290,000 is the number of currently active pilots worldwide, according to one report on statista.com. Boeing forecasts that more than 804,000 new civil aviation pilots will be needed to fly and meet the market demand.

However, while everybody is worried about the pilot shortage, let’s take a step back. To prepare a new generation of pilots, the industry has to have a sufficient amount of professional instructors, who are currently already in high demand. So why is it worth becoming an instructor?

Get paid to fly

Not many people in the world can say they earn their living by pursuing their passion, but becoming a flight instructor, as well as a pilot, allows you to do exactly what has been said. Moreover, you will be able to fly almost every day. Thus, one of our top reasons to become a flight instructor is that you can spend every day doing what you love, and get paid for it!

How much do flight instructors earn? The salary is close to the starting airline pilot with minimum experience and varies: in Europe VFR instructor’s salary ranges between 2,000 and 2,500 Eur per month, IFR instructor gets 2,700 – 4,000 Eur per month.

The ground school instructor’s salary is between 2,800 and 4,000 Eur per month. Meanwhile, the examiner gets paid much more – from 7,000 to 10, 000 in Europe. Also, most training centres offer accommodation for instructors.

If you choose to become a Type Rating instructor, you will work at a full flight simulator or classroom and will be able to earn even more than a VFR/IFR flight instructor. What is the average salary for the Type Rating instructor? The average varies since type rating instructors get paid according to the number of training sessions – they can train 1-25 sessions per month and they get paid 200 – 1,000 Eur for one session. To sum up, the average varies from 200 – 25, 000 Eur per month.

Constant development of skills and experience

Let’s be honest, the number of hours required to receive a Commercial Pilot Certificate can feel challenging to the newest of pilots. One of the greatest benefits that becoming a flight instructor offers is a possibility to continue to learn through teaching, and one of the best ways to learn more is through teaching.

Becoming a flight instructor allows you to build your flight hours while getting paid. Isn’t this a win-win?

It’s an easy transition from a pilot instructor career into commercial aviation and, subsequently, becoming an airline pilot. Airlines are looking for more than just a pilot licence – they need a competent and commercially minded operator.

All the time spent up in the air with your students will contribute not only to your flying skills but there is so much more – decision making, communication, teaching skills, patience, multi-cultural awareness, all this will allow you to learn to provide constructive feedback, keep your knowledge up-to-date, cope with unpredicted situations, etc.

Imagine that, when you decide to apply for the airline pilot job, you will stand out from the crowd when it comes to impressing potential employers. Who knows which door could open for you?

Being a teacher

Money is great, but it isn’t everything. Airline Pilot is rewarded with a good salary but being a Flight Instructor is a very different type of reward, as it allows you to help individuals fulfill their dreams of flying. Therefore, for some people choosing a pilot instructor career is their primary goal, while others consider this job as a transition to an airline pilot’s position.

If teaching is something that interests you, then go for it. Whether you’re instructing in the cockpit or the classroom, one of the most significant rewards of being a flight instructor is teaching others to learn to fly.

You’ll be able to nurture your students’ abilities, see them master new skills, and share your contageous love of flying with them. Nothing beats the pride that comes from seeing your students earn their licenses. Flight instructors need patience, self-confidence and self-assurance