FLIGHT TRAINING CONFERENCE

Sixth Annual Flight School Operators Conference in San Diego Highlights Important Training Industry Issues

 

The last two days San Diego served as the city hosting a gathering of flight training providers and industry professionals focusing on issues in the flight training community. This year's conference kicked off with an update from representatives from multiple federal agencies and an opportunity to have a frank discussion with conference attendees. Representatives from the FAA, SEVP and TSA spoke directly with attendees about security operations and student approval processes for non-U.S. citizen students who make up a significant portion of business for many flight training providers.


Various speakers provided an update on current and new programs to come that include AeroCamp, AeroChapters, AeroParty, and AeroSolo. All of these programs are directly intended to help drive new customer base to flight training providers and grow aviation as a whole.

 

FSANA officially announced that the association will be creating a special program in co-operation with the airlines of America to help build the career pilot supply pipeline. Bob Rockmaker, President and CEO of FSANA noted that this new endeavor will create wonderful opportunities for FSANA member flight schools to engage with the airline industry on national basis.

 

With a fantastic key note speech over lunch by Roger Cohen (more information from his talk in the article below) and an afternoon session discussing how flight schools can develop new customer markets, attendees were left with much to think about how to improve their own business practices and grow their market.


Day two included information about technology in general aviation, best business practices for flight schools, marketing strategies for both print and social media, and discussion lead by John and Martha King about Flight Training Funding. More coverage of the FSANA conference is scheduled to be in the February Flight School eNews.

FLIGHT TRAINING CONFERENCE
 
Mooney Announces New Factory
Lead Mooney Transition Training 
Program for Buyers at FSANA Conference

 

Beginning the end of February 2015 buyers of Mooney airplanes will have the option to pick up their aircraft straight from the factory and at the same time receive training conducted by Mooney staff to transition into their new aircraft free of charge.

 

Kevin Kammer, Training Manager for Mooney International Aircraft at the Flight School Operators Conference in San Diego told the attendees that the Transition Training offering that Mooney has developed four basic phases - Academic Training about the aircraft, Academic Training for the G1000 instrument panel, in aircraft (the specific aircraft the buyer purchased) training, and a course evaluation to evaluate performance to completion requirements that have been developed on the FAA Industry Training Standards (FITS) model.


The training will last for 5 days and is intended to be a manufacturer lead effort to help owners transition into their aircraft, improving the pilot's specific to Mooney aeronautical decision making, risk management, and single pilot resource management skills without compromising basic stick and rudder skills.


For now, this program is only offered to new buyers. As Mooney announces new aircraft and continues to improve their current offerings, this represents a concerted effort by the manufacturer to lead the training and proficiency efforts for pilots who will operate Mooney aircraft.


For further questions please contact Mooney International at (830)792-2069 or sales@mooney.com or visit www.mooney.com.

FLIGHT TRAINING CONFERENCE
 

Roger Cohen Highlights in 

Discussion at Conference


Speaking to the attendees over lunch, Roger Cohen, the President and CEO of the Regional Airline Association discussed the importance of everyone involved with the flight training industry to come together and share the message that their is a real need to build the pilot supply pipeline which continues to suffer from career pilot shortages at the regional Part 121 carriers.

 

Having everyone working toward common goals will help answer the call for more regional airline pilots. The regional airlines of America are now responsible for carrying more than fifty percent of the annual enplaned commercial passengers in North America and close by International destinations.

 

Bob Rockmaker, President and CEO of the Flight School Association of North America (FSANA) stated that FSANA is already planning how the flight schools of America will become a part of the back fill solution to the career pilot shortage.


Roger has been a long term leader in the aviation industry and understands the importance of flight training to the airline industry. The Regional Airline Association understands the importance of the business of flight training and how it provides the pipeline of professional pilots that are needed by airlines.

FLIGHT TRAINING CONFERENCE
 

Thomas Edison State College Announces Corporate Partnership with FSANA


Thomas Edison State College and fSANA have formally entered into a partnership beginning in January of 2015. The partnership was announced at the FSANA conference in San Diego. "We are thrilled with the partnership and look forward to working closely together," said Kelli Parlante-Givas, Director of Strategic Partnership Management at TESC. "We plan to visit many of the flight schools and be available for onsite assitance." she continued.

 

What does this mean for FSANA members? FSANA members will have access to benefits that include: 

  • Corporate tuition rates
  • Official evaluation
  • Dedicated website (THe Hangar) at www.tesc.edu/FSANA
  • College liason for Q & A
  • Degree program at TESC tailored for FSANA members (Spring 2015) - Aviation Management
  • 12 week courses (courses begin monthly)
  • Maximize credit transfer. Up to 67 credits for the FAA Mechanic Certificate/Airframe and Powerplant
For more information, contact partners@tesc.edu or to learn more about Thomas Edison State College, visit www.tesc.edu.
FLIGHT TRAINING CONFERENCE

FSANA To Create Airline Partners Program

 

The 2015 Flight School Operators Conference Programs update session included Heather Bowers, Pilot Recruiting Specialist from CommutAir and Logan Case, Manager of Pilot Recruitment for Endeavor Air who highlighted the need for continued and expanded relationships between airlines and the flight training community. Due to limited conference time, FSANA will be scheduling an internal working group meeting between the flight training community and airline representatives in the upcoming months.

FAA OUTREACH

FAA Video on Drone Concerns

 

The FAA Public Affairs office has developed a new video focusing on "Drone" concerns. Spread the word to help keep our airspace safe and keep "drone" operators from being in the way or getting in trouble by sharing the FAA's video, "Leave Your Drone at Home".

 

This video is posted on the FAA's YouTube channel. Links to the news and updates piece and video are on the FAA main page and the UAS page at www.faa.gov/uas.

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