Hello all,
I am seeking advice for “contract” flight instruction. Currently, I fly a CE-525 for a jet charter company. Prior to this job I was a Check Airman, CFI/CFII/MEI at a Part 141 flight school. I have 1200 hours total time, with experience in the Cessna CJ jet lineup, Cessna 172, Cirrus SR22TN, Bonanza B36TC, Piper Aztec, and a few other GA aircraft. Though I love flying jets and my current job, part of me really wants to stay in the educational side of aviation.
A friend (very low time, fresh private pilot certificate) approached me and said he is purchasing a Cirrus SR22. He would like to earn his instrument rating in that aircraft and asked me to be his flight instructor. I am confident in my instructing skills and technique in teaching him in his own aircraft, however I am not so familiar with “this side” of flight instructing.
I have some questions and would like the community's feedback if you have ever been in this position…
- Insurance is a big deal… would it be wise to acquire my own personal insurance or be place under his insurance? With whatever option I choose, what clauses or information should be included in the policy? At my previous employer I was covered under the flight school.
- Contract… Should I put together a training agreement to protect myself? My biggest need is schedule flexibility with my primary job flying jets. I guess I am thinking more so putting together a short training agreement explaining the scope of my services and pay.
All insight and comments are appreciated, thank you very much!
Best,
Ben
@Bennett Kisla If you are providing instruction in someone else's aircraft, you'll want to make sure that you are named on the policy so that you are afforded the same protections as the individual that is owner of the policy. Be sure to read the entire policy because how a provider defines such terms as named pilot, named insured, insured, covered pilot, etc. can vary from provider to provider. If you can, speak with the agent as well because they should be able to explain to you everything in the policy.
I'm not aware of many independent flight instructors that require contracts, however it might not be a bad idea for clarity. I recommend speaking with an attorney for advice on that aspect.
Check out AOPA's Pilot Protection Services Plan as it might be something you would want to consider for legal assistance.
@Island Boy At AOPA
Being a named insured (named PILOT doesn't provide my protection for you at all) is fine, but it is not sufficient as it does not protect you from any instructional liability torts. You really want a CFI liability policy to provide full protection for yourself.
As for a contract, the first one I'd worry about is your current employment contract with whoever is paying you to fly that 525. Make sure there are no outside employment restrictions, and if you aren't sure, get a lawyer to help. However, I've done a lot of training of folks in their own planes on my own (mostly Grumman checkouts, WINGS training, and the like) without any contract. Just make sure it's someone you trust will actually pay you at the end even if you find you cannot sign the endorsement/8710. That said, when people contract for training with me through Professional Instrument Courses, there is a real detailed lawyer-built contract they must sign.
And yes, I have a CFI policy from Falcon via EAA.
@Bennett Kisla I don't have my policy in front of me, however, it has language that covers any instructor and indicates how many hours that instructor must have to be covered. I would ask to look at his policy and see if you are comfortable with the coverage it provides.
I also own an SR22. When he buy his plane new or used, Cirrus will provide three days of Embark (free training) which is not nearly enough. They will also give him a few free courses from the Cirrus Learning Portal asked him to see if they will include the IFR Follow-on course. If not, then have him buy it.
Unless you know his avionics platform inside and out, I would recommend that he also use a CSIP. I actually used two instructors to get my instrument rating. I belong to a military flying club and one of the instructors is a fighter pilot with time in the SR20, SR22 and vision jet. Although he has a few thousand hours he did not know the SR22 inside and out but did know it good enough to train me in it. However, I also had a CSIP who was a retired AF C5 pilot but had over 2,000 hours in the 22. I had my plane two years before I started IFR training and he was able to teach me a lot about my own plane that I did not know.
Something else I would recommend, train him in actual IMC every chance you get. As you know the SR22 is built for traveling. However, there are many pilots that are instrument rated that have never seen actual IMC.
@Island Boy At AOPA
Thank you for the insight! I have talked with AOPA's Pilot Protection “group” and have already received a lot of information about insurance.
@Ronald Levy
Thank you! The company I fly for is onboard with me flying/instructing outside of their operation, so long company trips and duties are #1.
I am thinking of covering myself via a CFI Policy. I will have to check out the company you are insured by! Thank you again for the comments. Safe flying!
Best,
Ben
@Gerald Gilbert
My friend is in the process of working on insurance through a few different companies, weighing out which one is best. It seems that it would be best for me to get my own “CFI” policy covering myself.
My friend is a very skilled pilot and plans to utilize the Embark training. However, we have agreed that the few days of training won't be enough. We have a really solid gameplan for doing a “VFR checkout” prior to him going single-pilot and starting his instrument training. This will be a lot of self study and completing a checkout form I have developed with supplemental ground school, basic air work/maneuvers with landings and plenty of abnormalities and emergencies. Plannig ~20hrs of ground and ~15-20hrs of flight. I have done a few lessons with him in a flight school's SR22TN, which I am very comfortable and familiar with. The Garmin Perspective avionics system is one of my favorite suites ever developed, though the G3000 and ProLine21 still top my list!
I try to get students as much actual IFR time as possible, though it can be tough during the winter time in the Midwest. The foggles/hood are great for learning, but actual IFR is where you really become accustomed to the “real world”. It all goes back to scenario-based, real world training. Thank you for your comments and insight. Safe flying!
Best,
Ben