April 13 issue of Flight School Business

Flight School Business

VOL. 11-ISSUE 8-April 13, 2021

TRAINING TRENDS

Flight School Spotlight: WaterWings Seaplanes

A diverse menu of specialized training, including seaplane ratings to be had in a Grumman Widgeon, helps this flight school stand out from its competitors. But its owner says attention to detail—such as returning calls in a timely fashion and hosting a well-designed website—helps WaterWings Seaplanes remain successful. READ MORE ›

NEWS

FAA can end ACS logjam, groups say

The FAA can get back to its long-stalled effort to publish new airman certification standards, now that the Department of Transportation has removed obstacles that froze the project in 2019, aviation groups told FAA Administrator Steve Dickson. The groups urged the FAA April 1 to make the publication of ACS volumes an agency priority. READ MORE ›

United Airlines plans to open flight school in hiring push

United Airlines began accepting applications for its flight academy on April 6, part of a push to hire 10,000 pilots by 2030. The airline acquired a flight school in 2020 but had to postpone training because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has also said it will start hiring pilots again, starting with 300 candidates whose hiring process was halted by the pandemic, according to CNBC.

AME guidance released for pilots who have had COVID-19

The FAA on March 26 released much-anticipated guidance to aviation medical examiners about how to handle medical certificate applications from pilots and air traffic control specialists who have had confirmed cases of COVID-19. As long as the pilot or ATC specialist is otherwise qualified, an AME can issue a medical certificate when the person who had a confirmed case of COVID-19 has fully recovered and was asymptomatic or had a mild infection, had a prolonged infection but was not hospitalized, or was hospitalized but did not require intensive care. READ MORE ›

Simulated clouds in real aircraft

A Wisconsin National Guard helicopter pilot with a degree in aeronautical engineering has created a simple device that could dramatically improve training, priming every pilot who uses it to transition without hesitation to basic attitude instrument control. The Icarus attaches to a helmet or visor, and features a face shield with variable opacity that is under another pilot's control. READ MORE ›

POLL

Seaplane training

Does your flight school offer seaplane training? Tell us in this week's poll.

Results

In the March 30 poll, we asked you whether you plan to offer kids' aviation camps in 2021. Here are the results:

MARKETING

Birthdays and bucket lists

Birthdays and bucket lists can help flight schools can get free advertising in the local media. Jill W. Tallman highlights three examples involving senior citizens taking to the skies to celebrate a milestone birthday or because it’s something they always wanted to do. READ MORE >

QUICK TIP

Looking for feedback on your business? Don't be afraid to ask staff, or even friends or family questions on what they think the business could do better, Lauren Pearson suggests on Sage Advice. "Often employees are instinctively aware of issues (and solutions) in the business, while those with an outside perspective can share ideas that you may not have thought of previously," she says.

SAFETY

ASI presents video series on loss of control during ground ops

From ground loops to veer-offs and everything between, loss of control during ground operations is the second most costly item to insurers. But why do pilots lose control on the ground (LOC-G)? A new video series from the AOPA Air Safety Institute explores the different types of loss-of-control issues on the ground, what’s likely causing them, and what you can do to prevent them. Also, learn how discipline during approach, landing, and ground operations can save a lot of grief and money. See the first installment online.

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Flight School Business Editor:
Jill W. Tallman

Production Specialist:
Sylvia Horne

Advertising and Sales Specialist:
Donna Stoner

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