January 22 issue of Flight School Business

VOL. 9-ISSUE 2-1/22/2019

TRAINING TRENDS

Doing scenic air tours the right way

Does your flight school give “introductory flights,” or does it give “scenic rides”? There’s a difference in how these operations can be conducted. Jason Blair tells you why you should make the extra effort to follow the rules for scenic flights. READ MORE ›

NEWS

Knowledge testing now active

FAA airman knowledge testing is operational again after some delays surrounding the ongoing federal government shutdown. A lack of computer compatibility between the FAA and the knowledge test contractor had temporarily halted this key portion of the certification process. READ MORE ›

Air Safety Institute releases report on fatal flight training accidents

The greatest risks in flight training are loss of control during flight and midair collisions, according to a report on accidents during flight training released Jan. 10 by the AOPA Air Safety Institute and the Liberty University School of Aeronautics. The report examined 240 fatal instruction accidents from 2000 to 2015, and found that the overall accident rate during that time decreased 35 percent. Flight School Business will examine the report in greater depth in a future issue. READ MORE ›

AOPA announces $1 million in scholarships

AOPA will award 100 scholarships of $10,000 each to 80 exceptional high school students and 20 teachers dedicated to advancing aviation education in their classrooms. Scholarship recipients can use their awarded funds to pay direct flight training expenses toward a primary pilot certificate. The application deadline is April 2. READ MORE ›

Teen pilot circles world solo in Piper Lance

An 18-year-old pilot circumnavigated the Earth in his family’s PA-32 Piper Lance during a 76-day solo flight for charity. Flying from July 22 to Oct. 6, 2018, Mason Andrews raised $33,000 for a Louisiana charity. READ MORE ›

Award-winning flight school adds second location

Bravo Flight Training at Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK) in Frederick, Md., is expanding. The flight school is opening a second location at Montgomery County Airpark (GAI) in Gaithersburg, Md. Bravo owner Brenda Tibbs was named 2016 Best Flight Instructor in the AOPA Flight Training Excellence Awards, now known as the Flight Training Experience Awards. Bravo was named a Distinguished Flight School in the 2018 awards, and Tibbs was named a Distinguished Flight Instructor, Northeast Region.

Aviation industry groups urge end to shutdown

AOPA and 33 other aviation organizations are urging elected leaders in Washington, D.C., to resolve the ongoing government shutdown. The shutdown is hampering the aviation sector’s ability to operate efficiently and safely, according to a Jan. 10 letter sent to President Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif), and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky). READ MORE ›

POLL

Government shutdown

Has the federal government shutdown affected operations at your flight school? Please tell us in this week’s poll.

Results

In the Jan. 8, 2019, we wanted to know the likelihood that your flight school would add an E-LSA aircraft to its fleet, should the FAA allow their use in flight training. Here are the results.

<em>Flight School Business</em>

MARKETING

Digital marketing trends of 2019

Is it time to give up Facebook? Not yet. With 2.7 billion users worldwide, Facebook is still a great way to publicize your flight school and engage with your customers. But people are migrating to other social media platforms. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES ›

QUICK TIP

Everyone could use a little financial assistance when learning to fly. Pass along information on scholarships to your customers whenever you can. Mention scholarships in your weekly or monthly flight school emails—include a link where readers can find out more. AOPA’s 2019 flight training scholarship program is offering $1 million to high school students and teachers—you can help to spread the word.

SAFETY

Free teaching tools and more

Did you know the AOPA Air Safety Institute’s programs and resources are free to all pilots—not just AOPA members? Your flight instructors will appreciate access to high-quality teaching tools, including airspace-at-a-glance cards, pilot report forms, and flash cards on runway safety, airspace, and aircraft essentials. Find them and more resources at the ASI website.

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Flight School Business Editor:
Jill W. Tallman

Production Specialist:
Sylvia Horne

Advertising Production Coordinator:
Donna Stoner

AOPA Advertising website