I have never understood the line of thinking that says that someone should go broke, lose his house, car, and jeapordize his whole financial future in the name of some imagined 'code' among aviators. A couple of things:
1-LIFE is supply and demand. The guy who can provide it faster, cheaper, and everywhere will always have an advantage. Flight training, as we all know, costs a ton.
2-The cost: I charge 15/hr for Private students because that's my cut from a flight school I also work at, after the school takes it's 17/hr (32/hr for dual). I FREELANCE on the side, flying with guys who are training for fun, to buy their own plane, etc. I save them 17+ per hour, the AC owner carries the insurance. I set my own rate, and I have to compete with schools (like the one I work at) that have tons of planes, mechanics, and CFI's but who charge much more.
3-I have to freelance on the side to make SOME money, since instructing at the school takes most of my day but pays me nothing in the end. I am doing whatever I can to make ends meet, build time, and keep flying. How can you presume to fault me for that? What other option do you propose I consider?
I have a very SMALL load of freelance students, most are friends. How anyone could look at what I'm doing as undercutting other CFIs or pilots is to me, well, just plain nuts.
rock on
UP