Anyone here have any experience working for flight safety as an instructor/evaluator?

I have some details about pay, benefits, etc. But I'd love to hear from someone who has first hand experience working for them. I would be an instructor on the CL-604/5, and they've told me they would like to make me an evaluator shortly after training is complete with my experience. It sounds like a good position.

Mostly curious about schedules and how difficult it is to get days off.

Thanks all!

 

Lots of nights and weekends teaching Initial students in the simulator. Occasionally they work some of the holidays. Recommend you read 14 CFR Part 142 to learn the requirements to be an Instructor or Training Center Evaluator (TCE). Also a good read is FSIMS FAA Order 8900.1, Volume 3, Chapter 54.

If hired, you can expect the following:

Complete Initial ground training in Make/Model
Complete Recurrent ground Training in Make Model
Repeat the above until you are comfortable with the material

Practice teaching ground to another experienced instructor
"IOE" observed/proctored "student teaching" real students

Operating a simulator takes some time and practice to learn. Eventually you will be doing both ground and sim.

You will need at least one year as an instructor and 100 hours of simulator instruction time under your belt before you get selected for TCE. Once you are a TCE, you will be doing 61.58 Proficiency Checks
And be observed at least once a year by the Feds. After a year as a 61.58 TCE, you could get additional authorities to issue ATP's and Type Ratings. It is hard work, but very rewarding work for the right person.

 

To bring this thread back.

If you're a guy who's in an external field, good pay, good benefits, but really missing your contribution to aviation...do you think FSI would be a good way to regain involvement in a field you're passionate about?

 

It would be good for you in many respects, but sim instruction is not the same as flying an airplane, so employers will not give too much credit as far as recency goes.

If you're considering regionals, they'll all hire you if you're current in a 172.

If you're looking for majors, FSI would be a good resume bullet but not a substitute for flight experience and recency.

 

You would be giving up your "bankers hours" work schedule and also your FERS Pension. FSI is a 24/7/363 day a year operation. The junior instructors get the red-eye simulator periods. It's not for everyone. IMHO, you would be giving up too many benefits and QOL.

 

Thanks guys - still looking at options.

Regionals won't pay the bank, I have a wife and two kids and my income is the majority of OUR income.

I could likely take a pay cut to 75k/year and survive (would have to reduce some retirement contributions though), but it'd still be doable with two car payments, a mortgage, and private school....anything under that, and it's totally a goner.

understand the loss in contributions to 401k/TSP being a concern (i'd be concerned too). Compounded interest is awesome, and at this point w/ contributions things will be very nice @ retirement age...

I have friends at FSI and I've heard mixed things. Some hate the constantly changing schedule, some love that they work only a handful and change of days a month. The differences seem to depend on the equipment. At this point, I think i could pick up fairly fast where I left off and be a decent instructor + I feel I could enjoy the work (at least more than the current career). Doesn't mean it's perfect, but better...the current job is mediocre on the side of completely boring but you couldn't find anything more stable, and the benefits are awesome...but when I'm on my deathbed, I'm afraid I'll wish I'd gone for a different line of work, not to define me, but to have been happier for "all those years"...or just risked more unhappiness. LoL. BTW - I'm a genuinely happy fellow.

 

Does FS hire part-time instructors? I'm flying for Compass based/living at LAX and have ~15-19 days off a month. It might be nice to instruct at FS in Long Beach on my off days to keep myself out of trouble. Does anyone do that?

 

They seem to be in the model of mostly PT instructors. It's a good idea to want to work PT on days off. However, keep in mind that if hired, you would have to (Legally under part 142) go through the entire initial training program (ground/sim even if you're already typed in it). This could be hard to accomplish if working full time for another job as you'd need three weeks straight to do this. Some training centers allow you to do the type in segments.

 

I have been offered a PT position an a SIC at Flight Safety. It is an interm position and I will have to go thru a 2 week trianing in a citation SIM. Does anyone knows if this is a good deal?