March 22 2016, issue of ‘Flight School Business’ newsletter

News

Airport/facility directory gets new name

The little green books that are sold in many flight schools are about to get a new name. As of March 31, airport/facility directories will be known as Chart Supplement U.S. All of the information provided in the publication will remain the same, and they’ll still be updated every 56 days. Read more >>

Join us at Sun ’n Fun

Meet the AOPA Flight Training Initiative team at the Flight School Social at Sun ’n Fun in Lakeland, Florida. Learn how to get your flight school and CFIs recognized in the upcoming 2016 Flight Training Excellence Awards—our presentation will feature results from the 2015 Flight Training Poll and tips from last year’s winners. Food and beverages will be provided, along with an opportunity to chat with other flight schools and AOPA staff. Take this opportunity to share successes and work together to build a stronger flight training industry. The social will be held at 5:30 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, April 7, at the AOPA Program Pavilion. Register here >>

New flight school opens in Virginia

A new flight school has opened its doors at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) in Roanoke, Virginia. Star Flight Training offers primary and advanced training in a fleet of five Diamond aircraft. Owner Danny Kane has operated flight schools previously and also owns a repair shop at the airport, according to The Roanoke Times.

Learn about award-winning customer service

Customer service is crucial in the flight training industry, and so is knowing where you stand with your clients. Join the upcoming Flight School Business webinar to learn the background behind the AOPA Flight Training Excellence Awards, find out what flight students are saying about our industry, and get tips on how you can succeed in the 2016 Flight Training Excellence Awards. The webinar is at 8 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, March 30. Register here >>

Commercial airline service won’t disrupt OSU students’ training

Oklahoma State University aviation students, instructors, and administrators said they welcome the arrival of commercial airline service to Stillwater Regional Airport (SWO). There will be more air traffic, but it won’t get in the way of the OSU flight program’s operations, flight instructor Jessica Dobie told The O’Colly, a student newspaper. Envoy Air is set to start daily roundtrip service to Dallas in August.

AFIT opens location in Maryland

Accelerated Flight & Instrument Training (AFIT) has opened a new location in Hagerstown, Maryland. Joe Baginski will manage the location, AFIT Chief Executive Officer Tony Montalte said. Baginski is an ATP and CFII for single- and multiengine aircraft with more than 13,000 flight hours. He formerly flew for the airlines and as a bush pilot, and was a helicopter pilot for the U.S. Army. Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, AFIT has instructors at 48 locations around the United States.

Embry-Riddle, Universal Helicopters continue partnership

Universal Helicopters will continue to provide helicopter training to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University students at the Prescott, Arizona, campus after the two organizations agreed to extend their 2010 partnership. More than 150 ERAU students have received helicopter training in Universal’s fleet of Robinson R22 and R44 aircraft. The program takes students from zero time through a flight instructor certificate.

Training Trends

Are your CFIs ambassadors or plumbers?

Do your flight instructors keep things going on a day-to-day basis—or are they true ambassadors who wear their professionalism for all to see? General aviation needs more ambassadors, and in this article William Woodbury tells you how you can help your instructors make their jobs more fulfilling. Read more >>

Poll

Hiring CFIs

With the surge in airline hiring, many flight schools are reporting that it’s difficult to find flight instructors to replace those who have moved on. What’s your experience? Tell us in this week’s poll. >>

Results

In the last issue, we wanted to know who will be issuing student pilot certificates beginning April 1. Here are the results:

Marketing

Spring training: Marketing for the season

It’s time to think about how you can get your customers out of hibernation. Ed Helmick provides some easy-to-implement ideas that will bring business to your door and keep your flight instructors busy. Read more >>

Quick tip

The aviation insurance marketplace has an excess of supply right now, which means premiums are competitive. Is it time to shop for a higher level of liability for your flight school? Flight schools can get more coverage for the same amount or even less than what they would have paid five years ago, according to a broker who addressed the Flight School Association of North America conference in February.

Safety

Why bother taking off?

An average of three pilots a month are involved in accidents that occur between the ramp and the runway. And as flight school owners know all too well, ground accidents translate to down time and increased insurance rates. How can you help prevent them from happening? Read more >>

Editor: Jill W. Tallman

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