December 13 2016 issue of Flight School Business

VOL. 6-ISSUE 25-12/13/2016

TRAINING TRENDS

Installed versus available navigation systems

When demonstrating use of a navigation system on a private pilot checkride, can the applicant use a non-installed system such as a portable GPS? The FAA has issued an interpretation of the airman certification standards. READ MORE ›

NEWS

Early 2017 start date for international flight plan form

The FAA says it’s now planning for an early 2017 start date for the mandatory use of the international flight plan form for domestic VFR and IFR flight plans, and is working to update official guidance information for pilots. Information on how to use the form is available on the Flight Service website, and updated guidance will be published later in the Aeronautical Information Manual. READ MORE ›

AOPA names 2017 regional fly-in locations

AOPA has announced the locations for regional fly-ins to be held in 2017. They are Camarillo Airport (CMA), Camarillo, California, April 28 and 29; Max Westheimer Airport (OUN), Norman, Oklahoma, September 8 and 9; Groton-New London Airport (GON), Groton, Connecticut, October 6 and 7; and Peter O. Knight Airport (TPF), Tampa, Florida, October 27 and 28. In 2017 the fly-ins will expand to two-day events with workshops and clinics planned for Fridays. READ MORE ›

Cessna selects 2017 Top Hawk schools

Cessna Aircraft Co. has chosen five new schools to participate in the Top Hawk program, which supplies each university with a custom-branded Cessna Skyhawk and internship opportunities for students. The company chose Auburn University, Eastern Kentucky University, Louisiana Tech University, The Ohio State University, and Southern Illinois University as Top Hawk partners for 2017. Cessna launched the program in 2015. READ MORE ›

Aaron Tippin’s son solos three 1940s classics on sixteenth birthday

Country music singer/songwriter Aaron Tippin is also an active general aviation pilot and certificated flight instructor, and it looks like son Tom is following the same path. Under the watchful eye of his CFI dad, the younger Tippin soloed a Piper J-3 Cub, a Stearman, and a T-6 on his sixteenth birthday. Tom’s older brother Ted studies aeronautical engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. READ MORE ›

Look for the ‘Best of 2016’ edition on Dec. 27

AOPA Flight School Business will publish a compilation edition on Dec. 27, featuring the stories that drew the highest number of reader clicks throughout 2016. From airline pilot training to marketing to women or the things you should know before opening a flight school, these are the stories that caught your eye and drew you in. Flight School Business returns to its regular format with the Jan. 10, 2017, edition.

POLL

Multiengine training

Does your flight school have a twin-engine airplane in its fleet? Take this week’s survey.

Results

In the Nov. 29 issue, we asked whether your flight school offered Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals this year. Here are the results:

<em>Flight School Business</em>

MARKETING

Your daily marketing checklist

Marketing is a daily activity, and you can’t just set up a website or a social media page and wait for the phone to ring. William Woodbury outlines a daily marketing plan that will help you find prospective customers and, more important, help convert them to regular clients. READ MORE ›

QUICK TIP

What does your flight school offer that sets it apart from others? What can you do for clients to help them reach their aviation goals? You can highlight these things in your email newsletter. For example, SunState Aviation, Kissimmee, Florida, reminds customers that "the weather is perfect" in central Florida, so it’s the best destination for pilots who want to finish up a private pilot certificate or instrument rating, or train for a career in aviation.

SAFETY

Need to know

Your customer has 45 hours, but he isn’t signed off to take a checkride—because he isn’t ready. But he may think he’s being strung along to wring more money out of him. The goals of learning what’s needed to pass the checkride and those of teaching what a student needs to know to fly safely don’t always align. How can you show your customer that short-changing training time is a false economy? READ MORE ›

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Flight School Business Editor:
Jill W. Tallman

Production Specialist:
Sylvia Horne

Advertising Production Coordinator:
Donna Stoner

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