Originally Posted by
galaxy flyer
Traditionally, FSI instructors have gotten lots of offers, depending on the type and the market. At least, the schedule is decent and pay competitive.
Usually, there are opportunities to fly with customers as contract pilots; FSI wants their instructors to have time in the plane. They also will, after some period of employment, allow one to get another type. The market for corporate guys is improving.
If going corporate: good move
If wanting to get to a major: so-so at best
GF
Bingo. The G-Whiz club is fairly elite (at least the members like to think they are). Getting a Gulfstream type can open a lot of doors. That most likely applies to other large cabin jets as well. Citation types, Lear types, Hawkers, not so much....
CitationAir is going to end up dumping 100+ typed and experienced CJ, Excel, Encore pilots into the market. NJA dumped nearly 500 from the Excel, Ultra, X, H800 and G200 pilots out there. A few of us were able to find work flying what we flew at NJA, but most not.
His plan is reasonably solid, but he needs to choose the facility and type wisely. The best you can expect at CMH would be a Netjets interview when / if we hire again. SAV in the G-string and you'll probably end up flying one somewhere within a couple of years.
BTW, when pilot hiring is going gangbusters, I saw happy FSI instructors at the CMH center who dressed professionally, but left the tie at home. They worked the same 7 and 7 schedules we did, got paid over the holiday break when no training was going on and were treated well by management. Last time I went through was in November '09. There had been furloughs, the instructors were being forced to take their vacation days through the holidays, schedules has gone to crap, and ties were mandatory.
Seems the treatment of the instructors fluctuates with the pilot market.