February 28 issue of Flight School Business

Flight School Business

VOL. 13-ISSUE 5-February 28, 2023

TRAINING TRENDS

2023 Flight Training Experience regional winners announced

Six flight schools and six flight instructors have been tapped as the best in their respective regions, according to the results of AOPA's 2023 Flight Training Experience Survey. Thirty-two flight schools and 65 instructors earned distinguished awards. Is your school on the list? READ MORE ›

NEWS

Continental engine issue prompts airworthiness directive

The FAA issued an airworthiness directive February 23 that requires owners of aircraft with certain Continental Aerospace Technologies engines to inspect the crankshaft assembly. Some 1,632 aircraft will need to be inspected. The issue came to light earlier this month when Cirrus Aircraft opted to ground its fleet of SR22 and SR22T models equipped with one of the Continental engine models subject to a service bulletin and now an AD. READ MORE ›

Aircraft shipments, billing up in 2022

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported increases in aircraft billing and shipments in 2022 as compared to 2021. Cirrus was the big performer in the piston market, closing out 2022 with a 19.3 percent increase in shipments and 20.9 percent increase in billing year over year. It wasn’t all roses for everybody, however: The business jet category emerged with just 0.3 percent growth in shipments compared to 2021. READ MORE ›

Spar inspection results raise FAA concern

The FAA pushed back on commenters seeking to reduce the scope of an airworthiness directive to inspect wing spar components on certain Cessna 210 and 177 models, citing the results of inspections performed to date. The final AD takes effect March 20 and requires some 3,421 U.S. registered aircraft to be subject to visual and eddy current inspections of the lower wing spar carrythrough cap. READ MORE ›

AOPA fights anti-helicopter legislation in Hawaii

Bills pending in the Hawaii House and Senate would establish a path for individuals to sue helicopter owners and operators for causing a "public nuisance." AOPA and the Helicopter Association International are concerned about the legislation. If enacted, the bills would set a precedent allowing other local communities to create regulations that conflict with the FAA, which has preemptive authority to regulate airspace. READ MORE ›

Florida flight school gives international tour on flight training in the United States

Florida is headquarters for many flight schools that offer training to international students. Florida Flyers Flight Academy in St. Augustine will conduct an international tour in March to explain its programs to prospective flight students. The flight school plans to hold seminars in Frankfurt, Germany; Cairo, Egypt; Mumbai and New Delhi in India; and Hanoi, Vietnam. Florida Flyers Flight Academy has trained more than 5,000 U.S. and international flight students, and says its first-attempt pass rate is more than 90 percent.

POLL

Payment options

How many different payment options does your flight school offer? Tell us in this week's poll.

Results

In the February 14, 2023, issue, we wanted to know if your flight school sells gift certificates. Here are the results:

MARKETING

Supercharge your marketing with AI

Not just another technology fad, artificial intelligence could radically change the way you communicate with your flight school's customers, manage your finances, keep abreast of industry changes, and use data to make important decisions. William Woodbury explains how chatbots and other AI functions are going to become the GPS of marketing for aviation. READ MORE >

QUICK TIP

Different age groups prefer to pay in different ways. Small business resources provider Clover recommends you make it easy for all your customers to purchase from you by allowing them to pay for their items or services the way they most prefer. That means accepting credit and debit cards, mobile wallets, cash, check, or gift card. "Giving your customers more payment options helps provide a seamless shopping experience and increases the likelihood that they’ll return," Clover said.

SAFETY

Request a safety expert for your event

Are you looking for a dynamic and effective speaker for your next aviation event? The AOPA Air Safety Institute would like to help bring you an outstanding and relevant safety message to your audience. We have many topics to choose from, or you can submit your own. Request a speaker to start the process.

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Flight School Business Editor: Jill W. Tallman	Production Specialist: Sylvia Horne	Advertising and Sales Specialist: Donna Stoner AOPA Advertising website
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