Originally Posted by
Okihara
Absolutely nothing wrong with flight schools not being charities and actually thumbs up to those that are profitable in this day and age.
But charging at a fixed rate on VDO is skewed and does not generally benefit flight training in my opinion.
As you seem well versed in the mechanics flight school operations, here's an honest question. How about charging for lessons as follows:
Lesson bill = lesson base price that covers aircraft fixed costs (insurance, parking, landing fees, etc.)
+ fuel used ╳ fuel (daily/weekly) rate
+ oil used ╳ oil cost+ tacho/airswitch time ╳ hire rate which will cover variable aircraft costs such as maintenance, engine overhaul, etc.
+ VDO time ╳ instructor rate in flight
+ pre- and post-flight briefing time ╳ instructor rate on ground
where all the rates are transparent and worked out so that, in the end, a margin deemed adequate to run the business is yielded.
Before coming up with a formula try learning the difference between fixed and variable costs.
In aviation, some are both.
Thank you for being so patronising, the formula I have is working fine. When you have trialled yours at your own flying school for ten years please get back to us all here and let us know how it's going.