June 6 issue of Flight School Business

Flight School Business

VOL. 13-ISSUE 12-June 6, 2023

TRAINING TRENDS

Flight School Spotlight: FCA Flight Center

Former corporate pilot Jim Powell switched to general aviation and flight instructing and loved it so much he bought the flight school where he was a CFI. Crafting a culture where flight instructors take training seriously but know when to have fun with clients is one of his passions, as is maintaining strong ties with the local community. READ MORE ›

NEWS

Long-sought changes to instructor certification proposed

The FAA proposed a package of changes to flight instructor certification regulations on May 23—including removal of certificate expiration dates. AOPA has been petitioning for these changes since 1999. The FAA proposes to revise FAR 61.197(a) to add a sixth method by which a CFI can renew their certificate. The FAA also proposes to recast existing renewal requirements as recent experience requirements. Instead of a flight instructor renewing their flight instructor certificate every 24 calendar months, a flight instructor would need to establish recent experience at least once every 24 calendar months. READ MORE ›

FAA removes more aeromedical barriers for mental health concerns

The FAA announced May 31 that pilots who are taking an antidepressant will no longer have to undergo routine follow-up neuropsychological examinations in order to continue flying. The agency also approved the use of Wellbutrin XL, and said it is reviewing additional medications for possible approval. READ MORE ›

Congress passes notam bill

Legislation that would establish a task force on improving notices to air missions—and require the FAA to develop and implement a new notam system—is headed to President Biden's desk. H.R.346 requires the FAA to create a task force—consisting of aviation industry professionals, safety experts, and unions—to review existing methods for publishing notams to pilots. The group would examine regulations, policies, and systems to provide informed recommendations to Congress. The bill also sets a deadline for the FAA to implement the new notam system and a backup. READ MORE ›

Embry-Riddle Prescott campus wins national safety competition

The team from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's campus in Prescott, Arizona, took home the national championship title from this year’s National Intercollegiate Flying Association Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference. SafeCon is an annual event that pits the top collegiate aviation teams against each other in a series of ground and air competitions. This year’s event took place in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. READ MORE ›

DeltaHawk jet-fueled piston engine gets FAA certification

DeltaHawk Engines announced May 18 that its jet-fueled piston aircraft engine has received FAA certification. The 180-horsepower DHK180 is said to be 40 percent more fuel efficient than engines burning avgas. It is slimmer and smaller than a traditional piston engine, and will operate on both Jet A and sustainable aviation jet fuels, DeltaHawk said. READ MORE ›

POLL

How many hours to solo?

Student pilots always want to know how many hours it will take them to solo. Even though this relies on many factors, flight schools will often throw out a ballpark number of hours to give customers an idea. What's your ballpark? Tell us in this week's poll.

Results

In the May 23, 2023, issue, we wanted to know if your flight school has a simulator of any type. Here are the results.

MARKETING

Are you wasting your introductory flights?

Most local flight schools and many flying clubs offer introductory flights. Are these discounted flights effective at getting you new customers? Many flight schools will say no, but William Woodbury examines one California flight school that offers a new and effective twist on the old way of introducing potential customers to flight. READ MORE >

QUICK TIP

If you are planning a website refresh for 2023, make sure that your website is mobile-friendly. Google has a free tool you can use. You can increase page loading speed by using smaller images, minimizing the code, and reducing the number of redirects. And you'll want to optimize the site for voice search—according to Google, 27 percent of the global population uses voice search on mobile. Read the full article on Marketsplash.com.

SAFETY

Early Analysis: Piper PA-25 banner tow crash May 17, 2023

On May 17, a Piper PA-25 Pawnee towing a billboard banner crashed over Hollywood, Florida. The pilot—the sole occupant on board the airplane—died in the accident. The pilot had picked up the banner from North Perry Airport and was headed to fly it along the beach near the Miami coast. In Early Analysis: Piper PA-25 Banner Tow crash May 17, 2023, 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 online.

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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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