Are Instructors in short supply?

[portsharbourflyer]

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Yes there are fewer PPL(H) holders, but we in the fixed wing world could learn an awful lot from the Heli training side.
No we couldn't learn a thing it is a totally different situation to the fixed wing world; the price of an hour in an R22 is 280 an hour, heli instructors I understand get around £40 an hour, the average PPL(A) instructor is on £20 an hour flown. So for the heli world the extra 20 pounds an hour makes the training price change from £260 an hour to £280 an hour, for someone who can afford 260 an hour paying 280 an hour makes little difference. Put 20 an hour on the price of training in a C150 then 130 an hour to 150 will make a difference to your trade.
Also it costs the average CPL FI(H) 50,000 just to get the VFR CPL and FI rating; also as you mentioned SAS several helicopter schools run AOC work, due to the tenuous nature of helicopter VFR rules then it is possible for VFR only qualified helicopter pilots to fly air taxi charters. As said the charter company the CPL FI(H) moves onto is in most cases the school they already work for. Most CPL FIs(H) will do a combination of instruction and charter work. So SAS for most CPL FI(H) they are paying 50,000 for a licence that has an earning cap of 25,000-30,000 a year; in comparison in the fixed wing world 50,000 can get you a CPL,MEIR, fATPL,MCC and FI rating where the earning potential by moving into the airlines is 40,000 to 80,000 a year.
For CPl FI(H) the only way to improve your earning is invest a further 35,000 to get an IR in order to move into North Sea Oil work.
So for then last 20 years in NZ, Australia, America and the UK PPL(A) instructing was always a breeding ground for the airlines.
SAS, yes you are correct there is a problem with retaining PPLs,

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I would rather have fewer, richer students and members who fly more often.

Fixed wing flying does not need to be exclusive.
The main problem is club hire is expensive and inflexible; however do you ever make your fresh PPLs aware that by doing a tailwheel conversion they could join a syndicate opeating out of a grass strip where they could be flying a Cub or a jodel for as little as £40 pounds an hour. That is where affordable flying lies.

SAS, if we followed your proposals then the price of the commerical training, would rocket, you seem to forget the current system has allowed many of us an affordable route into an aviation career.

Also have you ever heard the term a fool and his money are soon flying more money than they can handle; consequently this is why Cirrus aircraft feature so heavily in the MOR reports for airspace infringements; certainly evidence that money does not lead to better competence.
Gash,
Does the hour building instructor still exist; what do you think I am and my instructional exeprience has gained me four airline interviews in the last two months. However you are correct the popularity of self sponsored type ratings is one of the main factors that has contributed to an instructor shortage. This is why I advocate a return to the old CAA self improver system where 700 hours was needed to hold a full CPL.
With the MPL to be introduced in the next few years the relationship between the airlines and GA will be further severed and the instructor shortage will only get worse.