January 19 issue of Flight School Business

Flight School Business

VOL. 11-ISSUE 2-January 19, 2021

TRAINING TRENDS

Doing scenic air tours the right way

Does your flight school give “introductory flights,” or does it give “scenic rides”? There’s a difference in how these operations can be conducted. Jason Blair tells you why you should make the extra effort to follow the rules for scenic rides. READ MORE ›

NEWS

NTSB faults FAA’s monitoring of flight instructors

The FAA must do a better job monitoring the effectiveness of flight instructors and should have a system that automatically notifies safety inspectors if an instructor's students fail practical tests at an above-average rate, the NTSB said. The agency spotlighted the FAA's monitoring of flight instructors as it continues to investigate a June 21, 2019, crash in Mokuleia, Hawaii, of a Beechcraft King Air 65-A90 twin turboprop after takeoff of a parachute jump flight in which the pilot and all 10 passengers were killed. READ MORE ›

Registration open for FSANA annual meeting

Registration is open for the Flight School Operators of North America's conference, to be held March 3 through 5 in Orlando, Florida. The event, held annually although it bypassed 2020 for obvious reasons, includes professional sessions and workshops, as well as a mentor session for individuals who have recently launched a flight training business or are thinking of creating one. FSANA said mask wearing and social distancing will be observed. For more information or to register, see the website.

Don't leave someone empty-handed

When a prospective new student visits your flight school, don't let him or her leave without something of value. Flight schools tell AOPA that the special “You Can Fly: Your Path to Become a Pilot” edition of Flight Training magazine is a great takeaway for prospects and introductory flight customers. It answers a lot of questions about the process of learning to fly. Additional copies and countertop displays are still available at no cost to you; contact AOPA at [email protected].

Aviation groups press for third extension of pandemic SFAR

The special regulation the FAA issued in April 2020 and amended twice during the year to help pilots cope with the coronavirus pandemic should be extended a third time as COVID-19 continues to spread, AOPA and six other organizations wrote in a January 7 letter to the agency. The groups propose extending through March some provisions of Special Federal Aviation Regulation 118-2 that have granted eligible pilots extra time to meet medical, currency, training, and testing deadlines, but will expire at month’s end. READ MORE ›

Airspace restrictions planned for Biden's inauguration

Pilots flying near the Washington, D.C., area on January 20 should be aware of further restrictions to the Washington, D.C., Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) and Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ) for events related to President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration. READ MORE ›

Proof of negative coronavirus test required to enter U.S. by air

Effective January 26, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be requiring all passengers arriving in the United States from a foreign country flying by general aviation and commercial airlines "to get tested no more than 3 days before their flight departs and to provide proof of the negative result or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19." READ MORE ›

POLL

Website refresh

When was the last time your flight school updated its website? Tell us in this week's poll.

Results

In the January 5, 2021, poll we asked whether your flight school offers a Pinch-Hitter or pilot companion program. Here are the results:

MARKETING

What does your flight school look like?

When a prospective client comes looking for a flight school, what sets you out from all the others? How does your website represent you? In part one of a two-part series, Ed Helmick takes a deep dive into what you should and shouldn't post online, and how broad statements such as "You Fly Cheaper Here" aren't really the messages you should convey. READ MORE >

QUICK TIP

As you look ahead to a new year, you may be thinking of cutting your rates to bring more traffic to your door. Resist this temptation, says Lauren Pearson, writing for Sage Advice. "Lowering your price in order to compete is a losing proposition—especially against larger competitors with deeper pockets. Instead, beat them using superior service, product mix, product knowledge, or post-sale support."

SAFETY

'Trapped in Ice: Accident Case Study' available from AOPA Air Safety Institute

On the morning of April 19, 2018, a Cirrus SR22 carrying two occupants departs from Lancaster Airport in Pennsylvania. The pilot and his passenger are bound for a conference in Indiana. What lies between the travelers and their destination, however, is a large swath of hazardous icing conditions, IMC, and mountain obscuration. The AOPA Air Safety Institute follows the Cirrus along its route in this accident recreation, which includes a look at a similar tragedy involving a Beechcraft Bonanza that occurred only three days prior to the Cirrus accident.

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Flight School Business Editor:
Jill W. Tallman

Production Specialist:
Sylvia Horne

Advertising Production Coordinator:
Donna Stoner

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