Keeping instructors is a major challenge for training organisations. But with good planning and the right attitude, they have a better chance.

The New Zealand flight training industry has been under extreme pressure, says CAA Aviation Safety Advisor and flight examiner Carlton Campbell.

“There’s a high demand for pilots by the airline industry which, unfortunately, can deplete the training sector of its experienced instructors.

“This leaves young, inexperienced instructors short of the supervision and support necessary to help them in their development.

“It also takes all the people who can mentor and supervise – both experienced and not-so-experienced pilots – out of the GA system.”

Consequently, there are currently reduced levels of supervision and monitoring available.

“This is placing premature responsibility for supervision on the shoulders of newly qualified B-cats who have had limited induction into the role themselves.

“The new B-cats need guidance and supervision in their new responsibilities, but cannot receive any, due to the clean-out of pilots able to provide that.”

However, the pressure from the airlines drawing GA instructors away has eased a little.

“Nevertheless, general aviation really struggles to retain most instructors, when the airlines are those instructors’ ultimate objective,” Carlton says.

The prospect of reaching the level of airline captain, with its commensurate pay and conditions, has instructors moving on as soon as they’re able.

There needs to be an incentive to encourage pilots to stay in GA beyond being a C-cat, says Carlton.

“Unless GA pays a liveable wage, retaining instructors is a major challenge.”

Having a plan in place

Gavin Weir, CFI of Auckland Aero Club, agrees that instructors should be paid fairly.

“Instructors should be recognised as the professional pilots they are. No one should be expected to work for free.

“For the career instructor who’s gaining qualifications and deep industry experience, a wage or salary should be reasonably appropriate to their experience.

“It enables them to sustain a lifestyle that keeps them motivated, and driven to better the organisation and themselves.”

Gavin says retaining a core of experienced instructors is a challenge.

“Most instructors aspire to join the airlines, with instructing being a stepping stone to build hours in that direction. It is an excellent pathway.

“So, the key to retention is to ensure the instructors feel valued.”

Gavin works hard to make sure instructors are supported and aren’t simply viewed as money makers.

“We don’t leave them to their own devices without supervision and direction from the senior instructor team, or without the backing of governance.

“Retaining instructors also involves professional development opportunities.

“We provide a path for personal training – for example, achieving a B-cat instructor rating, and night, aerobatic, and terrain awareness instructor qualifications.

“For those intending to move through, this professional development keeps them focussed on providing a high standard of training to their students, right up to their last day with us.

“For those who are career instructors, it validates their commitment to the organisation.”

Gavin says having a succession plan when instructors move on is also important.

“This helps mitigate the loss of knowledge if someone moves on unexpectedly.

“It also takes the pressure off the core instructing team. They know there’s always enough instructors so they can take leave if they want to.”

James Churchward, CFI at Tauranga Aero Club, says they’ve accepted they’re a stepping stone between GA and the airlines.

“We have a structure allowing progression, and we’re lucky to have a large enough team to allow that progression,” he says.

Tauranga Aero Club trains between five and ten C-cats a year, some of whom will go on to instruct for the club.

“This is important because we’ll always have qualified C-cats who’re waiting to get a job with us,” says James.

When a job is available, Tauranga always has keen and eager C-cats waiting for the phone call to say, ‘Hey, come and have a chat’.

“We target those we think will make a suitable B-cat, when they’re approximately 50 hours out from the B-cat requirements,” says James.

“We’re always training C-cats and B-cats.”

Like Auckland, Tauranga Aero Club upskills its instructors to get the most out of them while they have them.

They offer night, aerobatic, and terrain awareness upgrades.

“We also provide great facilities and resources so we’re able to offer a high level of instruction to student pilots,” says James.

A cultural approach

Making the aero club an enjoyable place to work for instructors is important, says James.

Tauranga has a club captain – an employed instructor – who runs competitions and the social side of the club.

“This all adds to the culture, and ensures members are looked after and enjoy being Tauranga Aero Club members.

“It also adds to the enjoyment the instructors have, coming to work each day.”

Instilling safety

Back at Auckland Aero Club, Gavin says maintaining good organisational culture encourages safety.

“It’s so important to have a strong focus on always ‘doing the right thing’.

“Having your senior instructors model ideal behaviours will encourage the new instructors to keep well inside their limits.”

That applies to both flying standards and conduct on the ground.

“We work hard to instil in our students airmanship, decision-making, and flying techniques as well as positive interpersonal relationships,” says Gavin.

“Good supervision practices and regular catchups with the CFI, an open door, and a just culture policy are just as important.”

This gives pilots the freedom to ask questions, which has positive outcomes for safety.

“Instructors also need to be vigilant that their teaching is current and consistent with all the legal requirements, and that it follows the syllabus laid down by their organisation,” says Gavin.

“We provide an annual dual revision flight with me – at club cost – for standardisation and checking.

“We also provide an opportunity for the instructor to practise something they haven’t done in a while.”

Gavin says the governance of the organisation must be guided by industry standards to prevent unrealistic demands on instructors.

“Otherwise, instructors might be tempted to push weather margins to ‘get the job done’ or to meet hour requirements,” he says.

“Safety always comes first. The student’s requirements to achieve their learning outcome, comes second. Instructors must be conscious of this.”

Instructors at Tauranga Aero Club meet every second Friday as part of preventing training accidents. All the instructors are present, says James Churchward.

“They can voice any concerns or make any suggestions they deem necessary.

“Where possible, we also have a B-cat assigned one day a week to supervise the C-cats.”

They sit in on briefings or in the back seat of flights, if it’s possible.

“We also encourage a culture of reporting and use the instructor meetings to talk over any incidents or accidents.

“The junior instructors are required to fill in supervision forms and have them signed by a senior instructor before each lesson, so they can discuss their performance.”

Gavin Weir also uses supervision forms as a record of, and authorisation for, the flight to be undertaken.

“These forms give the supervising instructor a written record of who the ‘direct supervision C-cat’ is flying with, and what lesson is being taught.

“This allows one more opportunity to check that the C-cat has the lesson plan prepared correctly, has considered the threats and mitigations, and has asked all their questions about the lesson, immediately before launch.”

Gavin says they’ll hold regular refresher training for their instructors.

“All our instructors recently completed dual strip flying to allow them to attend a strip fly-in.

“This is another cost to the club, but it’s important because it allows the instructors to increase their skill set.

“When the instructors come out of supervision, they’re sent up for a check flight with me to ensure they’re teaching to the standards we require.

“Setting a high bar is worth it because the standard you walk past is the standard you accept.”

 

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Footnote

Main photo: CAA