If you currently hold a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and are wondering how to boost your employability in aviation, you can either do a Multi-Engine Command Instrument Rating (MECIR) or a Flight Instructor Rating (FIR).

The Flight Instructor Rating is a genuine career starter. With it, you can start with Grade 3, and work your way up to Grade 1 or even Chief Flying Instructor.Then, as an instructor, you can build your flying hours, which will make you more attractive to the airlines. This is just the tip of the iceberg so we wanted to share our top 5 ways a Flight Instructor Rating can benefit your pilot career.

SECURE YOUR FIRST JOB WITH GREATER EASE

The Flight Instructor Rating is required to be held by Commercial Pilot Licence holders to be employed as a flight instructor for the purpose of delivering training to students. If you are interested in becoming a flight instructor, then you are in luck—flight instructors are in high demand right now and are expected to remain so for many years to come. It is an easy way to land your very first flying job.

BUILD YOUR CAREER PATH

Pilots choose to become a flight instructor for many reasons. It’s can be a dream job and a primary source of income, and it’s the next step on the way to becoming an airline pilot.
Airlines do prefer pilots who are equipped with a Flight Instructor Rating as the concepts that the instructing environment deploys are similar to cockpit resource management. Besides, check and training positions within airlines also require an FIR. 

BECOME A QUALIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR

Junior Grade 3 instructors can build flying hours by teaching the next-generation of pilots how to fly an aircraft.
To become a qualified flight instructor, you are required to take the FIR program. You can choose to do either a Recreational Aviation (RA) FIR program or a General Aviation (GA) FIR program, or both of them. RA & GA dual qualifications can maximise your opportunities of landing a job as it allows you to instruct both RA and GA registered aircrafts.

FIND YOUR PASSION IN INSTRUCTING AND TEACHING

An essential element to becoming a flight instructor must be your passion in instructing and teaching. Some people see the flight instructor job as a stepping stone as it can build flying hours for getting into airlines regardless of the learning experience of students.
This role is more suitable for pilots who have passion and patience in instructing and have better communication skills to teach students from different countries and backgrounds.
If you find your real passion in being a flight instructor, you can keep pursuing the higher levels of instructing, like Grade 2 or Grade 1 instructor, or a SACAA approved testing officer. Some flight instructors eventually become the school’s Chief Flying Instructor (CFI) or even open their own flying schools.

GET YOURSELF READY FOR EVERY FUTURE FLYING POSITION

Becoming an experienced flight instructor presents an alternative entry into the industry to that of a charter pilot and one that can also enhance your chances of becoming a check and training officer in an airline environment should your career take that direction.
Every flying position has a training element to it, from introducing a pilot to a new aircraft or explaining new rules and regulations. Therefore, a Flight Instructor Rating is practically always beneficial.

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