DPE ARAC Kicks Off with FSANA Representation
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FSANA Board Vice Chairman,
Lisa Campbell took part in the first meeting of the FAA's Designee Pilot Examiner Aviation Rule Making Advisory Committee (ARAC) in October, a committee that has been tasked with reviewing the FAA DPE program and how it provides services of airman testing in the United States.
The ARAC will take approximately one year of work from industry representatives from multiple aviation associations, the training industry, and DPEs from around the country. The FAA will incorporate into potential regulatory and policy changes and guidance to improve the ability, and potentially the quality, of provision of practical tests necessary to keep pilot certification flowing in the United States.
The ARAC continues the work that FSANA started and lead over two years ago in collaboration with other industry partners along with FAA staff who have worked to improve the ability to keep practical tests available for applicants seeking certificates and ratings.
FSANA recognizes that many areas in the United States continue to see shortages of availability for practical test sourcing. This effort is a longer term approach to modification and improvement of the overall system and will not provide immediate relief, but is likely to enhance the overall system for years to come. The hope is to improve the ability to provide tests in a timely manner while still doing so in accordance with FAA established (ACS and PTS) certification standards.
While the ARAC is an ongoing project that will take some time, FAA is open to continued improvements that will help ease the airman testing delays. FSANA considers the DPE ARAC to be a strategic planning effort and recognizes that the FAA is working on other more tactical, and immediate options to help keep the practical test process moving forward. Some FAA policy changes which have been previously reported have already helped to relieve the airman testing backlog. The FAA has been working to add new DPEs in as many places as possible to help fill the testing needs.
As the DPE ARAC moves forward, FSANA and its representatives look forward to working with the other industry representatives and FAA staff to help shape the best testing methodology and system possible for the United States in upcoming years. The results of this work will be reported in upcoming editions of this newsletter.
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February 2020 International Flight School Operators Conference Open for Registration
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Planning ahead for the FSANA Annual Conference in Las Vegas
February 19-21, 2020, can start now. Hosted at Bally's Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, attendees can now register for the conference and book hotel rooms at the host hotel.
The conference will include multiple education tracks designed to meet the increased demand for additional content in the ever-changing world of flight training. Conference co-chairs
Chris Erlanson, CEO of Nashville Flight Training, and
David Morse, Center Manager at CAE Phoenix Flight Academy, along with
Lisa Campbell, president of Air-Mods Flight Center in Robbinsville, NJ, are guiding the 2020 event to be the best ever.
New for 2020 is a mentor session in the afternoon on Wednesday, February 19. This session gives attendees who are interested in starting, or who have just started a new school, the opportunity to meet and chat with some of the best school owners and managers in the industry.
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Attendee Brochure and Registration
Want to learn more about the offerings, the schedule and conference administration? You can check out the conference attendee brochure. Click here to see the
2020 Attendee Brochure.
Room Booking
To book your room online
click here. Guests who prefer to phone in their reservations can call the hotel Reservation Center at
800-358-8777. The name of our group is listed as
Flight School Conference. Callers may also use the group code to identify the group,
SBAFS0.
Reservations can be made at our group rate until Monday, January 20. After that time, the group rate will be offered based on hotel availability.
Exhibitor/Sponsor Opportunities
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Flight Options Academy Selects
FRASCA for Seminole RTD
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Flight Options Flight Academy, located on the Sunshine Coast Airport in Mudjimba, Australia, has placed an order for a FRASCA Piper Seminole RTD™ (reconfigurable training device). The RTD is an FAA approved AATD and has also received Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) approval as a category B synthetic trainer.
The device will be configured as a Piper Seminole with Garmin G1000 avionics and will feature a three channel visual display system. The FRASCA RTD is the only AATD with actual licensed G1000 software for PFD, MFD and GFC700 autopilot.
Frasca International has had a presence in Australia for more than 35 years. Flying Schools and Airline Colleges in Australasia choose Frasca devices because of their high fidelity and reliability. Frasca's leading edge R&D which led to the development of the new Reconfigurable Training device (RTD), now enables customers to implement the latest technology at a lower cost than ever before. This is enabling the use of a greater number of devices at a time when the industry is expanding and has increased needs.
The Frasca RTD™ is easily reconfigurable between different aircraft models and between legacy analog and modern Garmin G1000 NXi glass avionics. The RTD™ is built using robust hardware for reliability and features a browser-based Instructor Operator Station (IOS) which can be controlled by phone, tablet or desktop computer. The RTD can be configured with a single or three channel visual display system and includes digital sound simulation.
Benefits of the RTD include easy maintenance and diagnostics and a modular design that takes up minimal floor space and will fit through a standard sized door. The RTD can also be easily installed and is backed by Frasca's outstanding customer service.
Frasca's RTD provides a high level of realism that enables the students to transfer a greater amount of learning from the AATD to the aircraft. Frasca's aerodynamic models have been validated by the FAA on higher level full-flight simulators and include physical modelling of all significant components and effects of the aircraft class.
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Select Aviation College Once Again Chooses ALSIM
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ALSIM announced the sale of two AL250 simulators to Select Aviation College, a Canadian flight training organization located in Québec. This follows Select Aviation’s purchase of an Alsim ALX in late 2017.
The AL250s, reconfigurable between several classes of piston aircraft, are scheduled to be used heavily in the initial stages of growing Canadian flight school’s pilot training. The devices will be delivered with Alsim’s new VFR visual system and other latest technologies, fully immersing the student and thereby improving the learning experiences.
“Having incorporated the Alsim ALX into our integrated flight training programs and MCC training, combined with a responsive Alsim team, it was a pleasure and an easy choice to return to Alsim. Now with a growing group of students, and launching a second location, we very much look forward to receiving the high fidelity and reliable AL250s and expanding our simulator fleet,” says Select Aviation’s President, Patrick Richardson.
Dr. Scott Firsing from Alsim North America adds: “It’s been a pleasure to work with the entire Select Aviation team over the past 18+ months. They are training the next generation of pilots using quality personnel, aircraft, and simulators. Their new AL250s will be a definite welcomed addition to help train better and safer pilots.”
One AL250 is scheduled to be delivered for their Drummondville headquarters by the end of the year, and the second to their Gatineau location in Q2 of 2020.
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Piedmont Airlines Launches New, Flexible Pilot Cadet Program
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Includes $25,500 and American Airlines Flight Benefits
For most pilots coming out of flight school, the road to 1500 hours – the amount of flying a pilot must log to be hired by a commercial airline - is long and expensive. Getting paid as a flight instructor or sky diving pilot can help, but the reality for most is renting a plane on weekends, plunking down money for time and fuel, flying a few hours and repeating the following weekend.
To help alleviate the burden, Piedmont Airlines is offering a new, flexible cadet program and incentives of $25,500 for pilots who need to build hours. Unlike traditional cadet programs, Piedmont’s flexible program doesn’t tie pilots to a particular school, occupation or time frame.
“We heard loud and clear that pilots want the flexibility to build time when they want and where they want,” said Talia Roffman, Piedmont recruiting manager. “And they want to be paid to do it.”
Pilots can apply for the Piedmont cadet program once they reach 400 hours of flight time and earn a commercial license with multi engine and instrument ratings. Once accepted into the program, pilots take home a $7,500 signing bonus. They earn cash for every 100 hours of logged flight and additional bonuses over two years. Piedmont will also pay for an ATP/CTP course, if needed.
On the first day of first officer training at Piedmont, pilots are placed in a queue for American Airlines. “You can’t put a value on that,” said Roffman. “Your first day at Piedmont, you start the countdown to becoming a pilot for American Airlines. It’s an incredible opportunity.” Cadets also receive flying benefits on American Airlines, including free domestic travel for themselves, a registered companion and immediate family members.
“We are very proud to add flexibility and flight benefits to the list of reasons pilots should come to Piedmont as cadets,” said Steve Keefer, vice president of Flight Operations. “The flight instructor route doesn’t work for everyone and not everyone wants to be tied to a certain geographic area. We encourage pilots in school and pilots looking to get back into the industry to view our program as an alternative to more restrictive cadet programs.”
Pilots who join the cadet program can earn an additional $5,000 for every friend they successfully refer to Piedmont. That’s unlimited earning power that starts immediately.
Additional information
To qualify for the Piedmont Cadet program, pilots must have completed 400 hours total time (TT) flying and earned FAA Commercial Pilot Certification with multi-engine and instrument ratings. Pilots must have a first class medical certificate. Pilots must not have a criminal record or any FAA violations.
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CNN Highlights Why Aviation Has Too Few Women
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Discussing why aviation has too few women, CNN writer
Kathryn Creedy quoted FSANA staff on the observation from some FSANA member schools that an uptick in female training starts is beginning to be seen in 2019. The hope is that this will continue, and help provide not only a better representation of women in aviation, but help provide the bodies needed to fill the flight decks as the industry experiences a pilot shortage.
Delving into discussions about the current state of women in aviation, Creedy discusses history and costs for women to engage in aviation careers.
Click here to read the entire article and learn more about the discussion of women in aviation.
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Deadline for Nominations for the 2020 General Aviation Awards November 30
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If you know a very special flight instructor, maintenance technician, or FAASTeam representative, this is your chance to reward that aviation professional with the recognition he or she so richly deserves. And if you ARE such an exceptional aviation professional, this is your chance to be recognized for the great work you do.
But you need to act fast! The deadline for submitting nominations and applications for the 2020 General Aviation Awards is November 30, 2019. That's only about three weeks away.
Each year for more than 50 years, the General Aviation Awards Program and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have recognized aviation professionals for their contributions to general aviation in the fields of flight instruction, aviation maintenance, and safety. During the application period that closes September 30th, the Program accepts application packets in three categories: Aircraft Technician, Flight Instructor, and FAASTeam Rep.
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SEVP Director's Corner: Protecting International Students from Scams
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As a new school year begins, it’s important to protect your international students from scamming attempts they may encounter while studying in the United States. Cultural and language barriers often make it difficult for your international students to discern what is a genuine offer of assistance versus a scam, which can make them vulnerable to fraudulent solicitations. I want to highlight a variety of scamming examples to be aware of, in addition to resources to help your international students avoid common scams and keep their personal information safe.
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ARTICLES OF INTEREST FROM THE INDUSTRY
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FLIGHT SCHOOL BUSINESS EXCHANGE
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Enrollment Specialist
Join our team of professionals at our busy flight academy located in the heart of Fort Worth, Texas. Epic Helicopters offers fixed wing and helicopter pilot training to international, domestic and veteran flight students at our exclusive campus at Fort Worth Meacham International Airport (KFTW). We are seeking a highly motivated, personable and experienced specialist to foster our continued growth in the pilot training market. Respond to
resumes@epichelicopters.com
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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
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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
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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
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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
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FSANA SUPPORTING PARTNERS
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V I S I O N A R Y
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P A R T N E R S
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D E V E L O P E R
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P A R T N E R S
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B U I L D E R
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P A R T N E R S
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L E A D E R
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P A R T N E R S
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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 our 2019 Flight School Operators Conference.
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C O N F E R E N C E
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P A R T N E R S
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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; and to work in alliance with the aviation and aerospace industry.
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