Why is the UK so bad?!
Why do it if it's not fun?
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Bournemouth
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Re. cancelling lessons:
Myself and other instructors at my school are pushing the management to introduce cancellation charges. What some students don't seem to realise is that if you don't turn up, we don't get paid. Two days ago, 2/3 of my students either didn't turn up, or phoned on the day to cancel. That means I walked away with approximately 1/3 of the pay which I expect to get for a day's work. In any other industry, that would not be acceptable.
We all appreciate that there are some circumstances which are beyond your control. One of my students recently had a death in the family. Obviously I would not charge him for missing his lessons (but he did have the courtesy to call and cancel his lessons as soon as practical, once all the immediate arrangement for the funeral and so on had been dealt with).
On the other hand, we have another student who failed to turn up, with absolutely no explaination, for three lessons in two days - and this is not the first time he has done this, nor the second, nor the third. All of the instructors have told our manager that we do not want booking with him, because we know that we will loose money when he doesn't turn up. Last week, our manager took a phone call from him, and booked him in for another lesson (not with me, thankfully), under the understanding that "I will definitely turn up for this one." Once again, the manager has told the instructor concerned that if the student does not turn up, there will be no cancellation charge, and the instructor will not get paid.
Please, please, please do everything you can to turn up for a lesson. Us instructors get little enough pay as it is.
FFF
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Myself and other instructors at my school are pushing the management to introduce cancellation charges. What some students don't seem to realise is that if you don't turn up, we don't get paid. Two days ago, 2/3 of my students either didn't turn up, or phoned on the day to cancel. That means I walked away with approximately 1/3 of the pay which I expect to get for a day's work. In any other industry, that would not be acceptable.
We all appreciate that there are some circumstances which are beyond your control. One of my students recently had a death in the family. Obviously I would not charge him for missing his lessons (but he did have the courtesy to call and cancel his lessons as soon as practical, once all the immediate arrangement for the funeral and so on had been dealt with).
On the other hand, we have another student who failed to turn up, with absolutely no explaination, for three lessons in two days - and this is not the first time he has done this, nor the second, nor the third. All of the instructors have told our manager that we do not want booking with him, because we know that we will loose money when he doesn't turn up. Last week, our manager took a phone call from him, and booked him in for another lesson (not with me, thankfully), under the understanding that "I will definitely turn up for this one." Once again, the manager has told the instructor concerned that if the student does not turn up, there will be no cancellation charge, and the instructor will not get paid.
Please, please, please do everything you can to turn up for a lesson. Us instructors get little enough pay as it is.
FFF
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: UK,Twighlight Zone
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Flying training is a service industry, if you dont like the pay or conditions then it is time to find another job or have the management pay a proper wage in the first place.
I agree that people should turn up for lessons when booked but flying is a recreational activity and sometime peoples real lives get in the way. Personal I never let my real life interfere with my flying!
FFF are you a career Instructor or cruising in the right hand seat for an airline job? If you are a career instructor then find a new job that pays properly, if you are waiting for an airline job then think yourself lucky that you get the funded career deveopment that you get.
Stands back and dons flame retardant suit, boots and goggles..........
I agree that people should turn up for lessons when booked but flying is a recreational activity and sometime peoples real lives get in the way. Personal I never let my real life interfere with my flying!
FFF are you a career Instructor or cruising in the right hand seat for an airline job? If you are a career instructor then find a new job that pays properly, if you are waiting for an airline job then think yourself lucky that you get the funded career deveopment that you get.
Stands back and dons flame retardant suit, boots and goggles..........
Join Date: May 2001
Location: 75N 16E
Age: 54
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FFF,
Should go back to IT, you earn more, then you can afford to fly without getting the s*it scared out of you every day
It works both ways. If you have a school with crap attitude which charges cancellation charges, sack them. Equally if I had a student who failed to turn up, I'd send them on their bike.
Career instructors should get paid a good salary, none of this paid by the flying hour lark (and a lot do). Instructors who just want to operate the gear and flaps of a boeing....tough, look at it as a means to an end.....
Should go back to IT, you earn more, then you can afford to fly without getting the s*it scared out of you every day
It works both ways. If you have a school with crap attitude which charges cancellation charges, sack them. Equally if I had a student who failed to turn up, I'd send them on their bike.
Career instructors should get paid a good salary, none of this paid by the flying hour lark (and a lot do). Instructors who just want to operate the gear and flaps of a boeing....tough, look at it as a means to an end.....
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Cambridge, England, EU
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As High Wing Drifter says though, being charged for a no-show certainly does sound a bit harsh, especially as it was due to circumstances beyond your control.
Cancelling due to weather is (if you're due to fly solo) proper exercise of a command decision and should not attract a cancellation penalty.
Cancelling due to deciding that you're not "fit to fly" is a legal requirement and should not attract a cancellation penalty. This will happen to everyone sooner or later, and the school should factor the costs into its normal charges. Giving people a financial incentive to fly when they're too ill is, after all, insane.
But if you cancel because:
(1) you forget about the lesson
(2) you can't be arsed to turn up, whether or not you can be arsed to phone up and tell them
(3) you fail to make adequate transport arrangements to get yourself to the airport (whether because you fail to maintain your car to roadworthy state or for any other reason)
(4) you've still got a hangover from last night
then that is hardly the school's fault, and it's hardly an inevitable natural disaster, so why should the school, and hence other students, bear the cost?
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: South UK
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FFF,
2/3 of YOUR students cancel......do you think that tells you something? Welcome to the world of 'building hours, flying round in circles for sweet FA'. You know what to do.
2/3 of YOUR students cancel......do you think that tells you something? Welcome to the world of 'building hours, flying round in circles for sweet FA'. You know what to do.
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Oxfordshire. U.K.
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QXC and Weather
There are many pleasures of flying in the UK, but the Autumn and winter weather is not one of them.
It can be a joy when you get a crisp clear day (or night - a rating to consider after your PPL) but depending on where in the UK you are, mist and fog are more likely.
Patience !. Your instructors are (or should be) keen for you to do well and progress. If you are having trouble getting aircraft availability, then get (politely) bolshy. People "near to finishing" are (should be) given a bit of leeway on aircraft priority - e.g. I would expect a school to help you by maybe persuading someone having a "bimble" to go an hour earlier / later so you get a clear shot.
Cancellation charges are below the belt. The place where I instruct does not charge them - equally we expect as early notification as possible - and if someone is a "no show" they had better have a good reason - i.e. If you are fair with us, we are fair with you.
Unless you can "drop everything" on a good day, then you might be waiting many weeks. You should look at the Met the night before and hopefully your work won't mind a day off at short notice. If you have a good relationship with your instructor then he may even call you and suggest that you might want to get it done today.
One good point about the winter - weekday aircraft availability at many flying schools / clubs is good. BUT very short days - you want to be away by mid morning. (If the mist has lifted !).
It can be a joy when you get a crisp clear day (or night - a rating to consider after your PPL) but depending on where in the UK you are, mist and fog are more likely.
Patience !. Your instructors are (or should be) keen for you to do well and progress. If you are having trouble getting aircraft availability, then get (politely) bolshy. People "near to finishing" are (should be) given a bit of leeway on aircraft priority - e.g. I would expect a school to help you by maybe persuading someone having a "bimble" to go an hour earlier / later so you get a clear shot.
Cancellation charges are below the belt. The place where I instruct does not charge them - equally we expect as early notification as possible - and if someone is a "no show" they had better have a good reason - i.e. If you are fair with us, we are fair with you.
Unless you can "drop everything" on a good day, then you might be waiting many weeks. You should look at the Met the night before and hopefully your work won't mind a day off at short notice. If you have a good relationship with your instructor then he may even call you and suggest that you might want to get it done today.
One good point about the winter - weekday aircraft availability at many flying schools / clubs is good. BUT very short days - you want to be away by mid morning. (If the mist has lifted !).
