On Oct 12, 7:41 am, Mike125 wrote:
A debate has arisen in our small club regarding CFIG and tow pilots
getting paid under certain circumstances. First, a little background.
We have less than ten active members, three CFIGs (two who are
available only part time and a third who just got his ticket). Our
membership has been stagnant for several years. Different reasons have
been cited including ugly trainers (2-33 with a nice L13 added a few
years ago), lack of promotion and lack of CFIGs.

Two instructors have proposed charging for instruction and a tow
pilot, not wanting to be left out, would like to be paid if the
instructor is getting paid. ("If they're getting paid, so should I")
The CFIGs and tow pilot would be paid directly by the student. The
tow pilot would also like to be paid for towing or acting as glider
PIC for the occasional commercial rides we do.

Do any clubs out there charge for instruction? Any tow or commercial
pilots getting paid for rides?

It seems to me that these ideas are frought with CFR, legal and
insurance issues and the line between a club a commercial operation
would be crossed.

The CFIG issue is, "I won't do it for free - too much liabilty and
cost incurred getting my instructor rating. If you don't want to pay,
find another CFIG". That's putting it coldly but accurately. The new
CFIG hasn't decided what he is going to do but may teach for free if
the club picks up the cost of liability insurance. (BTW: What does
that cost and who offers it?)

Don't just tell me its a bad idea, if that's what you think. Cite
specific regulations or CFRs, if any, that would prohibit it.

Thanks,
Mike

With more than 40 years of instructing and towing both in a club
setting and commercial operation,I offer the following:

Many ask me why soaring membership is not growing like it formerly
did. My answer is perhaps too simple, but here it is.
30 years ago, a single wage earner could support a family and perhaps
buy a home. There were few opportunities to visit a "GAMING" place.
There were few water craft (Ski-doo's) & more, computer games did not
exist. On and on the list of new demands on time could be listed.

The main problem for the growth of soaring is to find those people who
would choose what we offer.

You have little risk in allowing your instructors to operate as
"Independent operators" and let them sell their services to anyone
willing to pay. The club would not collect the money and would not be
an employer. The FAA has it's rules and as long as the pilot is
qualified to fly for hire, it's OK.
I charge my customers almost $50 per hour for instruction. I deduct
taxes and pay for insurance. The instructors are paid $35 per hour.
Tow pilots are paid a guaranteed $75 per day. I wish I could find more
at these rates.

A local club...LESC prides themselves as being able to operate as the
"Low Expense Soaring Club". They do pretty well.

TSA is the most successful club I know of. Perhaps you can gain
current knowledge from them.
The club could CONTRACT for a tow pilot to show up for a minimum fee
for each day. The tow pilot would be paid for his services by the
pilot being towed.
The amount paid by the customer would be first applied to the minimum
contracted fee for the day.

It is very difficult to hire qualified pilots. To get them for
free...may become impossible.
A very good post. Good luck. Fred