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FlightSafety International

Engaged Employer

FlightSafety International reviews

3.5

66% would recommend to a friend

(713 total reviews)

Eric Hinson

57% approve of CEO

48% positive business outlook

FlightSafety International has an employee rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, based on 713 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The FlightSafety International employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Aerospace & Defense industry (3.6 stars).

Reviews by job title

713 reviews
2.0
Dec 13, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

If enough instructors leave, those left behind may eventually see a meaningful pay raise. The instructors / CSRs and some PMs are some of the best / smartest people in the industry to work with. You will learn a lot as an instructor teaching here.

Cons

The management structure above PM level seems out of touch with the current demands on instructors at FlightSafety. The job has steadily become more challenging and demanding, including higher levels of oversight and quality control. Instructors now have to be experts on international procedures, CPDLC, data link, RNP-AR, HUD / EFVS, Synthetic vision, FAA/EASA/GACA/GCAA/ANAC/DGAC and more regulations. Need to know multiple 135 SOPs and training programs. Higher standards is good but this is a different job compared with what Directors and CMs and ACMs did 10-30 years ago. Many managers never instructed for more than a few months and only at low levels of instructor qualification. So they have no clue what teaching 10-12 days in a row feels like. They have no clue what a 14 hour day feels like. They have no clue what flipping late to early schedule and back again does to your body clock. Upper level managers are usually groomed from the street rather than working up from instructor and generally have military background or marketing background (just an observation, not a negative). CMs make their money from the company's PIP Proffit sharing program that motivates CMs to keep costs and salaries low. The PIP is presented as if it benefits employees but most employees will see little benefit from the rare years that FlightSafety actually pays it out. CMs are smart enough to know they will probably be moved in 2-3 years so all decisions they make are short term to maximize their own PIP bonus. This means staffing levels and pay levels are lagging industry norm. The latest bonus program (back to IIP) reflects how out of touch LaGuardia is. Many instructors will leave in 2016 since no salary adjustments are happening other than 3% bump for SFEs (good thing). Under the new program, if you hit 100 hours (DAL time with client) you'll make $810 bonus that's taxed at bonus rate. Not terrible for brand new instructors on entry level programs. For senior instructors on mid and large cabin, the job offers are so strong now that many will be leaving. The IIP has a negative connotation because we all know it disappears with one email the moment the attrition stops regardless of what is preached verbally - just like they did last time we had IIP. LaGuardia probably just blew it's last chance to hang onto some of it brightest and most dedicated long - term instructors. Rumors abounded that pay adjustments were coming. This - is just a slap in the face.

1.0
Aug 20, 2015

Pilot Instructor

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Stability. Guaranteed Pay Check. Acceptable health and 401k benefits. Peer instructors are generally decent people. Hands downs, FlightSafety is a moneymaker.

Cons

There is too much work for too little instructor staff. Everyone from corporate on down knows this. However, FlightSafety refuses to increase our pay to an acceptable level that will attract new people. Current instructors are being severely overworked while also realizing that no one is applying for the many open positions. It's a physical and mental beat down. Management at all levels are asking current employees to recruit our friends and colleagues so that our staffing levels will increase. Seriously, they are asking us to recruit so our own lives will improve. I think they think that if "somehow" they can glom onto some new instructors, then everyone will be happy with the current pay levels and the better schedules that "might" result. I don't think that strategy is going to work. I wouldn't recommend my worst enemy for this job. It's really become a miserable place to work. You are on short reserve, you get little support from management, you're subject to work long hours and long weeks, your led by a very weak management team, you get paid peanuts, you're subject to work holidays and weekends, and they always let the garbage flow down to you. Manage in general is poor. As a matter of fact I came here to write something because one member of the center management team subtly recommended we go on here so we can tell everyone how great we have it at FlightSafety. The only problem is we don't have it "great." His recommendation just shows how out of tune our management is with their instructor force. Again, why would I recommend anyone to work here given our current status. I'm definitely not going to lie on here just so people will be deceived into working for FlightSafety. It really seemed like a desperate and thoughtless attempt from someone that has no idea what is going on. And has no idea how to deal with staff. I feel really insulted. FlightSafety needs to severely raise the pay to about $100,000, remove the "you're on reserve clause," develop top of the line work rules, and increase our time off. I bet doing this will fix our staffing issues almost overnight. Finding people that can't get a medical, poaching clients with "employment opportunity signs" in the lobby, and asking for employee referrals just isn't going to cut it. It certainly won't attract the best of the best! Which is what FlightSafety advertises. You want the best, then do what it takes to get the best! I think they just want bodies so they don't have to spend a little money and make some sacrifices for QOL issues. FlightSafety makes money hand over fist so there is no excuse. Corporate management must think they are competing in some other type of industry. Because their handling of this instructor crisis is mind boggling. Bad decisions at every turn. Program managers - some work hard and some think they work hard. I hate to say it, but they are out of their element. Not surprising since the position doesn't pay nearly what it should. You want the best mangers, then make the position competitive. Not going to happen at FlightSafety. Here a computer system limits advancement pay to a minimum. Then these same useless managers get promoted and promoted again into positions that they have no business being in. Until something changes, I would avoid this place unless you're desperate. FlightSafety is desperate for you so you'll get the job. Just plan on being miserable and being around miserable people.

1.0
Feb 21, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Some how the instructors manage to keep it together. They are the only hope for the company right now.

Cons

I recommend you read through the longer posts on here. They are TRUE. The short ones that give 4+ stars for this company are 100% posted by company hacks. We've been told about Glassdoor reviews by upper management. They are concerned, and there is an active campaign to get employees to post "positive" reviews of the company to up their ratings. This is metaphor for what plagues this company. Rather than addressing issues, they attempt to have the marching band post on here to falsely boost the ratings on this site. Shame. Everything negative about scheduling, pay, and management incompetence is true, and then some.

Viewing 4 - 6 of 713 Reviews

Glassdoor has 752 FlightSafety International reviews submitted anonymously by FlightSafety International employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if FlightSafety International is right for you.