Originally posted by DBCherry
HocPoc & Nik,
I don't know of a single RC club that charges for flight instruction. I know that there are a few out there, but they're rare.
So if your club wants to charge you to learn, I'd find another club.
nascarjoe,
Our club use to have a "trainer night", where two or three instructors would provide help to whoever showed up. We stopped that in favor of the student and instructors arranging days & times that are convenient for both. (We still don't charge and never would.)
Dennis-
Although the "free" instruction concept is a noble gesture, when I was desperately trying to get help in the several different clubs I had belonged to, I definitely would have appreciated having the OPTION of paying the club for a GUARANTEED HOUR of instruction rather than waiting for help that more times than not never came.
Of course this is coming from a beginner's perspective and not that of someone who already knows how to fly.
When someone says that they "would never charge" I would venture to say that declaration may not be appreciated by all, particularly your club's beginners. Who knows? Maybe most, if not all beginners would share the "no charge" philosophy, but unfortunately, they will never be given that choice. I'm sure most beginners like the idea of the limited for-favor better than the on-demand aspects of paying to learn ASAP.
nascarjoe