Consideration should be given to how the £100-£150 per hour training rate is divided up. If £35-£50 of this is going on Avgas no wonder there is little money left for the FI.
The answer is not to get the Instructor flying for free. Most of us only get paid £10-£15 per hour anyway. If profit needs to be made, invest in newer more efficient machinery that won't need expensive ongoing maintenance and doesn't burn outrageously expensive fuel at a ridiculous rate. Please don't tell me the only aircraft suitable for ppl training is a shagged 152.
Oh, and while you are at it, manage and sell the school/club/business effectively so you do make a profit. There are too many well intentioned but inept amateur owners/operators out there. If the instructor rate was £25-£40 per hour lots of CPL's would stay instructing, and the long term experience gained would enhance the business.
It is a shame there isn't the Flying equivalent of Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares - ie succesful CFI/FTO owner goes into struggling FTO's/clubs and turns them around. great viewing on Discovery Wings!
