Mon Oct 16, 2017 9:53 am
#1565505
Once upon a time handy part-time FIs could be on 'home standby' locally getting on with some 'Good Work' (vacuum cleaner/lawnmower/paint brush etc) until the phone rings. Nowadays ATOs seem to want their 'polyfilla' FIs to actually be 'on-station' for QRA. If on 'flying pay' only it's not really worthwhile sitting around all day for love just in case a trial lesson walks in the door. One consequently becomes 'out of sight - out of mind', but it's hard to square up with 'Da Management' being up at the airfield day for twenty quid. These days I am a 'car boot' FCL945 FI doing non-ATO stuff (so-called 'biennials', differences, and 90-day circuits) for local syndicate members. The longer that goes on the more I forget the PPL 'lesson plans'. Part-time FI is rarely cost effective, and in my case certainly does not cover the cost of the triennial FI renewals. This is my 30th year as an FI, and because of the economics will probably be my last, which is a shame because after 51 years in the GA industry I am not an hours-builder but still might have something to offer. I'd be interested in what the ATOs have to say about FIs being on 'home standby'.