Originally posted by Borzak
I'd like to comment on this subject - and I have on several threads in the beginners forum.
If the club I wound up joining had a provision for paid instructors I would have JUMPED at the chance for many reasons.
A little background first. If you have any interest at our club you have to fly with person X first, even if you have a trainer that's ready you must fly with person X and then get passed off to another instructor on your own plane. But it's up to you to contact an instructor who avoid the weekends like the plague cause honestly they never get to fly when 5 newbies show up at once - and most likely work during the week like most people.
I wound up with an instructor who was retired and could meet me out there during the week (I'm self employeed so I just go during the week to avoid trying to practice landings on a buddy box with 3 others in the flight pattern at the same time).
I always hated to bug the man and call him to meet me out there when he constantly brought up the fact that he had quit going to the field on weekends at all for the above mentioned reason. Of all the instructors on the list he was the only one (out of about 7 - out of a club of 100ish total) that would actually make an appointment to see someone either during the week or weekend. With the others I contacted were just like "Come on out and see if someone is around" Well a 2 hour drive (1 hour each way) is a lot to just see if someone is around.
Now I'm not gonna drive an hour (more at certain times of the week but on average an hour) and sit there and *hope* an instructor shows up and isn't busy. Plus I didn't like the idea of getting take-off lessons from one person and landings from another.
Now if they would have had the OPTION (and option is important - please keep free instruction available) of paying someone so that I could have flown more often (I was available to fly about 5 days a week on average and am averaging 1 or 2 flights at one meeting about every 2 weeks - at this rate it will take a LONG time).
In my 3 months or so of going out to the field (I go on weekends only to watch not fly) I've seen about 5 people total show up with a new trainer and ask someone to take a look and not get a first flight in (3 of them showed up twice) and never got a flight or even had their plane maidened/checked out and I've never seen them yet and they haven't shown up a meeting to join etc..
I wouldn't mind blocking in an hour or two and paying for it with a quality instructor. I've seen the ads in magazines for intensive training at certain locales. I can honestly say if one was near enough to me (3-4 hour drive) I would have attended than play phone tag/see who shows up to instruct game.
I realise you have to get instruction on the time frame of the instructor. But how about making a pay option for those who want to speed up the process?
I've seen mentioned in other threads here that XX club has "trainer night" or whatever with set aside time to get instruction. I wish our club would have that - even if on a first come first serve basis (meaning I might fly this week and get passed next week) I would know that whoever was there was there to instruct and instruct only.
I learned how to fly full scale for free - just as many learned by paying an instructor - why should model flying be different than full scale?
Good comments and your points are valid. I think that in the context you have written here it is a good idea to allow instruction for a fee. I believe clubs who decide to "authorize" instruction for a fee, should also have free instruction available. Every situation is different and what works for my club may not work for yours, but the option should be available. I personally don't want to see some hot dog instructor turning the flying field into his personal money making business. If an instructor wants to start a business like that, it my opinion, it would be best for him/her to have their own facility. Then, the club could kindly refer anyone who wanted to pay for instruction by appointment to his facility... Just a thought.