2020 FSANA Flight School Operators Conference Brings Training Providers and Suppliers Together in Las Vegas
|
FSANA’s 2020 Flight School Operators Conference kicked off yesterday with a full house in Las Vegas to learn and share ideas about best practices in flight training operations. The conference continues to grow as an information sharing point between flight school operators and service and equipment providers throughout the entire aviation training system.
This conference continues to grow, with the 2020 conference including more than 200 attendees. FSANA thanks all the attendees that keep this association growing and the collaboration in the industry improving!
|
|
|
|
Jessica Cox, FSANA Ambassador, spent a few minutes highlighting how important passion for aviation is in efforts to attract and keep people in aviation. Her remarkable achievements in spite of perceived challenges serve as a motivator for anyone who thinks it is too hard to become a pilot.
|
|
|
|
In a unique opportunity, FSANA’s kickoff stage hosted Sultan Mohamed Al Zara, Director of Licensing Department, General Civil Aviation Authority of United Arab Emirates who addressed the attendees about some of the similarities and differences in training systems between here in the United States and the United Arab Emirates. He highlighted the continuing growth of aviation, training needs related to it, and service to the general public in his own country and regionally, noting that it is growing there as it is in the United States. While some parts of the systems in each case differ, the goal in both systems is the same: providing more, efficient, cost effective, and most importantly, safe air transportation.
|
|
|
|
The conference continued on Thursday and into Friday with topics including updates on federal regulations with representatives from the FAA and the TSA whose areas of responsibility included airman certification and testing, simulator regulations, foreign student visa approvals, and FAA airspace management. General sessions also included topics specifically related to flight school maintenance best practices, employee recruitment and retention, simulator use in training, legal considerations, and insurance considerations to name a few hot topics from the conference.
The conference continued into Friday afternoon, wrapping up strong with a panel discussion with representatives from multiple regional airlines about the recruitment of future pilots and how flight training providers play a key part in the flow of their future employees.
It may seem early, but plans are already beginning for next year’s conference in February 2021 that will return to Orlando.
|
|
|
|
RAA President and CEO, Fay Malarkey Black Addresses FSANA Flight School Operators Conference Attendees in Day 2 Keynote Speech - Focuses On - Impact of Regional Airlines and Integration with Flight Training
|
Keynote speaker for day two of the Flight School Operators Conference, RAA President and CEO, Fay Malarkey Black highlighted the importance of integration between U.S. regional airlines and flight training providers.
She noted the impact of the regional airlines on the number of flights and employment in the aviation sector, highlighting the fact that 41% of scheduled passenger flights are operated by regional airlines who employ over 57,000 employees. A significant number of these employees are pilots trained by FSANA member schools.
Regional airlines are the first passenger carriage pilot employment that many pilots ever get. After initial training, potential service as a flight instructor or one of the other “time building” jobs, most of these individuals seek employment as a first officer at a regional airline. This flow is critical to filling the jobs and the flight training community is an integral part of that process.
FSANA strongly recognizes the value of partnership and working with the Regional Airline Association and thanks the association for sharing its input.
|
|
|
|
FSANA Releases Open Letter Call to Service of DPEs to Help Clear FAA Practical Test Backlog
|
In a continuing effort to promote work on helping flight training providers keep the flow of pilot training going for the United States, FSANA has issued an open letter call to service for FAA DPEs in the United States to make a concerted push to clear a backlog of practical test needs.
Continuing efforts FSANA and other industry representatives have been making with the help of the FAA, FSANA met with a number of industry representatives and FAA to hear concerns about practical tests at this years Flight School Operators Conference. A continued concern was expressed in many areas about a backlog of practical tests for customers of flight training providers.
Following the meeting, FSANA released an open letter to the industry calling on the service of DPEs to give all that they can to try to help clear this backlog.
Practical test scheduling in many locations is more than a month out. It is causing flight training providers to limit student intake and causing applicants to expend additional funds to remain current and proficient as they await testing availability.
The letter highlighted the fact that there are approximately 950 FAA DPEs who can conduct practical tests currently but that the mean number of tests provided by any DPE is only 63 tests per year. Even if each DPE gave just a limited number of extra tests monthly, the effect would be a significant increase in the overall output of practical tests. The goal is to leverage already in place resources, the DPEs the FAA has already put in place, to help increase the testing capacity.
FSANA is hopeful that other industry associations will share this call to service and the DPEs around the country will make a concerted effort to give as much help as they can to helping clear the backlog of FAA practical test where they are occurring.
This effort is additionally supported by the following organizations:
|
|
|
|
Pre-Conference Meetings Focus on Practical Testing Concerns and Aircraft Availability for the Next Generation of Flight Training
|
Even before the conference began, FSANA hosted meetings on two hot topics in aviation training, first, relating to concerns on FAA practical test availability and consistency, and second, on availability of aircraft for training providers.
The first meeting highlighted positive effects that have been made in some areas of practical test availability due to policy changes that have been made for DPEs by the FAA over the past year since the last meeting, but also noted that backlogs still exist. It was also noted that some degree of consistency of testing seems to be improving; a positive thing for both the FAA and flight training providers. In consideration of some continued backlogs of practical testing availability, and while some aviation rulemaking efforts are ongoing, FSANA additionally worked with other industry associations to promote fuller utilization of already in place FAA DPE resources to help clear backlogs of testing in high density training areas.
Moving on to an afternoon meeting, representatives from Sportcruiser, Tecnam, Vans, and Vashon aircraft talked with training providers about the abilities of their aircraft and applicability for flight training operations. A new generation of aircraft, all of these represent breaks from some of the legacy aircraft manufacturers heavily utilized currently flight training operations.
The discussion highlighted the challenges of aircraft that are certificated as LSA instead of traditionally certificated FAA aircraft. The weight limit was highlighted as the main limiting factor for most flight training providers. A significant message of a need to get this weight increased to maximize utilization of these modern aircraft was heard in the meeting and taken back by FAA staff who were in attendance. The next generation of aircraft, strongly represented by the manufacturers in attendance, highlighted enhancements of new designs that increase profitability and reliability for flight training providers relating to reduced maintenance costs, reduced fuel consumption, and purpose built training systems. In each case of the manufacturers who were present, their solutions were to aircraft needs were presented at lower acquisition costs than legacy aircraft.
The flight training industry is in need of large quantities of aircraft for the next generation of flight training and the need isn’t currently being fully serviced by legacy providers. FSANA will be continuing the discussion from this meeting in a new flight training aircraft committee that will work to drive the discussions of meeting flight training aircraft needs for the training industry.
|
|
|
|
ATP Certification Numbers
Show a Slight Increase in 2019
|
by Jason Blair
ATP pilot certification trends continue to head upwards with the 2019 numbers. That's a good thing for filling the needed seats in U.S. airlines.
Remembering that there was a major change in certification requirements in the past decade, we were seeing a downward trend of certification issuances for ATP level certificates here in the United States that quickly spiked ahead of the changes in the regulations, with the highest number of certifications taking place being in 2016 just before the new certification requirements took place.
In 2017, the number of ATP certificates dropped by over 50%.
Since then, and as airlines and trading providers have come up to speed with new ATP CTP courses and developed in house ATP training efforts (at many of the regional airlines or through partner schools with whom they work), the number of ATP certificates has been steadily increasing to meet the demand of aggressive airline hiring.
While not back to the numbers we were seeing before regulation changes, the number of ATP certificates issued in 2019 more closely resembled that of years prior to the regulations changes.
This expansion will more effectively help airlines fill their employee needs in the upcoming years. This data is worth continuing to track as many airlines still predict shortfalls in hiring efforts compared with the attrition of pilots who are retiring or taking positions with other service providers in larger aircraft.
With that in mind, here is what the data is showing with the latest years certification issuances included.
|
|
|
|
You Should Be Promoting Your School During Learn to Fly Month
|
Learn to Fly Month, which starts May 1, is a continuation of the month-long initiative that FSANA has promoted for the last three years to facilitate flight training providers in attracting new potential entrants into the field of aviation. FSANA encourages flight schools and organizations around the country to collaborate and hold events and promotions focused on getting more people to learn to fly.
Mario Andretti, the world famous race car driver who has won Formula One, Indy Car, World Sports Car, and of course, NASCAR races returns as Learn to Fly Month Honorary Chairman. Mario believes that aviation offers a unique and rewarding career option and encourages "young people, whether male or female, to really look at the potential that there is out there for a career in flying."
How Any Flight School Can Participate This May
All flight schools across the country are invited and encouraged to participate in Learn to Fly Month, not only FSANA members. If you haven't set anything in motion for this initiative yet, it isn't too late! FSANA is providing this set of six free tools intended to help all flight schools and others interested in promoting Learn to Fly Month. Please take a moment to check them out and incorporate them into your own Learn to Fly Month events.
• Color photograph of
Mario Andretti (PDF) ... Credit: Courtesy of Flight School Association of North America
• Learn to Fly Month logo graphic (PNG) for web (simply "grab" the above graphic)
FSANA encourages all flight schools and others in the industry, including the supply chain and trade associations, to be involved. To find out how to participate, read
"Ideas for Flight Schools" (PDF). For further information, contact Debbie Sparks at 561-767-6826 or send an email to info@fsana.com.
|
|
|
|
FAA Practical Test 2020 Survey Data Compared with 2018 Survey
|
In 2018 FSANA conducted a survey of FAA practical test costs around the country. In an effort to track this part of flight training and see if changes are trending, the survey was conducted again in January of 2020 to see what (if any) changes were being experienced in the industry.
The data showed a slight trend on the average practical test upward to an average closer to the $500-600 range from last time where it was more heavily weighted from $400-500 per test.
Add on ratings seemed to have seen the greatest increase in average pricing. These seem to have been historically offered at lower than the average full practical test price, however the trend is indicating that they are now priced the same as a full practical test. This indicates a likely pricing of the test not based on the type of test, but on the "checkride scheduling slot".
CFI practical tests in each survey seemed to again have the highest average price, no doubt based on the fact that they are a longer test (typically taking a full day for DPE to administer).
When considering acceptable methods of payment for practical tests, the data didn't show major changes. What still seems to be notable however is that DPEs don't typically accept Credit/Debit Cards for payment. This is something that should be easy for a DPE to remedy with use of credit card payment options on mobile devices. Applicants and flight training providers might ask their DPEs to modernize to allow their customers more options for payment.
It is worth noting that the number of respondents on this year's survey was significantly lower. Low enough that full statistical validity is much less reliable. With that said, a general trend of some of the data is still able to show consistency in much of the pricing sectors or at least minimal changes.
|
|
|
|
 |
ARTICLES OF INTEREST FROM THE INDUSTRY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FLIGHT SCHOOL BUSINESS EXCHANGE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
University Air Center Flight School, Gainesville Florida
Looking for Certified Flight Instructors-Instrument for a full time busy flight school. We fly Piper Warrior, Cessna 172 (G1000), Cessna 182 (Garmin glass), Cessna 210 and Piper Aztec. We have the option of time as flight instructor then move into the Caravan for Part 91 operations then to our Charter department flying Citation Jets. Come join the UAC team! Email resume to
PamL@universityaircenter.com
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Flight Instructor Sought
Wanted CFI for 141 flight school, added ratings a plus, but not required. When not instructing, right seat on Navajo available for qualified applicant. Respond to Moyer Aviation, Pocono Mountains, Pa. 800-321-5890 or
vern@moyeraviation.com
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charter Captain Wanted
Wanted Captain for 135 charter operation in Northeast. Flying Navajos & Seneca Minimum 1500 TT, 200 MEL. Respond to Moyer Aviation, Pocono Mountains, Pa. 800-321-5890 or
vern@moyeraviation.com
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tell us what is important to you as a school owner, manager or chief flight instructor. We will share comments in an upcoming edition of Flight Training News. Send your thoughts to
info@fsana.com
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
FSANA SUPPORTING PARTNERS
|
|
|
|
V I S I O N A R Y
••
P A R T N E R S
|
|
|
|
D E V E L O P E R
••
P A R T N E R S
|
|
|
|
B U I L D E R
••
P A R T N E R S
|
|
|
|
L E A D E R
••
P A R T N E R S
|
|
|
|
The above organizations are annual supporters of the FSANA mission and work of the association and its members. The follow organizations join our Partners in supporting FSANA's 2020 Flight School Operators Conference.
|
|
|
|
C O N F E R E N C E
••
P A R T N E R S
|
|
|
|
Established in 2009, the Flight School Association of North America (FSANA) is the first and only association of its kind dedicated solely to the flight training industry. FSANA represents flight schools, firms that provide products and services to the flight training or aviation industry, and other supporting partners.
The Mission of the Flight School Association is to support, promote and advocate for the business of flight training; to provide knowledge, programs and services that help its members thrive and better serve their customers and communities; to foster best business practices; to educate and inspire youth; to increase the global pilot population; to improve general aviation safety; and to work in alliance with the aviation and aerospace industry.
|
|
|
|
|
|
