Surely the colleges, with their wealth of experience, must know that on an average year an instructor will fly so many hours, and an average a/c will be unserviceable for so many days/hours in that year. When they know how many students to expect, they know how many instructors and a/c they need!
I remember Cabair last year cut their fleet back so 'thin' that the poor a/c could not cope with the demands placed on them, and spent a shed load of time U/S. As a result, the crew room was full of steaming cadets, and eventually the sponsored guys got any a/c available while self sponsored people where grounded for weeks. What sort of an efficient operation is that? Surely for all those lost flying hours and extra maintenance costs, they'd be better off putting a few extra Cheetahs online? There’s plenty of them at Elstee!
At least their communication skills are improving: they are telling you like it is. Wonder how the Katanas will cope with the busy summer schedule!