Whirly you said:
Had I known when I was learning, and had I been given the choice, I would have been prepared to pay more IF it meant I got a good instructor.
Caveat Emptor my friend. You did have a choice, you could have chosen a school that charged more and had more experienced, full time, salaried instructors. If I buy the cheapest TV set in the shop I don't get all humpty when I find it doesn't have NICAM Dolby and the best picture quality.
You guys in Private flying are indulging in a hobby, a pastime, a recreational pursuit and you enjoy it immensley. The guy in the right hand seat however is at work. It take very few months for the novelty of flying for a living to wear off. Its the office for us, nothing more and nothing less. A suspect a large part of anyones job motivation is the pay packet at the end of the month and it is no different for a flying instructor.
ALL flying instructors were students once and in the main it was not very long ago. They have also generally forked out a damn sight more money than a PPL person. I know what its like to write the cheques at the end of the lesson - I was a PPL once - but remember the club/owner is taking 90 percent of it. And then he make maybee 20 percent after maintainence and fuel. Everything in GA is a low marhin business. I actually think this is why so many people get annoyed by flying training. They pay for a service that costs them an incredible amount of momey in their perception. Yet they get better customer service when buying a hamburger. What people fail to consider is that the instructor and the school owner are making about as much selling you a flying lesson as McDonalds is selling you a Big Mac Meal.
Who gets what you pays for in this industry generally.
Good luck with your training and happy flying,
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