New Flight Instructor Salary UK

[Beaker_]

Is anyone able to give a rough figure what a newly qualified flight instructor in the UK is likely to get paid nowadays? I'm conscious that they are starting to come in slightly short supply and wondering if this has had any impact on pay. I have noticed some places are offering a salary now as opposed to self-employed. Is this becoming more commonplace?

[fly_webbv2]

Don't know about salary's but newly qualified PPL/LAPL only, restricted FI range is anything between £28- £40 per flying hour.

[Rivet gun]

Good to see an instructor pay thread.

I would really like to know current pay rates for flight instructors in the UK, hourly rate for flying and ground school or full time salary. Specifically rates of pay for:

Instrument rating instructor, (IRI or FCL.905.FI (h))
Flight instructor course instructor (FCL.905.FI(j))
Advanced UPRT instructor (FCL.915(e)) and does it make a difference if the instructor has transport aircraft type experience.

[hobbit1983]

I think the commercial schools are upping wages due to demand.

For PPL FIs, In the south of the UK, brand new, you'll be paid anything from £35-£25 per flight hour. This translates to about minimum wage or less when you factor in:

• briefing time (unpaid)
• number of actual bookings, or not - can't earn if there's no one to fly with!
• weather cancellation (no pay. Free time at short notice, though)

And that's full time, 5 days a week. Expect to work long days without breaks. If it's a freelance contract (most are) then you won't get holiday or sick pay either (IR35 may also come into the picture)

I haven't heard of any PPL schools offering FT/salary packages to newly minted FIs. Might be out there, though!

[HandsomeHarry]

If there is really a shortage of FI’s on the horizon, is there any scope for Flight Schools to offer funded or partly funded FI courses and then bond the individual for a period?

I have always wanted to do an FI course but just can’t afford 10k plus for the rating.

[Beaker_]

I'm aware of two schools in the UK that offer a salary, but not sure how much. Whilst I have seen jobs advertised, the salary is not. That being said, it sounds like it's not commonplace yet and I'm trying to figure out if I can make it work financially. i.e. Working for an extended period with an unpredictable income etc.

I expect assisted funding is probably beyond the reach of most flight schools given it would require a significant up-front investment. That being said, if there is a shortage of instructors something will need to be done otherwise flight schools will have a different set of problems with aircraft sitting around and nobody to fly them!

[FTN11]

ACS Perth are currently offering a fully paid FI course, with the contract that you would work with them for a minimum time or ultimately reimburse them if you leave early. Don't know what the pay is like, but the rest of Scotland is generally offering £30-£40 per flight hour.

It does suck, and is feast or famine particularly in winter, but there is genuinely a pilot shortage now with multiple companies hiring like mad, if you have any hours at all you're off to Jet 2, Ryanair, even BA.

[BigEndBob]

Got to ask is there a shortage of students, won't need instructors.
14 years ago started my club, i would do 650 hrs a year, now about 260.
I always tell new instructors have a good week job, instruct weekends.

[hobbit1983]

Originally Posted by BigEndBob

Got to ask is there a shortage of students, won't need instructors.
14 years ago started my club, i would do 650 hrs a year, now about 260.
I always tell new instructors have a good week job, instruct weekends.

How long can anyone work a 7 day week without burning out, going crazy, or making themselves ill?

[BigEndBob]

Originally Posted by hobbit1983

How long can anyone work a 7 day week without burning out, going crazy, or making themselves ill?

I did it for 2 years, 7 days a week.

I see FTN spinning the yarn about lack of instructors.
Then tell of club closing?

Flying schools not charging enough to survive.

[FTN11]

I also did 2 years of 7 days a week before joining an airline gig, most fun flying I ever had, but even at 7 days a week couldn't make enough to make it sustainable.

There is a shortage of pilots I said, not necessarily a shortage of instructors, but I did see on Linkedin that ACS Perth were offering a fully paid FI course, and I think they only expected you to stay for 12 months minimum - not sure what they would pay you during that time though.

There is a shortage of decent, experienced and suitably qualified pilots, which is the natural result of it being incredibly difficult to run a profitable flying school in the UK, and with many schools going under that isn't changing anytime soon.

[Baronbombburst]

I have found that instructing (at ppl level at least) is only possible if you have a second income or are still young enough to be living at home with your parents.

I have instructed full time for the last 3 years. This has only been possible in my 40's because I have a pension from the RAF. Even then it has been a financial strain. You must be sensible and save for winter. This month I have flown 90 hrs, but last December I flew 20.

I am very busy ( due to 2 instructors leaving for the airlines) and only earned £25k (before tax) last year.

Instructing CPL MEIR is where all the money is, however, for me it doesn't make any financial sense to spend nearly a years salary to be able to teach ME.

[bafanguy]

This is interesting. Sort of related to this thread:

https://www.latestpilotjobs.com/jobs/view/id/18831.html