pockets and shirts with shoulder handles

just another pilot · Post by **just another pilot** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 7:42 am

Pay is horrible. There is little possibility of doing it for a career.

ndb · Post by **ndb** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 8:56 am

The worst part is the pay, which is symptomatic of the very bottom rung that flight instructors occupy in the aviation world. For some reason, flight instructors are viewed by other pilots (whom I presume were born with a pilot's licence) about the same as janitors. Fit to clean sh*t off a toilet, and that's about it.

The best part is seeing a student do something he couldn't do before.

shimmydampner · Post by **shimmydampner** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:56 am

Worst-getting flamed by everyone on avcanada.
Best-satisfaction of seeing the progress in skill from fam flight, to flight test.

Right Seat Captain · Post by **Right Seat Captain** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 3:08 pm

I just wanted to mention, that I find as a flight instructor, I get a surprising amount of respect from other professional pilots. They always tell me they don't know how we do it now-a-days, and they are usually impressed with our knowledge and professionalism for the amount of hours we have.

Right Rudder · Post by **Right Rudder** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 5:54 pm

Worst: Having your boss say if you think about it every hour you fly it's like making a 100 bucks because you don't have to rent.

Best: Not having to instruct anymore!!!!!

margaritaville · Post by **margaritaville** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 8:12 pm

I have to agree with upn@m on this one. One of the better things about instructing is watching your students progress and do well. Career instructor or charter bound - you have to have a certain level of pride in what you do or there is no point in doing it.

Yes, the pay sucks. It is crap in the winter especially. Paying rent and knowing where you're next meal will come from is always a challenge. Being absolutely frowned upon by most in this industry brings a person down. It doesn't matter what you fly now or how good you think you are - you wouldn't have gotten anywhere without a flight instructor. And the fact that your still alive to bitch about the instructors means that yours must have done something right.

Everybody choses their own path- whether it's instructing, working ramp, float flying etc. So give the instructors a break.

I'm done preaching now
M

Pirx · Post by **Pirx** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 10:22 pm

Best: student saying 'thanks' after his/her acompishment
Worst: abviously pay

What really appalls me is comments like "Best - Ummm still thinking about this one.". Please don't take it as a personal attack, but why do such a disservice to the student and yourself?

N2 · Post by N2 » Tue Mar 23, 2004 5:27 am

Pirx wrote: What really appalls me is comments like "Best - Ummm still thinking about this one.". Please don't take it as a personal attack, but why do such a disservice to the student and yourself?

I don't understand how you can feel so appalled by a comment such as "I am still thinking".....better to think before speaking rather than blurting just any old crap out don't you think?

shitdisturber · Post by **shitdisturber** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 10:03 am

I think what he's saying is that you should be able to take some pride in your work and come up with something good to say about it; or else why are you doing it?

N2 · Post by N2 » Tue Mar 23, 2004 10:14 am

I'm not..LOL