Originally posted by C_Watkins
To say that the market is small because people protest may not be all that accurate.
Almost every new product has a "small market" at first. (Think Home PC's 
)
Paid RC instruction is going to be very much a niche market anyhow.
I'm definitely not saying there isn't a place for it, however. I'm positive there is.
And we're not out for killing "choice" or "options". Well, I'm not, anyhow.
For myself, I'm just saying let them work out their own insurance and property deals.
I just personally don't believe the AMA should be involved with it.
Those people who never want to join a club, and have their own property?
Let them get paid instruction if they desire. On their own property, or their instructor's.
Why involve the clubs that they want nothing to do with in the first place?
You just proved my point. How many members from other clubs feel that same as you? If all clubs are dead set against paid instruction, and the paid instructor doesn't want to make it a full time business, the club field is the place to go. Maybe it's just that someone wants to help beginners get more flight time.
The difference between the volunteer and paid instructor is if the instructor is paid by the hour, he is now obligated to give his student/customer a solid hour of instruction. Now the student has a "right" to DEMAND satisfaction.
As someone else pointed out, if both the student and instructor are AMA and club members, where's the problem? AMA has stated that it's OK for the club to pay the instructor. Perhaps, the club could make a deal to get a percentage of the instructor's take. If the paid instructor won't go for it, then the club's members could vote down the idea of paid instruction. The student pays the club, and the club automatically takes its cut and pays the instructor with the rest. That way, literally everyone wins.
But it seems that those who already know how to fly have their minds made up that paid instruction is wrong, wrong, wrong and no amount of logic will change their minds - nevermind what the beginner may decide.
nascarjoe