January 6 2022 Flight School business newsletter

Flight School Business

VOL. 12-ISSUE 1-January 4, 2022

TRAINING TRENDS

Flight School Spotlight: Ridgeline Aviation

Grayson Sperry bought an airplane, quit his job, and started a flight school. Just four years later, his one-man, one-airplane flight school occupies 15,000 square feet with plans to expand to 40,000, has two locations, and operates multiple airplanes on a charter certificate. Now he can also claim it’s the best in the Northwest Mountain region.(Photo courtesy Ridgeline Aviation.) READ MORE ›

NEWS

FAA investigates safety issues in Santa Clara, California

The FAA is investigating ongoing safety issues in Santa Clara County, California, including its rushed ban of 100LL fuel as of January 1, as it considers possible violations of federal law. Aviation groups, as well as local pilots and airport-based businesses, have shown that the ban carries significant safety risks as it does not provide a safe transition to unleaded fuel. READ MORE ›

Learn about legal issues for flight schools in this week's 'Flight School Connector'

Could a legal issue catch you off guard as a flight school owner or manager? On the next "Flight School Connector" webinar, AOPA Legal Plan attorney Chad Mayer will guide you through the ins and outs of common legal issues that could potentially trouble your flight school. The webinar will be held Wednesday, January 5, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern time. Click here to submit questions. Register to attend the webinar here.

New aviation scholarship available to students in the Midwest

A longtime flight instructor and avid supporter of general aviation is being remembered through a scholarship, keeping his name and legacy alive for future generations of aviation students. The Edward B. Shafer Future of Flight Scholarship Endowment Fund will provide a $5,000 annual scholarship to be awarded to an individual pursuing a career in aviation, including aerospace engineering; flying professionally as an airline pilot, corporate pilot, etc.; flight instruction; aircraft maintenance; and airport management. READ MORE ›

Flight training amendment not included in final defense bill

A bipartisan provision supported by the entire general aviation community and included in the House National Defense Authorization Act to address the FAA's misguided and revised interpretation of flight training policy was not included in the final legislative package, as a tumultuous year-end flurry of activity in the Senate left many unrelated defense items on the cutting room floor. READ MORE ›

Pan Am Flight Academy expands facilities in Miami

Pan Am Flight Academy is moving eight simulators and its operations team to a new 64,000-square-foot facility in Miami. The 22 simulator bays in the new facility, coupled with the flight school's existing bays, will increase total simulator bay capacity to 36 full flight simulators. The company currently operates 20 simulators among its three Miami locations. Pan Am Flight Academy has operated in Miami since 1980, according to a news release.

POLL

Goals for 2022

What are your flight school's goals for 2022? Tell us in this week's poll.

Results

In the December 7, 2021, poll, we wanted to know whether your flight offers training in a tailwheel (conventional gear) aircraft. Here are the results:

MARKETING

Finding free advertising

A positive newspaper or TV story about your business could be worth thousands of dollars in free advertising. How do you uncover these opportunities? Ed Helmick says you need look no further than the human interest stories at your own flight school, and shows you how to get those stories to the right people. READ MORE >

QUICK TIP

Gig workers? For once the aviation industry has a leg up on the rest of the world: Flight schools have been using independent services of flight instructors for years. A business consultant says the number of gig workers, freelancers, and contractors has grown exponentially over the last few years and this share of the job market will continue to grow in 2022. That's an opportunity for your small business to bring in more specialized freelance workers to carry out tasks without having to deal with the hiring and training costs often associated with recruiting a full-time employee, said Eden Cheng, co-founder of PeopleFinderFree, as quoted on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce website.

SAFETY

'There I was': Genesah Duffy and Lynn McNorton

In Episode 42 of the AOPA Air Safety Institute's popular podcast, Lynn McNorton and Genesah Duffy describe their chance encounter in Tampa Bay just south of Peter O. Knight Airport. After experiencing engine trouble in his Mooney M20M, McNorton was forced to ditch the airplane in the bay. Duffy was nearby in an Icon A5 and was able to land in the water to render assistance. Listen to the podcast.

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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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