While being a pilot and flying in the sky is your passion, during unprecedented times such as the current environment, you should consider other pathways to keep your dream alive. To that point, flight instructing is an area that will always be needed as pilots are still training and staying current.
Here are 7 instructing positions to consider that can take your career higher:
You've just invested a lot of time and effort and a whole lot of money into successfully completing your flight training. To build your experience and advance your career, the most common approach is to get your flight-instructor certificates and start teaching other new pilots to fly. Being a certified flight instructor is a challenging and rewarding career that utilizes all you have learned during your own flight training. To become a Flight Instructor, you must have your CPL and Instrument Rating of the aircraft you are going to be using to teach and have 15 hours PIC on the aircraft. You’ll also need a logbook endorsement from an authorized flight instructor and have successfully completed the knowledge and practical exams.
Adding an instrument rating to your flight instructor certificate allows you to provide instrument training for the issuance of an instrument rating, a type rating not limited to VFR, or the instrument training required for commercial pilot and airline transport pilot certificate.
A CFII has many of the same requirements as a CFI such as being 18 years age, have a minimum of a class 2 medical and have ICAO level 4 English. However, because the instrument flight instructor rating is considered an additional flight instructor rating, you do not need to take another knowledge test on the fundamentals of instruction or the flight instructor knowledge test.
This type of instructor carries out instructing in the simulator, for training such as MCC (Multi-crew co-ordination). Typically, the requirements for becoming an SFI are as follows: You must hold an ATPL, have completed a minimum of 1500 hours on a multi-crew aircraft, and have your application completed within 12 months which will entail a Proficiency Check, 3 legs on the aircraft type or 2 LOFT-based simulator sessions.
The requirements to become a Synthetic Flight Examiner are the same as an SFI with the exception you must hold as SFI certificate to become an SFE. As an SFE, you are tasked with conducting in a flight simulator skill tests for the issue of type ratings provided that the SFE holds a valid type rating on the applicable aircraft type, and proficiency checks for revalidation or renewal of type and instrument ratings.
If you’re eager to share your knowledge and inspire others to pursue a pilot career, the position of Type Rating Instructor could be for you. As a TRi, you can conduct simulator training towards type-ratings however, you do not have the authority to issue type-ratings. To become a Type Rating Instructor, you must have a valid ATPL (A), valid type rating/IR on the aircraft type that you intend to instruct and at least 1500 hours of flight time as a pilot on multi-pilot aircraft. You must have also completed, within the 12 months preceding the date of application, 30 route sectors as PIC or co-pilot on the applicable airplane type, of which 15 sectors may be completed in an FFS representing that type.
Type Rating Examiner is for aviation professionals who are interested in becoming instructors carrying out examining duties on behalf of the regulatory authority. As a TRE you conduct skill tests for the initial issue of type ratings for aircraft and have the authority to issue type ratings. As a prerequisite, you must hold 50 hours as a TRI. A type Rating Examiner position is granted by the aviation authority and you will have a separate certificate showing you are a TRE.
Theoretical Knowledge Instructors teach EASA ATPL theory subjects such as Aircraft General Knowledge, Air Law, Principles of Flight, Meteorology, Communications and more. To become a TKI, you need an all-round knowledge of all EASA ATPL subjects, excellent communication skills as well as detailed knowledge of those subjects that you will teach.
Even before COVID-19 crisis hit, there was a shortage of airline pilots and instructors. Estimates today still show the airline industry returning to pre-virus levels within a few years. By becoming an instructor now, you will have a viable career option within aviation that will take you to the eventual rebound and beyond.
Experience a new career, where you can pursue your passion for aviation through teaching and passing on your extensive aviation knowledge and experience.
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