September 19 2017 issue of Flight School Business

VOL. 7-ISSUE 19-9/19/2017

TRAINING TRENDS

Long time no see

Help your customers stay current (and happy) by taking an active role in tracking their currency dates for flight reviews, recurring rental checkouts, and even solo endorsements, cross-country authorizations, and the time until a knowledge test or endorsement becomes invalid. READ MORE ›

NEWS

Buddy Holly’s secret trainer is for sale

A Cessna Skyhawk flown by Buddy Holly is for sale, along with a logbook documenting three lessons. Holly’s brother, who was a pilot, discovered the logbook and speculated that his brother kept the lessons a secret because his wife would not have approved. The 172 is owned by a retired Alabama lawyer. READ MORE ›

BendixKing enforces radio repair policy

BendixKing rolled out a new factory-only repair and exchange policy Sept. 1 for scores of legacy radio units. Aircraft owners and avionics shops now must send defective gear directly to the New Mexico factory for any type of repair, with a few notable exceptions. READ MORE ›

FAA updating IFR chart formats

The FAA has begun to introduce changes designed to cut down on clutter in standard instrument departure charts, and make it easier for pilots to determine the equipment requirements for instrument approach procedures. READ MORE ›

Colleges evacuate aircraft ahead of Irma

Florida colleges Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach and Aviator College in Fort Pierce flew dozens of airplanes to neighboring Alabama to ride out Hurricane Irma. Embry-Riddle evacuated 62 airplanes to Auburn University Regional Airport (AUO). Meanwhile, Aviator College brought 30 airplanes to Moton Field Municipal Airport (06A) in Tuskegee. A flight instructor at Golden Eagle Aviation said he hoped to take the visiting pilots on a tour of the Tuskegee Airmen National Museum, according to OANow.com.

Tennessee flight school helps Irma relief efforts

A Murfreesboro Aviation student pilot and his flight instructor flew sandbags, bottled water, and baby wipes from Murfreesboro Municipal Airport (MBT) in Tennessee to Jacksonville, Florida, to help a soldier stationed there. Owner Jim Gardner said, “He called me and asked me if I could rent my airplane, but I said no you can’t rent it, but you can borrow it.” Tim Mathisen and Tanner Quigley made a quick stop before returning to Tennessee to remain clear of Hurricane Irma, according to WKRN.com.

POLL

Sept. 11, 2001

On Sept. 11, the nation reflected on the terrorist attacks of 2001. Was your flight school in business that year? Tell us in this week’s poll.

Results

In the Sept. 5, 2017, issue, we wanted to know whether your flight school provides students with the opportunity to meet a designated pilot examiner in advance of a checkride. Here are the results:

<em>Flight School Business</em>

MARKETING

Testimonials

You can adapt any social media strategy for your own use, so long as you pick a successful one. Check out Harv’s Air’s Facebook page, where a “Why I Fly” photo album provides customer testimonials and valuable exposure for the flight school. READ MORE ›

QUICK TIP

Do you think of your employees as a family? Some business experts say you should approach hiring and culture building as if you’re putting together a sports team. You’re strategically placing the best players in particular positions at that period in time. If you can do this well as a coach, your team will attract the best talent.

SAFETY

Good news, bad news (again)

Good news from the latest Joseph T. Nall Report: Training activity has begun to pick up, while instructional accident rates have improved as well. But there’s bad news too: Primary training accounted for a larger share of all fatal fixed-wing instructional accidents. 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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