January 07 issue of Flight School Business

Flight School Business

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VOL. 10-ISSUE 1-January 7, 2020

TRAINING TRENDS

Flight School Spotlight: Sierra Charlie Aviation

Scottsdale, Arizona-based Sierra Charlie Aviation is proving that operating a fleet of matching new airplanes is the logical choice for flight schools that are serious about earning a profit. READ MORE ›

NEWS

Flying under ADS-B rules

It's 2020, and—surprise!—the FAA's ADS-B Out mandate has gone into effect. If your aircraft are not equipped, you're not necessarily shut out of the airspace—but you will have some extra work to do. READ MORE ›

FAA investigating Blackbird air transportation digital service

The FAA is investigating the operation of BlackBird Air, an online marketplace that brings together commercial pilots and aircraft with people seeking air transportation through an app. The agency warned the pilots listed in the BlackBird database may face "jeopardy." READ MORE ›

OpenAirplane shuts down

OpenAirplane, an initiative aimed at streamlining the airplane checkout process and getting more pilots flying, has shut down. Cofounder Rod Rakic said pilots were excited at the prospect of making aircraft rental more like renting a car, but they did not fly more hours per year as they had indicated. READ MORE ›

FSANA to hold 2020 conference in Las Vegas

The Flight School Association of North America will hold its annual conference February 19 through 21 in Las Vegas. The conference will include multiple education tracks designed to meet the increased demand for additional content in the ever-changing world of flight training. New for 2020 is a mentor session that gives attendees who are interested in starting or have just started a new school the opportunity to meet with flight school owners and managers. To learn more or to register, see the website.

POLL

New aircraft

This week's Training Trend focuses on acquiring brand-new aircraft as a sales and marketing tool. How likely are you to acquire a new airplane in 2020? Tell us in this week's poll.

Results

In the December 10, 2019, survey we wanted to know how your flight school performed in 2019 as compared to 2018. Here are the results.

MARKETING

The importance of a motto

What’s your flight school’s motto? What, you don’t have one? Ed Helmick says you’re missing out on an opportunity to motivate your staff and mold your company culture. READ MORE >

QUICK TIP

The best time to apply for a business loan, line of credit, or other business financing product is when you don’t need it. Banks and lenders love a small business that has strong and growing coffers, not those that are experiencing a downturn, according to Jared Hecht writing in Forbes. Look for affordable interest rates and terms that will pay dividends down the road. See more budget tips here.

SAFETY

Is final clear?

The runway is an airplane's most critical component, which makes it an airport's busiest area. Help your customers stay safe near the runway environment with the AOPA Air Safety Institute's free online course, Runway Safety. The course provides FAA WINGS credit and is optimized for the iPad. Find it online.

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Flight School Business Editor:
Jill W. Tallman

Production Specialist:
Sylvia Horne

Advertising Production Coordinator:
Donna Stoner

AOPA Advertising website