November 29 2016 issue of Flight School Business

VOL. 6-ISSUE 24-11/29/2016

TRAINING TRENDS

Flight School Spotlight: Bountiful Flight

Outstanding introductory flights yield steady business

A great introductory flight can transform a doubtful customer into an enthusiastic student pilot. Bountiful Flight School in Woods Cross, Utah, doesn’t leave anything to chance. The flight school selects, trains, and monitors its flight instructors to ensure they are representing the company in the best possible way, according to Assistant Chief/Program Manager Joe Hoggan. The CFIs tailor each flight experience to meet a customer’s needs and desires—and they find out that information by asking "simple but genuine" questions about the customer’s goals, dreams, and prior experience. "Then we listen and take notes," Hoggan says. Each intro flight concludes with an invitation to move forward with the pursuit of flying. READ MORE ›

NEWS

New circular pattern studied

The University of North Dakota, in partnership with the AOPA Air Safety Institute, is studying the use of a continuous turning approach, or "circular pattern," as an alternative to the traditional "box" or rectangular traffic pattern. The two organizations are exploring how simple procedural and training methodology changes in the landing pattern might improve safety and reduce loss-of-control accidents. George Perry, senior vice president of the Air Safety Institute, said general aviation has been flying the rectangular pattern for decades, "and based on substantial loss-of-control incident data in the landing pattern, we believe it’s time to conduct research to determine if there is a potentially safer alternative." READ MORE ›

Twin training tool

Teaching in a twin-engine aircraft means a CFI must be on top of the airplane and attentive at all times. Help your multiengine flight instructors to acquire this level of proficiency from other experienced multiengine pilots. In Taming the Twin: Four Rules for Safe Multiengine Flying, the AOPA Air Safety Institute explores what pilots can do to ensure a safe outcome on every multiengine flight. Share this video with your CFIs.

GA loss of control on NTSB ‘most wanted’ list for third year

Despite a continued improvement in the general aviation safety record, the NTSB Nov. 14 targeted GA loss of control on its Most Wanted list of transportation safety improvements for the third year. The NTSB said, "better training on how to eliminate distraction, avoid stalls, and manage weather issues will put pilots back in control and give them better command of their outcomes." READ MORE ›

GA aircraft shipments slipped in third quarter

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association’s third-quarter report of industry shipment and billing figures noted a 3.5-percent worldwide decline in airplane shipments from the same period in 2015. There were 1,504 units shipped in the first nine months of 2016, compared to 1,558 units in 2015. GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce said the decline reflects the instability of the used aircraft market coupled with complicating global economic and geopolitical factors. READ MORE ›

NTSB calls for training after midairs

The investigations of two midair collisions about six weeks apart in 2015 led the NTSB to conclude air traffic controllers erred in both cases. The safety agency urged the FAA and contract tower operators to use the crashes in South Carolina and California as object lessons with which to train controllers. Safety recommendations and findings released Nov. 15 included advice for pilots. READ MORE ›

POLL

Black Friday specials

U.S. consumers spent more than $3 billion during Black Friday, and were projected to spend another $3 billion on Cyber Monday. Did you offer Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals this year? Take this week’s survey.

Results

In the Nov. 15 issue, we wanted to know what type of relationship your business has with administrators at your airport. Here are the results:

<em>Flight School Business</em>

MARKETING

Selling a niche product

Your flight school may not be as exotic as a store that sells tools for left-handed people, but flight training is a specialized industry. Marketing strategies that would work well for a coffee shop most likely wouldn’t be suitable for your flight school. That’s why it’s worth looking to other niche businesses for tips on getting customers to your front door, or your website. READ MORE ›

QUICK TIP

Are you a list maker? Never add new tasks to the top of your list—only to the bottom. Complete what you are doing first. Keep your action list to 10 items or fewer so that you can be assured you’ll focus on them and complete them.

SAFETY

Squawk the squawk

When would you prefer your flight instructors (or solo students) squawk an aircraft rather than fly it with something not quite right? You might not let a failed vacuum pump scrub a daylight VFR flight around the pattern or to the practice area, but would you want that airplane dispatched on a cross-country? 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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