#Is your dream job to become a tunnel instructor?
With wind tunnels opening more and more frequently, and a host of others in development, job opportunities in the industry are becoming more plentiful. There are approximately 75 Wind Tunnels currently operating worldwide, and with an additional 50+ tunnel projects in various stages of development, it has never been a better time to get an instructor rating and turn it into a full-time work contract.
#Dream job v Tunnel Rat
Like every job, being a tunnel instructor has benefits and drawbacks. The job obviously involves flying and working with students, but also involves tasks such as cleaning the glass, washing jumpsuits, driving and sometimes involves stints in the bar and reception. Benefits include free tunnel time, a fun work environment and a flexible rota. The drawbacks of the job can be basic pay, long hours, injuries or burn-out. Like skydiving, there are often cyclical seasons of high and low volume, which can create fluctuations in working hours and pay. Conditions and pay vary greatly from tunnel to tunnel.
#What are the basic requirements to apply for a job?
The most important personal requisites are a good level of physical fitness, the ability to work as part of a team and good communication skills. In most European tunnels, languages are also a huge advantage. Previous tunnel experience is not essential as skills are learned during the instructor course, however good head up skills can help shorten the time needed to complete the course. For work contracts, most tunnels require a minimum of a basic instructor rating, but some are willing to train candidates from scratch.
#IBA v Tunnelinstructor.org
There are two main instructor training schools that are recognized worldwide; the International Bodyflight Association(IBA) and Tunnelinstructor. Officially, the ratings are not inter-changeable, however in practice, there is often flexibility depending on the individual tunnel instructor examiner and the urgency of the job opportunity involved. They offer similar training programs, with a similar rating system, which has become progressively more comparable in the past couple of years. Level one is the very basic instructor rating that qualifies instructors to fly first-time flyers safely. Level 4/5 is the highest rating and qualifies an instructor to also be an examiner. The main factor determining which association to train with is where you want to work. IBA governs all of the training for the IFLY (SkyVenture) tunnels (mostly North America and the UK); Tunnelinstructor.org is accepted in most of the other manufacturing technology tunnels (the majority of Europe). Elsewhere is dependent on the technology and varies from country to country.
#How much does the course cost and who pays?
The course cost varies from tunnel to tunnel depending on the cost of their tunnel time. A general figure is 10K (Euros or Dollars). This will buy approximately 12 hours of tunnel time. The amount of hours required are dependent on previous tunnel (mostly head up) experience and how quickly an individual learns the instructor skills. It can be anything from 7 – 15 hours, with the majority being around 10 – 12 hours.
The basic course is usually paid for by the individual, but in some cases, it can be financed by a tunnel, usually in exchange for a minimum period work contract. The advantage is that you don´t need to pay 10K upfront. The downside is that you are tied to a long work contract at a minimum pay rate and breaking a contract can result in penalties.
#How much free tunnel time do you get?
There is no exact number, but time can be anything from 15 minutes to 2 hours per month, depending on the tunnel. The experience level of the instructor will also be a factor, as highly experienced instructors will attract a high proportion of private clients which will increase their income and flying time. In addition, tunnels often provide sponsored times to in-house teams, as well as preferential staff flying rates. Instructors often opt to exchange a proportion of their salary for cheap tunnel time that can be used during off-peak periods. This can make for a rapid progression in tunnel skills, instructor ratings and marketability.
#What are the chances of getting a full-time contract?
In the next few years, there will be more than 120 wind tunnels world-wide. Turnover rates can be high, because staff can be migratory, taking advantage of new location opportunities, as well as the regular tunnel issues such as downtime due to injury. Creating a good relationship with a tunnel where you want to work, completing your instructor course with them and demonstrating good flying skills and a professional attitude is often the best way to be considered for future job opportunities. Most tunnels would prefer to employ someone they have history with as they know that the individual will fit in well with the existing team. Sending a complete resume and covering letter is fine, but placements are so important in small instructor groups, that those people, who make the effort to meet the tunnel manager or HR in person, are more likely to be considered for a job.
#Being in the right place at the right time
Occasionally, an out-of-the-blue opportunity does arise. To help promote their tunnel instructor courses, Windoor in Empuriabrava, guaranteed a full-time job contract for the best candidate who completed the June 2015 instructor course. The job was awarded to Eliot Pothet from France, we asked him for some insights…
##Can you tell us a little bit about yourself Eliot?
I am 21 years old and before I decided to do the instructor course I was packing parachutes at Skydive Empuriabrava. 2 years ago I was a student studying to be a game programmer.
##Why did you want to become a tunnel instructor?
Everything about the job really appeals to me. I love to fly in the tunnel, but I also like working with clients and in the future, would like to become a really good coach. Being part of the instructor team is also really important to me, as I think that working in a good team makes a job much more enjoyable.
##The course is a big financial commitment, did that worry you?
Yes, of course. I was lucky as I had some help from my family. I knew that I couldn´t get a job without taking the course, and the job offer for the course I was taking was too good an opportunity to miss.
##Was the course hard?
Yes, it was even harder than I thought it would be. In a lot of ways that is a good thing, because it means that you push yourself and you improve quickly, but it can be physically exhausting. Looking back, there were some parts that were more relevant than others, and some parts that I wished that I could have spent a lot more time on, but when your experience level is so low, it is difficult to know what you will need and what you won´t.
##How many hours did it take to get your level 1 rating?
It was between 11 and 12 hours, but that also included 30 minutes of taking a class of actual first time students. It is an option at the end of the course, but is really good to have to show the tunnel that you can safely do the job in real life.
##Are you now working as a tunnel instructor?
Yes, Windoor gave me a work contract and I am super happy about that and excited about being part of the team.
##What have been your best and worst work experiences so far?
I have just completed my first week and have already noticed a big improvement in everything that I do. A lot of that is down to the valuable feedback from the other instructors; they have been keeping an eye on me and lending a lot of helpful advice. It is one of the great things about working on a good team, everyone helps everyone else. My best experience so far was flying with a small child. Their face was amazing, and I think I will keep that picture in my mind for a long time! My worst experience was one of my first live driving sessions. I put 10% more power on than the instructor asked, and when the student jumped into the tunnel, the air was too high. Luckily the instructor in the door noticed immediately and it was corrected, but it is easy to see how mistakes happen. It was a good reminder to stay focused.
##What advice do you have for people thinking about being a tunnel instructor?
It is a lot of money to invest, so it is important to have some ideas about job opportunities. Doing the course and not using the skills learned can mean that you may lose those skills quite quickly which is a bit of a waste of money.
The other piece of advice is to make sure that you are physically fit. The course is very tough and you will finish each day pretty exhausted. If you are not fit, that is going to make things a lot harder.
More than anything you have to be really motivated, as that is what will see you through. If it is your dream, you should go for it. That is what I did only 6 weeks ago, and now my life has totally changed and I am a tunnel instructor. It hasn´t fully sunk in yet.
Look out for a follow-up article looking at what’s covered in a tunnel instructor course, with back stories, some highs and lows and the outcomes for the candidates
