I've been in touch with folks in Australia recently. Apparently, unlike in the US, the HGFA has a lot to say about whether any one can become an instructor. You have to jump through a lot of HGFA hoops before you can become an instructor. In the US is appears to be a lot easier.

I was speaking with Jonny Durand and he said that one problem was the almost all instructors quit instruction and just do tandems. This is definitely not true at http://www.hangglidequeensland.com.au/ where Jonny works sometimes, nor at http://air-sports.com.au/ with Tony Barton or at http://www.dynamicflight.com.au/index.html with Rohan Holtkamp or http://www.hangglide.com.au/index.html with Shaun Wallace, for example But you'll find that there are very few true hang gliding instruction outfits in all of Australia.

But the problem as Jonny pointed out many instructors soon learn that there is a lot more money in doing tandems than in doing instruction. When there is a competition for the scarce resources (hang gliding instructors), doing tandems is taking away resources that could be used for instruction.

This reminds me of the problem with paragliding, especially in Europe, where hang gliding instruction has collapsed because instructors could make a lot more money instructing paragliding and then selling paragliding equipment.

I'm trying to encourage the spread of a hang gliding instruction business model that can provide adequate income for the individual instructor. Matt Taber has pointed out how one who can afford to see the big picture (a larger operation) can make money from hang gliding instruction. Some people seem to be listening.

Discuss Tandem at the Oz Report forum
   
 
 
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