Alchemy
Well-Known Member
So I get to work today and my flight school's owner tell us we have a "meeting" at 1830. Speculation was rampant all day among the instructors as to what the metting would be about.
I only had one flight, so I spent most of the day hanging around the office. Finally 1600 rolled around and my student showed up. I had a feeling this would be the day he would solo, so I made sure he had all the endorsements before we left.
We departed the class C and headed for a nearby uncontrolled field. We did 3 Stop and goes and my student nailed them despite a 13 knot wind offset from the runway by 20 degrees. After the third one, I opened my door, stepped out and told my student to do 3 more stop and goes then pick me up, and also told him not to hesitate to do a go around he felt uncomfortable. I grabbed my handheld radio and strolled to the edge of the runway. My knees were shaking the whole way and I was pacing through the grass in nervousness....I think I was just as nervous if not more so than I was on MY first solo.
I watched from the edge of the runway about midfield. My student nailed his landings just fine, except he did touch and goes instead of stop and goes like I had asked. Great feeling knowing that you finally taught someone how to fly from scratch. Took a while for me to get my first solo signoff (already have 150hrs dual given and 2 checkride signoffs), but this is easily the most nerve-racking part of being an instructor I've experienced so far. I got back in the plane and we headed back home...on arrival the meeting was about to start so I finished up my student and sent him out the door.
At this point about 6 CFI's/owners from our on-the-field competition walked through the office door and announced that we are going to "merge". They are going to buy all 4 of our primary trainers, one of our twins, and our C182 RG. We tried to figure out if were still going to have jobs but the best answer they could give is that "you will be quizzed and examined and you will stay on with us if you fit into our framework".....
I'm only a CFI/CFII with 650 total time, 120 multi, and 150 dual given. I don't like my chances....I just signed a 12 month lease on my apartment too.....all I can do is try to impress these people and pray they don't let me go. I hate being in this position, begging the guys I spent months competing with for a job, but maybe it will all work out for the best.
I also hate to see my old flight school go down. I earned all my ratings here, spent thousands, and put a lot of effort into the place. Now it will be no more, despite the term "merger" being thrown around, the new entity will keep the name of our competition, and we will move into their office....
So, I may be looking for a new job soon. I have no idea what I will do since I'm still obligated with my lease for 12 more months. There are a few other flight schools in the area but I doubt there are many openings. This is probably the first of many times this sort of thing will happen to me in the aviation biz.
Good luck, and safe flying out there....
-Alchemy
I only had one flight, so I spent most of the day hanging around the office. Finally 1600 rolled around and my student showed up. I had a feeling this would be the day he would solo, so I made sure he had all the endorsements before we left.
We departed the class C and headed for a nearby uncontrolled field. We did 3 Stop and goes and my student nailed them despite a 13 knot wind offset from the runway by 20 degrees. After the third one, I opened my door, stepped out and told my student to do 3 more stop and goes then pick me up, and also told him not to hesitate to do a go around he felt uncomfortable. I grabbed my handheld radio and strolled to the edge of the runway. My knees were shaking the whole way and I was pacing through the grass in nervousness....I think I was just as nervous if not more so than I was on MY first solo.
I watched from the edge of the runway about midfield. My student nailed his landings just fine, except he did touch and goes instead of stop and goes like I had asked. Great feeling knowing that you finally taught someone how to fly from scratch. Took a while for me to get my first solo signoff (already have 150hrs dual given and 2 checkride signoffs), but this is easily the most nerve-racking part of being an instructor I've experienced so far. I got back in the plane and we headed back home...on arrival the meeting was about to start so I finished up my student and sent him out the door.
At this point about 6 CFI's/owners from our on-the-field competition walked through the office door and announced that we are going to "merge". They are going to buy all 4 of our primary trainers, one of our twins, and our C182 RG. We tried to figure out if were still going to have jobs but the best answer they could give is that "you will be quizzed and examined and you will stay on with us if you fit into our framework".....
I'm only a CFI/CFII with 650 total time, 120 multi, and 150 dual given. I don't like my chances....I just signed a 12 month lease on my apartment too.....all I can do is try to impress these people and pray they don't let me go. I hate being in this position, begging the guys I spent months competing with for a job, but maybe it will all work out for the best.
I also hate to see my old flight school go down. I earned all my ratings here, spent thousands, and put a lot of effort into the place. Now it will be no more, despite the term "merger" being thrown around, the new entity will keep the name of our competition, and we will move into their office....
So, I may be looking for a new job soon. I have no idea what I will do since I'm still obligated with my lease for 12 more months. There are a few other flight schools in the area but I doubt there are many openings. This is probably the first of many times this sort of thing will happen to me in the aviation biz.
Good luck, and safe flying out there....
-Alchemy
