Paid CFIGs/Tow Pilots in Club Setting

On Oct 12, 9:41 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

I'd almost think you were talking about my club!

I'm one of the instructors who proposed "allowing CFIG's to accept
payment" (not a requirement) for reasons somewhat different than
stated in the above example.

In our club the 2 most experienced and available instructors often
have the choice between making a living or working at the glider
club. It's simply a matter of where we spend our time. Though the
pay potential at the club doesn't compare to our other incomes it
would at least compensate for the out of pocket costs of hanging out
at the airport all day. Most people dont realize it actually costs
money (not just time) to spend the day instructing. Occasional
students do realize this as well as appreciate the costs in time and
offer to buy lunch, dinner, and even insist on paying cash for the
hours spent with them. We have to decline due to club policy and it's
annoying to all involved.

We offer professional quality instruction at our club and we've had
people drive in from over a hundred miles and join the club to fly
with us due to our reputation. We treat our local members the same
way yet when this issue was brought up at the last meeting it was shot
down in flames by those very members. Frankly, I was shocked. I
think it goes to show that the fear and ignorence of FAA and Insurance
Company regulations and litigation overshadows all other concerns.

I long for the days when people could afford to spend their weekends
at the gliderport sharing this wonderful sport but times have
changed. The policies that founded many clubs were formed in a
different social and economic reality than exist today. Time is no
longer money. Time is worth more than money now.

Matt Michael
Ames Iowa