When I trained, I always paid my Instructors. I got advice on the ground, but I have never asked anyone to work for nothing.
Homeguard, I'm afraid that you are being naive in this instance. There is space for the kind of utopian flying club you describe, but back in the real world where people have bills to pay, how could you get long term high quality instructors without paying them a decent wage?
Relying on airline pilots is a non starter, since they can only do the odd day here or there, or if they work for a company like my previous one aren't allowed to instruct at all.
Could you run a business with staff like that? I couldn't. Not exactly good for continuity of training either......
I am the CFI of a relatively recent entrant into the the wonderful world of PPL training and if you do it right, then a business can be successful. We started up because to be honest, the general standards at the moment are absolutely rubbish, in customer care, training standards and support post licence issue. Tell me how many places do any of these properly? There are some good clubs/schools out there, but there is an awful lot more dross.
Why shouldn't a business make money? Long term a business has to be able to stand on it's own two feet rather than relying on the good will of a wealthy owner/s to keep bailing it out and subsidising other peoples flying. Otherwise, what happens when that person gets bored by it?
This is a complex and emotive issue, but one that exposes a great many of the problems we face in this industry.
I'll tell you what Homeguard, you go and start a flying club with your own money and come back in 3 years and tell us your opinion then.
Last edited by Say again s l o w l y; 12th October 2006 at 07:22.