Job Description
Chief Flight Instructor
Job title
Chief Flight Instructor
Reports to
Head of Aviation
Direct reports
Flight Instructors
Location
Primary School, Harrow
Hours
Minimum 2 hours per week of direct teaching (most likely Tuesdays, after school, term-time), plus additional time for supervision, planning and liaison with the Head of Aviation
Purpose of the role
To lead, support and quality-assure the Flight Instructor team, ensuring that all sessions are delivered safely, consistently and to a high standard, while also personally delivering aviation theory and flight simulator sessions to pupils. The Chief Flight Instructor acts as the main link between the Flight Instructor team and the Head of Aviation, and takes a lead role in safeguarding practice within the club.
Main duties and responsibilities
Teaching duties
- Deliver weekly after-school sessions (minimum 2 hours), split between aviation theory and flight simulator instruction, in the same way as a Flight Instructor
- Teach from and help develop lesson plans based on the UK CAA PPL theoretical exam syllabus, adapted for primary school pupils
- Instruct pupils on the flight simulator, including basic aircraft handling and landings, using a USB joystick
Leadership and supervision
- Act as the first point of contact and day-to-day line manager for Flight Instructors
- Support the induction and ongoing development of new Flight Instructors, including helping them become familiar with lesson plans, simulator equipment and behaviour management approaches
- Monitor the quality and consistency of sessions delivered by the Flight Instructor team, providing constructive feedback and support
- Coordinate the weekly rota, session planning, and allocation of pupils or groups to instructors as needed
- Liaise regularly with the Head of Aviation on club operations, instructor performance, resourcing and any issues arising
- Help maintain and improve lesson plans, simulator resources and club materials over time
- Ensure simulator equipment is set up, maintained and packed away safely, and report any equipment issues to the Head of Aviation
Safeguarding and welfare
- Act as the main point of contact within the instructor team for any safeguarding concerns, ensuring these are passed promptly to the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead via the Head of Aviation
- Support Flight Instructors in understanding and following the school's safeguarding and behaviour policies
- Help ensure that registers, incident records and any required documentation are completed accurately and on time
- Model excellent professional boundaries and conduct for the rest of the team
Skills and qualities required
Teaching and instructional skills
- All the teaching and instructional skills required of a Flight Instructor (see Flight Instructor job description), plus:
– Ability to model best practice in lesson delivery for other instructors
– Ability to give constructive, supportive feedback to colleagues on their teaching
Communication skills
- Confident, clear communication with pupils, instructors, school staff and the Head of Aviation
- Ability to give direction and feedback to colleagues in a supportive and constructive way
- Strong written communication for rotas, reports, and liaison with the Head of Aviation
Behaviour management
- Excellent personal behaviour management skills, as for a Flight Instructor
- Ability to advise and support other instructors with behaviour management challenges
- Consistent application of, and ability to promote, the school's behaviour policy across the team
Safeguarding
- Strong understanding of safeguarding responsibilities, including the role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead and the club's reporting chain
- Willingness to complete an Enhanced DBS check and take on a more senior safeguarding awareness role, with appropriate training provided
- Confidence to raise and escalate concerns appropriately and promptly
Aviation and simulator skills
- Strong enthusiasm for and knowledge of aviation
- Confident, competent flight simulator pilot, able to demonstrate a basic landing using a USB joystick
- Good working knowledge of the UK CAA PPL theoretical exam syllabus
- A PPL or other real-world flying experience is desirable but not essential
Leadership and organisation
- Experience supervising, mentoring or coordinating a small team (paid or voluntary)
- Good organisational skills, able to plan rotas, sessions and resources
- Reliable, proactive and able to use initiative to solve day-to-day issues
Person specification
Essential
- Strong enthusiasm for aviation and for inspiring children's interest in flight
- Experience using a flight simulator with a USB joystick, including basic aircraft handling and landing
- Good working knowledge of, or willingness to quickly become familiar with, the UK CAA PPL theoretical exam syllabus
- Previous experience teaching, instructing or supervising others
- Excellent communication, organisational and behaviour management skills
- Ability to work confidently and safely with primary school-aged children
- Reliable and able to commit to a weekly session plus additional coordination time
- Satisfactory Enhanced DBS check and references
Desirable
- PPL (Private Pilot's Licence) or significant progress towards one
- Experience of having sat UK CAA PPL theoretical exams
- Previous experience in a lead instructor, supervisory or management role, ideally in an education or youth setting
- Experience with flight simulator software such as Microsoft Flight Simulator, X-Plane or Prepar3D
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: From £30.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
