situation vacant - instructor wanted

Boy, was I keen to get flying. I had enough cash to crack out my PPL in one straight run, but I soon realised that it might be wise to just hold off the flying until I got the six ground school papers sorted first. It just didn't seem like a good idea to be tackling both the flying and the papers at once (well, not when you've also got a job, a small farm, wife and two kids to also think about...).

So, I bid my time, well sort of. Two trail flights kept me keen over the six months or so of getting back into school mode.

The real big question was where to do my flying. There was a biggish aero club / flying school in the city near to me, as well as two or three smaller operators, who made their money from charter with a bit of instruction on the side.

Fronting up to the aero club for a gander, I was a little shocked at just how young the instructors were. Now, age is no issue, but experience is, especially life experience. No offence to any young instructors out there, but I figure that good judgement comes from lots of experiences, and not just those flying. Hell, I've learnt as much about the weather and how nasty it can get from mountaineering and sea kayaking. No need for me to fly through mountain passes in a 35 knot wind to learn what its going to be like in a box with wings and engine strapped on.

Now I'm on the subject, why is it that something as exacting and discipline focused as flying does not use the old and wise to be instructors? Sure, I understand that instructing is the accepted way to build hours before becoming an Aviatrix or Sulako (see my links if you don't know who these dudes are). And before I get totally carried away, apologies to clumpinglitter (another link - Aviatrix Logbook), who I'm sure is a talented embryonic instructor (I mean that in a nice way). Hmm, as a qualified outdoor instructor it does make me think.

Just thinking, two aviatrix names is a little confusing. I recommend you check out all three though, as they all have something to offer.

So, I walked back out of the aero club. Instead, I asked around some pilots and got recommended to go fly with a small charter company, where I would do all my instruction (less pre-solo and pre PPL check rides) with the same instructor. Ok, I hear you say that getting a variety of instructors is good, and I'm sure it is, but its also a pain in the butt. "Don't do it that way!" "Who showed you that?" and so on. Maybe fine when you can fly, but learning, I'm not so sure.

Which makes me think, maybe there is a mid-life career change option for me. Become an instructor to teach old farts like myself. Good idea until you mention the pay. Vicious cicle, pay peanuts, get low time CPL instructors. Got it figured now.

I really should say that there is nothing wrong with the aero club; I fly there now. But that's different. Having learnt to fly, I do new type ratings, BFRs, my aerobatic rating and check ups with older instructors. And good they are too.

I checked out the charter firm, and was pretty happy with their operation, and their instructor.

I booked my first flight, but that's of course another entry.