Tootles
No. Neither have I ever claimed to be. Look in my profile - it says that I am a GA pilot.
My point is that WingoWango only has to see something he disagrees with, and he goes off on one, making personal comments and attacking the other poster, even if the actual problem is that his own comments need clarification or his own assumptions are wrong. I understand that Antonio is a 737 pilot, and WingoWango was doubting this due to his lack of knowledge of instruments found on the light pistons I do fly. I actually knew what WingoWango meant, although I thought at the time he had not expressed it clearly.
The student will not get any fewer hours logged for the money. That is clear, and I have always acknowledged that. It is also not relevant to the points I have been making. The student will get less flying experience during that time, so might well have to buy more hours. Either way the school is paying less money while receiving the same money from the student.
Fuel savings are considerable. I don't know about the school in question, but fuel costs on a piston can be a very high proportion of direct operating costs, probably around 30%. Profit is a very small proportion of the charged price at most schools. Taxi fuel flows are a small fraction of those in the circuit (where full mixture would be used, and maximum power for a high proportion of the flight), probably around 20 or 30%. The saving in fuel alone, ignoring unplanned maintenance (planned maintenance costs would not be reduced of course) would have a major impact on the profitability of circuit trips.
Oh, and some FTOs only charge 10 minutes' taxi time, so the charges are not especially benevolent.
You are quite clearly in disagreement with not only me and all those who have expressed an opinion here, but the management of the school in question and even yourself!
If a full-stop landing required more skill, then it would not be used as a safer alternative which the school claims, and which you support. I think a touch and go is more difficult, however I believe that the skill and control needed is an essential pre-solo requirement, and I was taught such in my FI course, so would not send a student solo unless I would be happy for that student to perform touch and go circuits on a suitably long runway (2500 m being more than twice what I would define as suitable!).