I was taught for free, using the old-school "transmitter toss" method

I asked the guy twice, what I owed him, and he said I had to pass it on.
I've done that. I've taught several to fly, and never dreamed of charging for it.

I don't really have a problem with someone taking pay for training students,
if they had to pay for their training when they were learning it themselves

I just don't think it has a place at the club level, and I don't think AMA should insure.
Those who want to make a business out of it, should provide their own location,
or at the very least, their own liability insurance for their little business venture.
I feel like they should also be providing the trainer planes, in those cases.
Maybe a package deal, where students pay so much per session, up to a certain limit,
and after you reach that limit, or solo and pay the difference, you get the airplane too.
(Folks who try it once or twice aren't out much, and folks that stick it out have something to fly.)
If they want to use a club field, perhaps the club should charge them per session
or per month to do so. (Though these guys probably won't like that at all)


I'm sure there's a working business model out there... but I still don't like the idea
of seeing clubs overrun with "paid-only" instructors. It'll take so much away


Not that my opinion matters any, of course. I'm sure it's just a matter of time.