instructor question

[Lazy8]

I have never signed any contract, because i'm not a contract instructor. I'm simply empolyed by the school and bound by the flight instructor SOPs & employee handbook. ....and the plethora of unofficial verbal rules

g

 

[Amish RakeFight]

I don't recall ever signing a contract to flight instruct either... most CFI's seem transient anyhow... one day you're here the next your in something bigger. Besides, the biggest kick in the face from flight schools is the pathetic pay. Rare (and rich fodder) to have any level of contract with such paltry salaries.

 

[wrxpilot]

No, I'm at the first one on Airport Way. It's really a great place to fly & instruct, but every place has its irratations.

By the way, we got the official word from the control tower yesterday. Starting March 15th Jeffco Tower will be called "Metro Tower". eck

g

Oh, ok. Yeah, I heard about the name change. Terrible name IMO.

Did you do your CFI there, or did they hire you off the street? Are they looking for instructors?

 

[Lazy8]

Oh, ok. Yeah, I heard about the name change. Terrible name IMO.

Did you do your CFI there, or did they hire you off the street? Are they looking for instructors?

check pm

 

[Charlie_Foxtrot]

Way to piss me off first thing in the morning. This is the problem with aviation any more. Noone can just have a job flight instructing; someone wants to someone to sign a (*(($&#*&(^&)_)W)(#W&*#^&#&@$)#$ contract.

If you're reading this and you don't already know, IT IS NOT NORMAL TO SIGN A CONTRACT TO FLIGHT INSTRUCT! There should be no contract if you are emplyed by a flight school. It's a flight school!

That's like signing a contract saying that you won't deep fry potatoes at home when you get a job at McDonald's.

Nope, It's not! But guess what, a lot of schools are either verbally telling instructors not to teach else where or making them sign a contract.

My old school did the same with me-- verbal agreement-- but didn't want to pay squat. I did it while I had to, and as soon as the first opportunity presented itself, I went to greener pastures.


Of course, I was detailing airplanes on the side-- which brought in enough money to live on--

 

[JediNein]

Noone can just have a job flight instructing; someone wants to someone to sign a (*(($&#*&(^&)_)W)(#W&*#^&#&@$)#$ contract. <snip>
That's like signing a contract saying that you won't deep fry potatoes at home when you get a job at McDonald's.

Umm, no. You can still deep fry ‘taters at home. But you can’t follow McD’s methods and then sell the ‘taters at home.

If one is an independent contractor, expect a written contract. Contract, employment agreement, call it what you will. I've had to sign something to accept any job I've ever worked, in and out of aviation. Even if I didn't want to have a contract, my aircraft insurance company requires a written contract for each contractor, be they CFI service provides or aircraft leaseback sources; and each renter must have accepted the rental agreement contract. If someone doesn't like the terms, we either work them out, or we do not do business together.

There can be several clauses in these legal documents. Some have agreements for non-disclosure, non-compete, drug and alcohol policy, agreements to comply with local laws, and a whole pile of other stuff.

Why do these exist? Because there are a large number of flamin' screw-you-me-firsts in this world. A man's word is worth the paper it is printed on.

 

[Mountain Troll]

Yes it is a liability to your current employer. At some point you recieved some training and or follow an approved company manual and so on. Therefore your expertise has been arrived at by training from you current employer. So, something bad happens to you elsewhere, your current employer trained you to do what you did and so he is then responsabile while you are employed there. This usually doesn't surface until flying turbine equipment, but possible at this level. Many corporations have a do not fly outside the company assigned ops, some may even let you moonlight on other equipment, some have never thought about it.
No employer is responsabile for making sure you are at a livable wage or whatever another poster said. You took the job at the agreed salary without duress, so, the rest is up to you to make it happen or not.

 

[Way2Broke]

The school I instructed at had a "instruction in your plane" rate.

 

[Jedi_Cheese]

I should say the school I work for has a non-compete contract and has terms for breaking the contract if you don't stay for one year. It does have a clause if I go to a 121 operator (and the owner would let you out if there's a problem at the school).

We've had CFI's leave the school and take their students next door and the owner doesn't want to put up with it anymore.

 

[svcta]

Umm, no. You can still deep fry ‘taters at home. But you can’t follow McD’s methods and then sell the ‘taters at home.

The flaw in this logic is assuming that the flight school has give you some sort of on-the-job and proprietary training. Which they have most likely not.

I've had plenty of jobs in this industry, too, and I have never....repeat never signed an employment contract. I've flown jets for the airlines, private owners, instructed, towed things, hauled cargo/pax under 135, repo'd for owners, and.....well, you got me: When I do contract work for someone there is usually a contract involved that established daily rate and living expenses.

If you're working for a flight school that wants to handle their instructors like contractors then consider the source. It's a crappy operation. They're doing business and letting you do the accounting. I digress.

If flight schools think that the job they're offering is worth getting contracts over they need a reality check. I suggest that check exist in the form of having to find new instructors. Not many employers are going to own my free time(I can't think of any off the top of my head), especially a flight school. Have some dignity; and if we all quit letting crappy operators jerk pilots around we'll all be better off.