June 13 2017 issue of Flight School Business

VOL. 7-ISSUE 12-6/13/2017

TRAINING TRENDS

Removing the obstacles

Air Fleet Training Systems, Fairfield, New Jersey, goes the extra mile for customer convenience. A keyless electronic access system and special dispatch procedures serve clients who like to fly at night or early in the morning. For non-U.S. citizens, the flight school offers authorized fingerprint collection services. There’s a shuttle bus to carry clients to and from the nearest public transit station. In-house maintenance provides the ultimate level of convenience. READ MORE ›

NEWS

AOPA expresses concern about Trump’s ATC plan

AOPA President and CEO Mark Baker expressed dismay June 5 over President Donald Trump’s characterization of the U.S. air traffic control system as being “an ancient, broken, horrible system that doesn’t work” during his remarks calling for the privatization of the system. READ MORE ›

Reversed fuel selector placards prompt FAA attention

Got a Piper PA-28 in your fleet? The FAA wants you to take a good look at the fuel selector cover. The agency said it has received a report of a fuel selector cover with left and right fuel tank placards reversed. READ MORE ›

BendixKing legacy repairs to be factory-driven

If your fleet has legacy BendixKing navigation or communication components, nearly all the units will soon be required to be sent to the factory for exchange or repair. A new repair policy takes effect July 1 that eliminates field repairs performed by avionics shops. READ MORE ›

Turbo Skyhawk earns certification, notes performance gains

The diesel-powered Cessna Turbo Skyhawk JT-A has been certified in the United States and Europe, and is exceeding some initial performance targets, Textron Aviation said. The airplane achieved an improved range of 963 nautical miles, an increase of 78 nautical miles over original estimates, the company said. READ MORE ›

Ohio flight school adds drone repair services

Flamingo Air, Cincinnati, Ohio, has added drone repair services to its Worker Bee division. The division will fix drones and teach others to repair them with a new drone repair and maintenance course. The five-day certification program includes basic and advanced theory, tools, troubleshooting, a maintenance lab, and instruction on building a DJI drone from basic components. In addition to flight training, Flaming Air conducts avionics training and an aircraft dispatch certification school, according to a news release.

POLL

Are you hiring?

With the regional airlines scooping up pilots, some flight schools are struggling to hire CFIs. Has the pilot shortage hit your instructor ranks? Tell us in this week’s poll.

Results

In the May 30, 2017, issue, we asked whether your flight school charges for cancelled/missed lessons. Here are the results:

<em>Flight School Business</em>

MARKETING

Fly to the sun: Plan a solar eclipse fly-out

On Aug. 21, the United States will experience a total solar eclipse. Organize a fly-out that will show your customers the ultimate utility of a pilot certificate: Pilots can fly wherever they want to view something as spectacular as an eclipse. READ MORE ›

QUICK TIP

Hesitant to delegate work? Start slowly. For instance, spend a weekend away from the flight school and divide tasks among a few different employees. When you get back, analyze their performance. If they had problems or didn’t do the job you expected, sit down with them and find out where the problems occurred. See more tips here.

SAFETY

‘Kids, don’t try this at home’

Simulated emergencies are riskier than ordinary flight and should not be initiated without proper planning. Situations that compromise airworthiness exist just one step from real emergencies. CFIs must make sure their students know these maneuvers aren’t OK to do just for fun. 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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