I'm sure you already know this, but I LOVED flight instructing. I was planning on doing it for my entire career until I decided that I wanted to see and do more. Flight Instructing is the most rewarding thing I have ever done. But it's not for everybody, and if you aren't going to love it, then maybe there is a better way for you to accrue hours.
PROS OF FLIGHT INSTRUCTING
1. You get to learn every day! If your ego is too big for this, then maybe flight instructing is not for you. I had students teach me all the time, and I loved it! My very first student was super smart with car engines. Though I never admitted this to him, when I asked him how various systems worked (of course I was still testing him to see if he really knew) I learned from his answers. Sometimes after he would leave I would research some of the stuff he had said only to find out he was completely right- when it came to systems, he was a genius. I taught him tons, but he taught me stuff as well. How awesome it was to get paid to learn while teaching.
 |
| Me and one of my students after his first solo. Way to go! |
3. You get to fly all the time and get paid for it. My first paycheck from flight instructing is probably the coolest paycheck I have ever received. I went from paying hundreds of dollars per hour to fly, to making
4. You get to know some of the most amazing people. Not only do you learn from your students, but you can become great friends with your students as well. I keep in touch with many of my students, people that I never would have had the pleasure of knowing if I hadn't decided to become a flight instructor. Though I was the flight instructor, I looked up to many of my students and still consider them great friends.
5. You get to help others fulfill their dream. If this doesn't help motivate you to become a flight instructor, maybe nothing will. Helping others is one of the best things you can do in this life. There are so many ways to help others, but I think flight instructing was the best way for me to do that. If you become a flight instructor, you get to help others work on lifelong goals every day you go to work. How amazing is that!?
I have always felt like the pros outweighed the cons, but here are the not-so-great things of flight instructing..
CONS OF FLIGHT INSTRUCTING
1. Your work is never really done. Students have questions all the time and they should be able to come to you to for answers- whether you are on the clock or not. I heard of some flight instructors that would bill their students for a simple phone call- do not be that person. Your students look up to you and sometimes have exhausted all their resources; would you rather have your students search for an answer for hours just to get frustrated and still not find the answer, or just call you and pick your brain for a few minutes? I hope you choose the latter. Flight instructing is not a job that you leave at work. It is with you 24/7.
2. Sometimes students do not-so-smart things when they get stressed or nervous in the airplane. This can be scary for you, but after a couple of times you will begin to notice the signs from your students and will be able to recover the airplane before things get out of control. Student tries to porpoise the airplane, like a dolphin, all the way down the runway? No problem- you'll know just what to do to help him recover (go-around, of course). Fail the left engine and have the student womp of the left rudder? No problem- you'll be able to safely recover the airplane a split second after it happens. You get the point. Somedays students don't make the best decisions, but you'll know the signs and will be able to get yourself out of sometimes tricky situations with no problem.
3. If they fail a stage check or checkride, it's hard for you to. Once you begin teaching your student, you'll feel as though you put just as much work into them as they do. If you're a good flight instructor that cares about your students, you won't send them to a stage check or checkride until you know they are ready. I only recall one student not passing a stage check first attempt, and only one student not passing a checkride first attempt. I felt as though I hadn't done my job, like I should've spent more time with them, and prepared them better. Their setbacks will feel like your setbacks as well.
4. Preparing lesson plans is time consuming. Thank goodness you only have to do it once! I spent months preparing my lesson plans. Some lesson plans took me days to complete. But I wanted everything included in them- I wanted my students to learn everything they needed to. It was time consuming, but definitely worth it in the end.
5. Flight Instructing can be exhausting. Once a year I took a 2-day stay-cation. It's like a vacation, but you stay at home. I would read those books I always wanted to, sleep in, go to the gym, etc. I just needed a break from working. Because a flight instructor is working all the time, it can get tiring. To make it so you don't lose your mojo, you might need a stay-cation as well. Your students will not be angry if you decide to take one because you will be rejuvenated and be a better flight instructor when you come back. Flight instructing can be exhausting, so take a break when you need it.
If you are thinking of becoming a flight instructor, I hope these items help you decide if it is a good career choice for you or not. Flight instructing is not for everybody, but if you want one of the most rewarding aviation careers, I highly recommend it. If you do become a flight instructor, make sure you are a good flight instructor! Don't overcharge your students, be prepared to teach each lesson, make learning fun, and most of all, BE SAFE!
If you have any specific questions about becoming a flight instructor, do not hesitate to ask me. Email me at trendypilots@gmail.com or leave a comment below. :)
No comments:
Post a Comment