Focused on the Business of Flight Training for More than 10 Years, FSANA Hosted the 10th Annual Flight School Operators Conference this Week in Orlando.
 This week FSANA hosted it's tenth annual Flight School Operators Conference at the Rosen Hotel in Orlando. The conference, which is u
nlike any other conference in the flight training industry, hosted flight school operators, flight training and airline industry representatives, flight training providers, federal officials who regulate and support flight training, and other interested parties to discuss issues in flight training and share best practices.
As airlines continue to actively hire, careers in aviation are gaining attention internationally and driving interest in training by future pilots. In order to provide enough pilots, the training community must continue to enhance, secure, and expand its ability to provide the next generation of employees. To do this, these flight training providers must find the best methodologies, funding and infrastructure resources, and do so in compliance within the regulatory environment. Each year, the FSANA Conference makes doing this easier for attendees.
"We thoroughly look forward to the collaborative work that happens each year within the industry at these conferences," said FSANA CEO Robert Rockmaker. "There is no other event that offers the ability to bring together a grouping of interested parties in this industry in an equivalent way. With this, attendees improve their ability to serve the industry as a whole."
Sessions on federal regulations for flight training providers, airline pathways, financing for students and business operations, insurance and legal trends, and operational considerations for operators were some of the highlighted sessions.
If you missed this year, FSANA certainly hopes you will make plans to join us in Las Vegas during the first quarter of 2020 for the 11th annual conference.
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FLIGHT SCHOOL OPERATORS CONFERENCE EXCLUSIVE
FSANA Announces New Flight Training Lending Program for Flight Training by FMS Bank
FSANA is excited to announce a ground breaking new type of financing for students seeking flight training, the Skybound Program by FMS Bank. This program is specifically designed to work directly with qualified flight training providers to offer training financing for their customers. A program that is not focused just on a traditional collateral loan to an individual, this program offers business lead loans that are secured by a percentage down payment and non-collateral based loans directly usable for flight training.
FMS Bank, a commercial bank located in Northern Colorado, is proud to announce the launch of SKYBOUND Professional Pilot Loan Program for qualified Flight Schools and students. The SKYBOUND loan product meets the education finance needs that are unique to flight schools and their students seeking a career in aviation as a professional pilot. These students expend large amounts of money on intensive training to receive the best training available, and once they graduate are required to obtain significant additional flight time prior to obtaining employment with regional or national airlines. The SKYBOUND program offers longer repayment terms to help these pilots become successful in meeting their payment obligations in the early years of their career.
"FMS Bank is excited to share our affordable Sky Bound Professional Pilot Finance program with FSANA members to help fill the crucial need for new pilots." said FMS Bank President and CEO, John A. Sneed.
Robert Rockmaker President & CEO of FSANA noted that "FSANA is pleased to have FMS Bank become an annual "Partner" as the bank begins to deploy their career pilot finance program for FSANA member flight schools in America."
FSANA Member schools signed up for the program will receive an additional .25 basis point increase in interest rate received toward their Reserve Money Market Account held by FMS Bank on their first $100K and an additional .50 basis point on balances in excess of $100K for their Reserve Account held at FMS Bank. Being a FSANA member directly increases the utility of this program with FMS Bank along with offering your customers a new option for customers to secure funds to complete their training.
For more information on how your Flight School can become a part of the FMS Bank SKYBOUND Professional Pilot Loan Program please contact R. J. Martinez at rmartinez@fmsbank.com or 970-673-4501. For more about FMS Bank, visit www.fmsbank.com.
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FLIGHT SCHOOL OPERATORS CONFERENCE EXCLUSIVE
Federal Officials Kickoff Flight School Operators Conference
Kicking off this years conference, an ever important panel of federal officials, this year from the SEVP program and the FAA highlighted important changes in some policies and compliance methods for providers of international student visa based flight training.
FAA Representatives Highlight Changes in Designee Policy to Help Deliver Practical Tests
Beginning with the FAA representatives, policy changes in FAA Designee policy (primarily those related to the provision of FAA practical tests) were highlighted. Additionally noted was proposed changes allowing for provision of FAA practical tests under Organizational Delegation Authorization (ODA) that FSANA has previously introduced. The changes that have taken place have enhanced the freedom to provide and source FAA practical tests in some key areas and the next efforts to allow ODA holder organizations will allow a multiplier of FAA staff through allowing organizations to select, hire, and manage examiners of pilots and maintenance providers when properly authorized. This has the potential to allow the industry to staff up in a way that the FAA is logistically unable to do. FSANA will certainly be providing more information on this effort as it continues forward.
SEVP Officials Focus on Compliance with SEVP (Student Exchange Visa Program) Methodology
The SEVP's field representative that joined the discussion highlighted program changes, common errors flight schools make in application and continuation of their approvals, and how students need to comply with visa programs to allow them to receive pilot training in the United States. Representing a significant portion of the flight training business in the United States, training for non-US students is a critical business function for many flight training providers, of which more than one-third of the attendees at this years conference are engaged.
In consideration of the recent government shutdown, FSANA is thankful to the representatives and their organizations that still make sure their staff joined this conference to share critical information for the flight training industry.
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FLIGHT SCHOOL OPERATORS CONFERENCE EXCLUSIVE
 Airline Hiring Pathways Discussed at Flight School Operators Conference
A panel of representatives from airlines, specifically individuals who work with pilot recruitment and hiring, and flight school operators had an opportunity to have a workshop discussion regarding potential options for future collaboration to serve the hiring needs of airlines.
Important notes from this panel highlighted the need for successful flight training providers to reach out directly to airlines and show why their customers seeking career based training would make good pilot candidates for airlines. One of the biggest sources of pilots for airlines comes from FAA Part 61 pilot training providers, yet as a group these businesses represent in many cases smaller individual providers that historically do not interact well with airlines. This has caused a general tendency for airlines to focus much of their recruiting on collegiate and large academy providers of training due to the perceived return on investment for recruiting time and dollars. The ground was directly challenged by airline recruiters represented to engage directly with their airlines and as a group as a whole to help bolster the pilot training pipeline connection from this training environment to the airlines.
To do this successfully, it was noted that airlines are looking for quality candidates who come from structured environments of training. This is critical to applicant success later in their career and the airline representatives all indicated a willingness to help interested flight training providers establish standardized curriculum and document their customers training and passing rates. This was a direct challenge from the airline industry to the flight training industry to improve its ability to drive this channel of the pipeline for future employees in commercial service.
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 Guaranteed CFI Job Interviews with CFI Bootcamp & Wayman Aviation Academy
Wayman Aviation Academy and CFI Bootcamp announced today at the Flight School Association of North America conference that they will guarantee an interview for all graduates of CFI Bootcamp's certification program. Wayman Aviation recognizes the quality of the Certified Flight Instructors, which are always in need, to combat the pilot shortage. Both schools have cooperated on CFI training for over a year at Wayman's facilities in Miami, Florida.
CFI Bootcamp specializes in training certified flight instructors through a rigorous hybrid online and in person training. Students complete an intensive 7 day 42 hour program and then 1 week of intensive flight training. Students often complete checkrides at the end of the second week.
Wayman Eddy Luy, Vice President, says "Nationwide the CFI Checkride has a 30% pass-rate, CFI Bootcamp is able to flip that to a 70% pass rate." Specialized instructors that only focus on CFIs with a full-time approach is the key.
CFI Bootcamp is based out of Palo Alto, and has focused on this niche market since 2012. They currently service 5 locations. More information about CFI Bootcamp at
www.CFIbootcamp.com.
Wayman Aviation Academy is celebrating 32 years of Changing Lives Through Aviation. They operate 2 commercial flight training bases at Ft Lauderdale's North Perry Airport and Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport. Their fleet of 38 aircraft support 3 Universities and airlines around the world. For more about Wayman Aviation Academy, visit www.WaymanAviation.com.
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 Frasca International, Inc. announces that they have partnered with Garmin to integrate Real Garmin G1000 NXi software into their new Frasca RTD™ (Reconfigurable Training Device).
This is a first in the simulation industry and required extensive collaboration between Frasca and Garmin to ensure that Frasca's simulation software and Garmin's G1000 NXi software operate in harmony.
The Frasca RTD is approved by the FAA as an Advanced Aviation Training Device (AATD) and features Frasca's advanced aerodynamic software using flight test data, a browser/web based instructor station, and convincing out the window visual graphics for a realistic flying experience. In addition, Frasca designed the RTD using robust hardware for reliability and ease of maintenance, while being easily reconfigurable between different aircraft models including the Cessna 172 and Piper Seminole as well as between analog instrumentation and G1000 NXi glass cockpit. The RTD can be ordered with a single visual display or multiple channel displays for wrap-around, high-definition visuals.
By incorporating Real Garmin G1000 NXi software in the Frasca RTD, users can be assured that they are learning correct procedures and habits as all of the menu selections and button pushes are performed in the RTD the same as in the aircraft. Until now, lower cost simulators relied on imitated G1000NXi software which lacks the fidelity and realism of the real G1000 NXi. When a simulator is different from the aircraft, the pilot performs tasks differently than in the aircraft, resulting in negative training (which is noted in the FAA's Aviation Instructor's Handbook). To ensure positive transfer of training, Frasca incorporated real Garmin G1000 NXi software in the RTD which provides realistic simulation and safe training.
 G1000 NXi software also enables the Frasca RTD to include Garmin's newest features such as Synthetic Vision Technology with its 3-dimensional "pathway" view, Terrain Awareness and Warning System, as well as WAAS (LPV, LNAV/VNAV and Glide Paths) and easily updatable navigation databases.
"Working with Garmin to integrate the G1000 NXi software in to our RTD has enabled us to provide an AATD with excellent transfer of training to our customers." Stated John Frasca, President of Frasca International. "We have been integrating Garmin avionics into our FTDs and FFSs for years and being able to offer that in our lower cost products is truly ground breaking."
Pricing for the Frasca RTD starts at $58,000, then varies depending on aircraft configurations and options.
About FRASCA International:
Frasca International, Urbana, Illinois, USA, is a world leader in the design and manufacture of Flight Simulators, Flight Training Devices and Simulation components. Frasca has a proven reputation for delivering high quality simulation equipment and leads the industry in simulation technology such as aerodynamics simulation, flight test, data acquisition, visual systems, NVG simulation, control loading, motion systems, motion cueing, manufacturing & fabrication, electronics design and more. Since its founding in 1958, over 2700 Frasca simulators have been delivered worldwide. Frasca is ISO: 9001:2015 certified.
For more information, visit the company's website at www.frasca.com or contact Peggy Prichard at pprichard@frasca.com.
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Eagle Flight Centre Adds Frasca RTDs to Eastern Michigan Aviation Program
Eagle Flight Centre, Ypsilanti, MI has acquired two Frasca RTD™ AATDs (Advanced Aviation Training Devices). The RTDs (Frasca's new Reconfigurable Training Devices) will be used by the Eastern Michigan University Aviation program (EMU Aviation), who train their student pilots at Eagle Flight Centre.
The two RTDs are configured as Cessna 172 aircraft with real Garmin G1000 NXi software. They are equipped with single channel visual systems and Frasca's browser based instructor station with ipad/iphone interface.
EMU Aviation at Eagle Flight Centre is a repeat Frasca customer, having purchased their first Frasca simulator (a Model 141) in 1989. They then purchased the first Frasca Mentor™ AATD in 2006 and added the two RTDs this year. According to Eagle Flight Centre owner, Tom Trumbull, "The RTDs are up and running and they are a mirror image of our 172S aircraft with autopilot. We are impressed with the innovative features including the ipad/cell phone interface for the instructor station."
"We genuinely appreciate the customer loyalty and trust shown by Eagle Flight Centre and EMU. Our goal is to provide accurate and safe flight training equipment for student pilots in an affordable and reliable product," stated John Frasca, President of Frasca International, Inc.
About EMU Aviation:
Located in the heart of Michigan's aviation industry, Eastern Michigan University is next door to the major aviation hubs at Detroit Metro Airport and the Willow Run Airport. This proximity allows Flight and Management students to jump-start their careers and seek industry employment while still attending school. Students also have greater access to airlines, corporate operations, and cargo flight companies after graduation.
EMU flight training is conducted at the Eagle Flight Centre Located on the historic Willow Run Airport. Their aircraft fleet is comprised of several new Cessna 172S Skyhawks, two Yingling Ascend Skyhawks, and a multi-engine Piper Seminole. The Cessna Skyhawk aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art, Garmin G1000 glass cockpit avionics.
About FRASCA International:
Frasca International, Urbana, Illinois, USA, is a world leader in the design and manufacture of Flight Simulators, Flight Training Devices and Simulation components. Frasca has a proven reputation for delivering high quality simulation equipment and leads the industry in simulation technology such as aerodynamics simulation, flight test, data acquisition, visual systems, NVG simulation, control loading, motion systems, motion cueing, manufacturing & fabrication, electronics design and more. Since its founding in 1958, over 2700 Frasca simulators have been delivered worldwide. Frasca is ISO: 9001:2015 certified.
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Fllight Instructors and More Wanted at Hillsboro Aero Academy
Hillsboro Aero Academy is one of the largest combined airplane and helicopter pilot training schools in the US. HAA flies an impressive 100,000 flight hours per year with over 87 fixed wing aircraft. Hillsboro Aero Academy is now hiring for various opportunities. Apply online at www.flyhaa.com/employment.
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!
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, Inc. Pocono Mountains, Pa. 800-321-5890
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, Inc. Pocono Mountains, Pa. 800-321-5890
vern@moyeraviation.com.
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We welcome feedback from the readers of this newsletter! Tell us what is important to you
as a school owner, manager or chief flight instructor. We will share comments received
in an upcoming edition of
Flight Training News
.
Send your thoughts to info@fsana.com.
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