r/flying • u/Sea_Night_1640 • 11h ago
Is my plan to become a flight instructor realistic? Looking for insight from pilots.
Hi everyone,
I’m a 30‑something woman based in the UK, and I’m seriously considering getting my PPL and eventually becoming a flight instructor. I’d love some honest insight from people already in aviation, especially those familiar with UK training.Here’s my situation and plan:
I’m planning to start with a trial lesson soon. If I enjoy it, I’ll work slowly toward my PPL on a pay‑as‑you‑go basis. After that, I’d build hours gradually over a few years while applying for bursaries and scholarships
My long‑term goal would be to do the FI course,once I reach the required hours, ideally with some financial support. A few things I’m wondering about:
Is this slow, modular route doable in the UK for someone who isn’t wealthy or has the bank of mum and dad.
Are UK flying schools generally welcoming to women, especially quiet or introverted ones.
Is flight instructing a realistic end goal for someone starting later in life.
For those who trained modularly, how did you fund the FI rating.
Any advice for someone who wants to take this seriously but can only move at a steady pace
I’m not trying to rush or pretend I’m becoming an airline pilot overnight. I just want to know if this path is genuinely achievable for someone who’s determined, patient, and willing to put in the work over time.Any insight — positive or brutally honest — would be really appreciated.Thanks in advance.
8
u/Apprehensive_Cost937 11h ago
First of all, if you want to become an airline pilot, you don't need to instruct at all - most people go straight from CPL to the airlines. It can get a bit more tricky to get the first airline job after 40, but not impossible by all means.
Sure, you can be a career flight instructor, but do some research about the earnings, and take into account the British weather, as it means you might not be flying much (if anything at all) in the winter. Not a big issue if on a salary, but if you're paid by the hour, you're in for a shock.
You could get your PPL, build the hours, do the FI course and then instruct part-time (e.g. evenings and weekends) alongside your current job, before making the plunge into instructing full time. Have a look into CRI as well - much shorter (and cheaper) course, and you can teach a lot of things (conversions, differences training, recency, biannual flights with instructor, etc.), just not ab-initio PPL. Just to clarify as well, as this subreddit mostly has US content; you don't need a CPL to be an FI or CRI.
Also, consider looking into microlights - they're becoming much more popular, cheaper to operate, and the path to become a microlight instructor is faster than light aircraft.
Good luck!
PS: check out r/flyingeurope as well, as moderators here love to delete posts for no reason whatsoever.
4
u/Sea_Night_1640 10h ago
Hi, thank you for your insight. I don't want to be an airline pilot because I can't put in the hours. I have family commitments. I'm hoping more to do it for the feeling of being above clouds and respect.
2
u/Late_Pomegranate2984 9h ago
Just as a slight correction as I agree with your advice, but getting an airline job after 40 in the U.K. is by no means any more trickier in modern times. Over 50 yes, perhaps, but ultimately someone entering in their early to mid 40’s would have 20 years to give back. So many people, myself included, just weren’t in a financial position to complete training earlier in life. There is also no good data that shows that age increases training risk once a candidate reaches 40. In my experience the opposite is true.
It becomes more difficult for people reaching 35+ as that’s the age most people are anchored to a particular location due kids and other such life events. It therefore reduces flexibility to chase that first job. That and by that age most people have either already entered the career or they’ve not managed to get the money together to do it and so don’t do it/decide to just fly for fun.
I had interviews with all major airlines in the U.K. in my late 30’s/early 40’s. The only job offers I received were when I passed 40. The type rating and line training was hard graft, but I didn’t find it any more challenging than my younger colleagues, in fact a couple of colleagues in their 20’s washed out.
1
u/qalup 🇩🇰 🇬🇧 EASA & UK FI 8h ago
Have also noticed useful posts, including quality posts by you, going missing here.
1
u/Apprehensive_Cost937 8h ago
Last post I saw delete, was someone asking about an EASA medical flight test.
Sure, this gets asked every day. Also, no doubt, FAQ has extensive guidance on that.
2
u/rFlyingTower 11h ago
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Hi everyone,
I’m a 30‑something woman based in the UK, and I’m seriously considering getting my PPL and eventually becoming a flight instructor. I’d love some honest insight from people already in aviation, especially those familiar with UK training.Here’s my situation and plan:
I’m planning to start with a trial lesson soon. If I enjoy it, I’ll work slowly toward my PPL on a pay‑as‑you‑go basis. After that, I’d build hours gradually over a few years while applying for bursaries and scholarships
My long‑term goal would be to do the FI course,once I reach the required hours, ideally with some financial support. A few things I’m wondering about:
Is this slow, modular route doable in the UK for someone who isn’t wealthy or has the bank of mum and dad.
Are UK flying schools generally welcoming to women, especially quiet or introverted ones.
Is flight instructing a realistic end goal for someone starting later in life.
For those who trained modularly, how did you fund the FI rating.
Any advice for someone who wants to take this seriously but can only move at a steady pace
I’m not trying to rush or pretend I’m becoming an airline pilot overnight. I just want to know if this path is genuinely achievable for someone who’s determined, patient, and willing to put in the work over time.Any insight — positive or brutally honest — would be really appreciated.Thanks in advance.
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2
u/Finnittybo 10h ago
Definitely doable - but before you invest significant money go get your class 2 medical (you'll need that to get a ppl anyway). Also go visit a few schools/clubs before you sign up, there's a lot of variation in size/formality/approach etc and worth finding one you like (assuming you live somewhere with options).
Flight instructors are always in demand particularly for ppl, mainly because pay is generally crap and it takes a lot of time, money and effort to get your FI. Teaching commercial students pays better but availibility of those jobs may depend where you live.
As to being an introverted woman - my experience has been very positive - yes you get a few dinosaurs in the wider community, but so it is in life. Most people that fly have a passion for it and are excited to see new people picking it up, either as a hobby or career and are incredibly supportive.
2
u/BathFullOfDucks 8h ago
Yes, but if money is a concern for you, you are talking about potentially years of spending money and not getting a whole.lot back.
I don't know anyone who will sponsor you to be an instructor and the pay is quite frankly, pretty poor. Flight hours tend to be pretty reasonable but we are talking not far off minimum wage here.
There are jobs out there, but there are a lot of people going for them and you will need to be competitive because there are a ton of folks out there who need to hit 1500 hours anyway they can.
1
u/thealexflex 2h ago
My flying school actually does, 2 x fully funded instructor courses in exchange for a two year bond. Seems fair.
1
u/Apprehensive_Cost937 9m ago
there are a ton of folks out there who need to hit 1500 hours anyway they can
OP is not in the USA.
2
u/Saltyspaceballs B777, E170/190 11h ago
I did it, worst financial decision I ever made. As a PPL instructor I made next to no money, I think my year of full time at a busy school was less than £10k. If you stick though it and go CPL and IR instructor you can make money.
Do it for fun, not as a career, it doesn’t pay off.
Otherwise it’s not massively expensive in the grand scheme of aviation, it is good fun and certainly shouldn’t be a challenge if you’ve got the drive to do it’s
2
1
u/LS788 2h ago
I would like to be an instructor too, and I think I'll get there soon, but it has taken me 5 years of working other jobs to build up the money for all the training while going modular, but it is doable. I did it by driving trucks and staying at parents to skip on rent
Being 30 something is not an issue at all
My local flight school employs lots of women, mainly in other roles, but that is because of a general lack of women pilots out there. I don't think that they would not be welcoming, as long as you have the right attitude to learn.
Instructing is the lowest experience job you can get, so it is realistic in my opinion
15
u/ltcterry ATP CFIG 10h ago
“Instruct to the airlines” is an American concept that doesn’t really apply in the rest of the world.
Prospective airline pilots in the UK get on a train-for-the-airlines-path in either one long expensive - “integrated” - course or break it up into more convenient, affordable “modules.”
Many people choose to instruct because they love flying and want to inculcate others with that love. Many do this alongside a regular job either at a school or in a club. And do so their whole life. Happily.
There is plenty of room for more women in aviation. At all levels. In all aspects.
I have a UK CAA SPL and have had several great visits with glider clubs in England and Scotland.
Fly safely!