California event seeks to energize GA

The event, called GA Spark, will be held Aug. 23 through 24 in San Carlos, California.

“It’s really a call to action for owners and managers of flight schools, as well as leaders of flying clubs, all of whom are trying to build the industry, get people flying, and survive financially in the process,” said Dan Dyer, owner of San Carlos Flight Center, a flight school based at San Carlos Airport. San Carlos Flight Center was named Best Flight School in the 2013 Flight Training Excellence Awards. “Ideas that help one school to be successful can easily help others do the same thing. Together, we can all make a difference,” he said.

Topics will include ways to bring young people into aviation; empowering volunteers; creating adventure flying events; and building a strong, vibrant sense of community.

Other topics include ways to develop pilot affinity groups to build connections; ways to leverage FAA Safety Seminar programs to differentiate an organization; and the right and wrong ways to use the internet.

Attendees can participate in a full-moon fly-out adventure with the San Francisco Bay Area Fly Out Group, a flying club started by flight instructors looking for ways to engage their students.

Registration is $210 per person, which includes a group dinner, breakfast and lunch, and a T-shirt. Additional members of a flying club or flight school can attend for $120 per person. To register or for more information, see the website.