Ground instructor job- good or bad move?
11-01-2021, 11:39 AM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Aug 2016
Posts: 297
Ground instructor job- good or bad move?
I'm scheduled for an upcoming interview with a regional for a ground instructor position, and another one at a contract training facility. At the time it seemed like a good idea- but I'll be limited in what I can teach without an ATP or turbine time. Is this a mistake? Should I just apply to be a regional FO instead? I have all the required minimums. I just don't know if I will like being away from home for 5 straight days at a time. The contract facility will offer me a Citation type with a 2 year work contract. I don't know what the regional will offer yet, but I'm hoping for some perk to make this at least as appealing. Current commitments have me unable to accept an FO position until at least June. I could do the ground position and keep my current commitments at the same time. Or I could wait and apply to be an FO instead.
Any advice helpful. QOL is king in my decisionmaking.
Any advice helpful. QOL is king in my decisionmaking.
11-01-2021, 02:15 PM
#2
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 5,995
Originally Posted by FlyinCat
I'm scheduled for an upcoming interview with a regional for a ground instructor position, and another one at a contract training facility. At the time it seemed like a good idea- but I'll be limited in what I can teach without an ATP or turbine time. Is this a mistake? Should I just apply to be a regional FO instead? I have all the required minimums. I just don't know if I will like being away from home for 5 straight days at a time. The contract facility will offer me a Citation type with a 2 year work contract. I don't know what the regional will offer yet, but I'm hoping for some perk to make this at least as appealing. Current commitments have me unable to accept an FO position until at least June. I could do the ground position and keep my current commitments at the same time. Or I could wait and apply to be an FO instead.
Any advice helpful. QOL is king in my decisionmaking.
Any advice helpful. QOL is king in my decisionmaking.
You said you're limited because you lack an ATP or turbine time. Does this mean that the employer with whom you are interviewing won't consider you for some teaching positions, because you lack an ATP?
Teaching won't get you any turbine time. If you lack an ATP, and you said they'll get you a Citation type, that means it's a type on your commercial. What won't they let you teach?
If you take a ground instructor positoin for two years, in two years you'll have no more flight experience, but you'll be two years out of currency from a flying job.
You indicated that you don't want to be gone for several days at a time. While it is possible to find positions that are out and back or that have no overnights, at your experience level, these are not plentiful (depending on your goals). You sound as though you're not very committed to a flying career. That's something you're going to have to decide for yourself.
The "perk" for flying for a regional is that you gain experience on which to build your career.
11-01-2021, 05:13 PM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Aug 2016
Posts: 297
Originally Posted by JohnBurke
Depends on your goals. If you're looking to be a pilot, then "QOL" may not be in your wheelhouse for now.
You said you're limited because you lack an ATP or turbine time. Does this mean that the employer with whom you are interviewing won't consider you for some teaching positions, because you lack an ATP?
Teaching won't get you any turbine time. If you lack an ATP, and you said they'll get you a Citation type, that means it's a type on your commercial. What won't they let you teach?
If you take a ground instructor positoin for two years, in two years you'll have no more flight experience, but you'll be two years out of currency from a flying job.
You indicated that you don't want to be gone for several days at a time. While it is possible to find positions that are out and back or that have no overnights, at your experience level, these are not plentiful (depending on your goals). You sound as though you're not very committed to a flying career. That's something you're going to have to decide for yourself.
The "perk" for flying for a regional is that you gain experience on which to build your career.
You said you're limited because you lack an ATP or turbine time. Does this mean that the employer with whom you are interviewing won't consider you for some teaching positions, because you lack an ATP?
Teaching won't get you any turbine time. If you lack an ATP, and you said they'll get you a Citation type, that means it's a type on your commercial. What won't they let you teach?
If you take a ground instructor positoin for two years, in two years you'll have no more flight experience, but you'll be two years out of currency from a flying job.
You indicated that you don't want to be gone for several days at a time. While it is possible to find positions that are out and back or that have no overnights, at your experience level, these are not plentiful (depending on your goals). You sound as though you're not very committed to a flying career. That's something you're going to have to decide for yourself.
The "perk" for flying for a regional is that you gain experience on which to build your career.
11-01-2021, 05:38 PM
#4
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 5,995
It sounds like you're clear on what you like, and what you'd like from your career. That's good. It helps give direction.
Career instructors are not in the majority, but a critical thing to understand about that is that there are instructors, and there are teachers. Those who do it to build time are often those who administer a syllabus, and move on as soon as they can. They're instructors. Those who do it with passion, with a desire to teach, who enjoy what they do, tend to become to become teachers. Instructors are a dime a dozen: teaching is a calling and are fewer in number, and worth their weight in gold. Instructors, like pilots in general, are worth their weight in wet salt.
It sounds like you have a desire to teach, and that is admirable, and something for which you should be commended.
There is room for someone who only wishes to instruct, either on the ground or in the air, and someone who wants to fly for a living, and instruct. If it's the former, then there are positions throughout the industry in training facilities and departments, colleges and universities, flight schools, etc, where the opportunity to teach full time in the classroom, simulator, and aircraft, exist. Many operations utilize check airmen who teach classroom, simulator, and flight operations in the aircraft. They go into the field and provide line training and line checks, do standardization, initial training, recurrent and proficiency training, etc.
Whatever you elect to do, I'd strongly encourage you to ensure that you never let your instructor certification lapse. I've done it twice, and it's a pain in the butt to find the time (and the added expense) to reinstate it. I've found teaching opportunities at every level in my career, and it's something I'd encourage you to keep current and active, no matter what you do.
I'd encourage you to pursue your ATP; this maybe something you can do at the training facility where you might go to work, and it maybe something they'll help you achieve. It sounds like this facility definitely wants you to get some flying experience commensurate with the type of training you might provide, so I'd include that in your plans. Gaining experience is a good thing, and will make you more marketable, as well as expand your understanding in your teaching.
I attended a training session in a corporate aircrafti some years ago. I had one or two thousand hours in the airplane at the time. The instructor had no experience in typei. Never the less, he knew that airplane inside and out, and taught it as though he'd flown it all his life. I was very impressed with his level of preparation and his knowledge of the aircraft, procedures, systems, etc. A good teacher can teach without necessarily having 25,000 hours in type, but certainly needs to have enough background to understand life on the line. There's no substitute for experience, but there's also no substitute for study and preparation. You sound like you have a desire to do both in order to be able to teach. Follow the path that will get you there. If you can fly, keep your hand in teaching. If you find yourself teaching, keep your hand flying ,as well.
Some of the best Simuflite and Flight Safety instructors I've had are those who are actively flying, and teaching at the same time. Many of the big training facilities prefer full time, as do most pilot employers...but not all. If you have a path you enjoy, I'd encourage you to pursue it.
It's been out a few years, but if you haven't read it, I often recommend Greg Brown's The Savvy Flight Instructor. Grab a copy for your library. While you're at it, I always liked Barry Schiff's works, and his three-book series, The Proficient Pilot is an exercise in explaining topics in a way everyone can understand...a practice the best teachers perfect. One of the best teachers I met was a gentleman who taught back country flying, Sparky Imeson. I once attended a session that he presented at the Aerial Firefighting Academy; he was presenting to a group of extremely experienced and proficient mountain flying pilots and yet he taught so well that he held everyone's interest. I was so fascinated by his presentation that I spent most of it not listening to what he taught, but how he taught. His books are still gold standards in their subject. One of the best teachers I ever knew, a master teacher, was a former Chief Petty Officer who wasn't a pilot, but he taught the pilot ground schools at an airline, and did a brilliant job. I asked to go back and audit his classes on my own time. Teaching is a calling; learning it well is a lifetime practice, and if you've found it's your calling, then I congratulate you. My hat is off.
Career instructors are not in the majority, but a critical thing to understand about that is that there are instructors, and there are teachers. Those who do it to build time are often those who administer a syllabus, and move on as soon as they can. They're instructors. Those who do it with passion, with a desire to teach, who enjoy what they do, tend to become to become teachers. Instructors are a dime a dozen: teaching is a calling and are fewer in number, and worth their weight in gold. Instructors, like pilots in general, are worth their weight in wet salt.
It sounds like you have a desire to teach, and that is admirable, and something for which you should be commended.
There is room for someone who only wishes to instruct, either on the ground or in the air, and someone who wants to fly for a living, and instruct. If it's the former, then there are positions throughout the industry in training facilities and departments, colleges and universities, flight schools, etc, where the opportunity to teach full time in the classroom, simulator, and aircraft, exist. Many operations utilize check airmen who teach classroom, simulator, and flight operations in the aircraft. They go into the field and provide line training and line checks, do standardization, initial training, recurrent and proficiency training, etc.
Whatever you elect to do, I'd strongly encourage you to ensure that you never let your instructor certification lapse. I've done it twice, and it's a pain in the butt to find the time (and the added expense) to reinstate it. I've found teaching opportunities at every level in my career, and it's something I'd encourage you to keep current and active, no matter what you do.
I'd encourage you to pursue your ATP; this maybe something you can do at the training facility where you might go to work, and it maybe something they'll help you achieve. It sounds like this facility definitely wants you to get some flying experience commensurate with the type of training you might provide, so I'd include that in your plans. Gaining experience is a good thing, and will make you more marketable, as well as expand your understanding in your teaching.
I attended a training session in a corporate aircrafti some years ago. I had one or two thousand hours in the airplane at the time. The instructor had no experience in typei. Never the less, he knew that airplane inside and out, and taught it as though he'd flown it all his life. I was very impressed with his level of preparation and his knowledge of the aircraft, procedures, systems, etc. A good teacher can teach without necessarily having 25,000 hours in type, but certainly needs to have enough background to understand life on the line. There's no substitute for experience, but there's also no substitute for study and preparation. You sound like you have a desire to do both in order to be able to teach. Follow the path that will get you there. If you can fly, keep your hand in teaching. If you find yourself teaching, keep your hand flying ,as well.
Some of the best Simuflite and Flight Safety instructors I've had are those who are actively flying, and teaching at the same time. Many of the big training facilities prefer full time, as do most pilot employers...but not all. If you have a path you enjoy, I'd encourage you to pursue it.
It's been out a few years, but if you haven't read it, I often recommend Greg Brown's The Savvy Flight Instructor. Grab a copy for your library. While you're at it, I always liked Barry Schiff's works, and his three-book series, The Proficient Pilot is an exercise in explaining topics in a way everyone can understand...a practice the best teachers perfect. One of the best teachers I met was a gentleman who taught back country flying, Sparky Imeson. I once attended a session that he presented at the Aerial Firefighting Academy; he was presenting to a group of extremely experienced and proficient mountain flying pilots and yet he taught so well that he held everyone's interest. I was so fascinated by his presentation that I spent most of it not listening to what he taught, but how he taught. His books are still gold standards in their subject. One of the best teachers I ever knew, a master teacher, was a former Chief Petty Officer who wasn't a pilot, but he taught the pilot ground schools at an airline, and did a brilliant job. I asked to go back and audit his classes on my own time. Teaching is a calling; learning it well is a lifetime practice, and if you've found it's your calling, then I congratulate you. My hat is off.
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