October 11 issue of Flight School Business

Flight School Business

VOL. 12-ISSUE 21-October 11, 2022

TRAINING TRENDS

Flight School Spotlight: Giving Wings Aviation

Giving Wings Aviation, a flight school in Traverse City, Michigan, sits on the shore of East Arm Grand Traverse Bay, an inlet of Lake Michigan. Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) provides an optimal location for flight training, as the lake offers stunning views and allows the Giving Wings team to add seaplane training to their extensive list of offered instruction. The organization has experienced significant growth over the past three years under the leadership of owner Eric Nuffer and Chief Flight Instructor Sara Lorenz. READ MORE ›

NEWS

Airline hiring approaches new record

August was the second best month on record for airline hiring. The 12 major airlines hired 1,169 pilots. Flight schools are seeing student populations swell as airlines grapple with the ongoing pilot shortage. ATP Flight School said it has expanded from 41 locations to 73 training centers nationwide. Meanwhile, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University hit a 20-year high in enrollment in its aeronautical science program between its campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona. READ MORE ›

Still time to participate in Flight Training Experience Survey

The deadline to submit responses to the Flight School Experience Survey is October 31—just 20 days away. Don't miss out! Encourage your customers to complete the survey at this link so that they can provide valuable feedback about your operation and become eligible to win a prize. Not sure why you should get involved in the Flight School Experience Survey? Listen to this episode of Flight School Connector, where AOPA's Chris Moser and Stephen Schroder tell you all about the survey, what things are new this year, what's in it for you and your customers, and how to get the most out of it.

Thousands of hours flown with AOPA Flight Training Advantage

The AOPA Flight Training Advantage program (AFTA) hit a milestone recently—more than 5,000 hours of instruction have been flown using AFTA's tools and capabilities. AFTA is a web portal and iPad-based training platform designed to enhance and streamline the flight training experience for students, flight instructors, and flight schools. More than 1,200 flight schools are using AFTA, and the program is free for AOPA members. READ MORE ›

FAA credits additional military flight experience toward air carrier qualification

The FAA has issued a final rule expanding credit for military flight operations that pilots may use toward airline transport pilot certificate minimums and FAR Part 121 pilot in command qualifications. The rule allows military pilots to credit up to 250 hours flown in a powered lift aircraft toward the time required for an initial airline transport pilot certificate. Previously, pilots of powered lift aircraft were required to obtain the 250 hours of PIC time in the airplane category. The rule takes effect October 21. READ MORE ›

CommuteAir raises pilot pay

CommuteAir, the sole Embraer ERJ-145 operator for United Express, announced a rebrand along with pay raises and other incentives to fuel what it calls its aggressive growth strategy. A new union contract offers higher hourly pay and annual bonuses up to $50,000 for new hires, along with travel and other benefits designed to help the company compete for the increasingly scarce supply of qualified pilots. The regional carrier has been operating United Express flights since 2011 and became its sole operator after United Airlines ended its affiliation with ExpressJet in July 2020. READ MORE ›

POLL

Flight Training Experience Survey

Have you ever promoted participation in AOPA’s Flight Training Experience Survey to your flight school customers? Tell us in this week's survey.

Results

In the September 27, 2022, issue we wanted to know whether your flight school markets a professional pilot program. Here are the results:

MARKETING

Showcasing new technology gives flight school a media boost

Hartford Jet Center, Hartford, Connecticut, and Learn 2 Fly CT hit it out of the park when showcasing a new electric airplane for local news media. The story hit all the right notes for general aviation: cutting-edge technology and an airplane that flies on an electric battery that doesn’t run on aviation fuel. READ MORE >

QUICK TIP

e-Commerce continues to be a strong trend for small businesses in 2022 and beyond. If you have an e-commerce store, make sure it is up to date with the latest products, offers, and deals. Consider adding bundles to the inventory: a student pilot bundle with FAR/AIM; an instrument pilot bundle with view-limiting device; a Back-to-the-Left-Seat bundle for the returning pilot.

SAFETY

AOPA Air Safety Institute releases early analysis video of Reno air race crash

ASI Senior Vice President Richard McSpadden provides early analysis of an accident on September 18, when an Aero Vodochody L-29 Super Delfin crashed at the Stihl National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada. In this video, the AOPA Air Safety Institute makes a preliminary assessment of the accident, addressing notable portions of the tragic flight and highlighting areas the NTSB will likely investigate to determine a probable cause. View the video here.

421 Aviation Way Frederick, MD 21701
800-872-2672
301-695-2375 Fax

Send Feedback | Unsubscribe | FSB Archive | Subscribe

Flight School Business Editor:
Jill W. Tallman

Production Specialist:
Sylvia Horne

Advertising and Sales Specialist:
Donna Stoner

AOPA Advertising website