Some time in late 1991 my GF at the time and I decided it would nice to learn to fly together. I bought the news stand GA magazines and looked up the flight training, adverts for which filled up a good proportion of the magazine. We went down to Shoreham airport and were lured in by a welcoming sign outside one of the flying club / schools. As posters above have described, once through the door we were completely ignored. It is a socially alien environment, so new folks need some sort of welcome. After being ignored for a few minutes we left. £6K of training income (at 1991 prices) walked out of the door. I’ve no doubt the club complained bitterly, among themselves, about the lack of new people joining.
Sadly it’s not just a UK problem. There’s an article in Flying Magazine, reprinted in the
More BAX Seat collection describing exactly the same problem in the ‘States.
It doesn’t need the busy Instructor or Top Brass at a flight school to talk to potential customers. A pre-solo student pilot will probably be one of the most enthusiastic people you will find in the building. They may get a bit ‘off message’ but they will probably be honest about their experience. If that experience is good then all is well. If not, perhaps the school needs to look inside before looking outside.
As well as flight schools we can do something about it ourselves. I’ll risk the wrath of the assembled company by attaching a link to a rant of mine that AOPA UK printed in the April 2013 issue (page 58) of the magazine.
GA Magazine - April 2013