August 03 issue of Flight School Business

Flight School Business

VOL. 11-ISSUE 16-August 3, 2021

TRAINING TRENDS

Flight School Spotlight: Chickasha Wings

It started with a simple Cessna 150. Today Chickasha Wings in Oklahoma has nine aircraft, six CFIs, five mechanics, and a slew of happy customers. This flight school has flourished by offering competitive rental and training prices and always keeping customers' needs front and center. READ MORE ›

NEWS

GAMI receives unleaded avgas STC

General Aviation Modifications Inc. (GAMI) announced July 27 it has received two supplemental type certificates authorizing the use of its G100UL high-octane unleaded avgas. One STC covers a limited number of models of Lycoming engines, while the other is for a limited number of Cessna airframes. The STCs represent a significant step in the long path toward the elimination of leaded avgas. READ MORE ›

FAA's Dickson: LODA is a 'four-letter word'

FAA Administrator Steve Dickson told pilots July 29 that he is not any happier "than you are" with the current situation surrounding letters of deviation authority now required for owners of experimental aircraft to receive training from a CFI. Speaking at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Dickson said the FAA does not intend to perform ramp inspections for compliance with LODAs. "Our instructors are not out there conducting active surveillance." READ MORE ›

Redbird offers training, proficiency app

Redbird Flight Simulations wants to help general aviation pilots stay current, keep learning, and make their flight time more effective and enjoyable through a new subscription app called Redbird Pro. The app lets pilots design a custom flight training curriculum and measure their currency and proficiency through online scenarios, maneuvers flown in flight simulators, and quizzes. The app is scheduled for release in the fall with a retail price of $15.99 a month for VFR content and $19.99 a month for VFR and IFR training. READ MORE ›

New Gabriél trainer makes U.S. debut

A sleek new Italian airplane caught the eye of the EAA AirVenture crowd last week. The Blackshape Gabriél 160 Leisure and the higher-end Gabriél bk160TR are being imported by Ameri Aircraft Sales in Houston. The all-carbon-fiber aircraft features tandem seats, retractable landing gear, and a Hartzell three-blade composite constant speed propeller driven by a 160-horsepower Lycoming IO-320. The base Gabriél Leisure is expected to list for $585,000. READ MORE ›

Diamond debuts DA50 RG

Diamond Aircraft debuted its DA50 RG for the first time in North America during EAA AirVenture last week. The airplane is a five-seat, retractable-gear single engine airplane with known icing protection and a Garmin G1000 NXi panel. It burns Jet A thanks to a 300-horsepower Continental CD-300 engine. The AirVenture appearance kicks off the airplane’s North American tour, set to begin in earnest in September. READ MORE ›

POLL

Partnerships with schools and colleges

Does your flight school have partnerships with local schools and colleges? Tell us in this week's poll.

Results

In the July 20, 2021, poll we wanted to know the average monthly hours on your primary training airplanes. Here are the results:

MARKETING

Back to the grind?

Is your flight school at full speed once again? That's great. But it can't be business as usual—not just yet. Consider your employees and your customers as you reopen, and keep programs in place that will help if the COVID-19 virus takes another pass through the industry. READ MORE >

QUICK TIP

Things are back to normal at your business—for now. If we've learned anything from 2020, it's that the only thing certain about the future is that it's uncertain, so it's important to prepare for that. Now's the time to assess, reorganize, re-prioritize, and re-imagine critical business infrastructure, crisis plans, and resources to ensure you're set up for success. Read how to do that in this article from Constant Contact.

SAFETY

'There I Was': Prop strike

While flying out of a backcountry airstrip near Johannesburg in South Africa, pilot and YouTube personality Thomas Marrow experienced a prop strike in his Safari Kitplane. Find out what happened in Episode 36 of the AOPA Air Safety Institute podcast There I Was. Listen here.

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Flight School Business Editor:
Jill W. Tallman

Production Specialist:
Sylvia Horne

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Donna Stoner

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