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Aspiring pilots will get a chance to act out their dreams for a day during the second annual International Learn to Fly Day. Held on May 21st, the celebration is a cooperative effort designed to raise interest in flying and help a younger generation of pilots take their first steps forward into the world of aviation.
On International Learn To Fly Day, pilots can offer introductory flights to any interested people who want to learn to fly. The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) will lead the way by having its individual chapters offer complimentary adult flight lessons across the country on this specific day. For the EAA, introductory flights for adults are an extension of its popular Young Eagles program. Since 1992, that program has offered free flights to more than 1.6 million young people.
Organizations and EAA chapters hosting events connected to International Learn to Fly Day are encouraged to post these events on an official website affiliated with the day. The website fallows visitors to locate any local event designed to encourage a person to discover more about flying and what goes into it. Any group or company can also post their own event on the site that welcomes people interested in flying and flight training.
The inaugural International Learn to Fly Day took place only a year ago after the United States Congress passed a resolution the same year declaring that the third Saturday in May would serve as a day to recognize the contributions of flight instructors, flight schools and aviation groups in promoting flying as well as teaching and training the next generation of pilots.
Initial celebrations of International Learn to Fly Day in 2010 drew more than 40,000 people to nearly 250 events nationwide. Surveys showed that nearly two-thirds of people introduced to aviation on that day planned to pursue flight training on their own after attending one of the 250 events.
EAA officials are encouraging other aviation groups and businesses to join in the efforts to promote flying by offering introductory flights, open houses and seminars at airports and other locations across the globe.
Sources:
http://www.generalaviationnews.com/2011/05/08/international-learn-to-fly-day-may-21/
http://www.learntofly.org/
Good news from Cessna: Skycatcher deliveries and Cessna Pilot Centers are increasing.
As of November 11th, Cessna Aircraft Co. has sent the fiftieth production model of their popular two-seat Light Sport Aircraft, the Skycatcher, to their U.S. reassembly facility. Cessna continues to increase production on the $112,250 model 162 with the intent of delivering 30 aircraft by the end of the year.
The program, which has introduced a number of changes to the traditional aircraft manufacturing process, has suffered a number of setbacks in the recent past, but Cessna seems to be back on track and plans to deliver at least 150 Skycatchers by the end of 2011.
As quoted by AOPA, Cessna CEO, Jack Pelton said, “We are happy, not only with the increased pace of deliveries coming from Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, but with the high level of quality of the aircraft,” “We are getting these aircraft into operations with individual owners and flight schools. The response from our customers has been excellent.”
The increase in production and deliveries is good news for Cessna Pilot Centers across the country. There are more than 280 flight schools within Cessna’s Pilot Center network and many of them have been waiting for Cessna’s LSA to launch Sport Pilot training programs. The first group of schools that have taken delivery of Skycatchers include schools scattered throughout the US.
In addition to the increasing deliveries of aircraft, Cessna has also announced five additions to their more than 280 Pilot Centers in the United States. The announcement, which was made at AOPA Aviation Summit in Long Beach, welcomed Alliance International Aviation in Chino, California; GenesisFlight Academy LLC in Georgetown, Texas; JacksonAir in Thermal, California; North Florida Flight Training in West Palm Beach, Florida; and Tailwind Flight Center in Appleton, Wisconsin to the Cessna Pilot Center network.
Through their network of flight schools, Cessna aims to “make flying more accessible and to re-energize pilot training.” The expansion of the network, which represents more than 280 possible locations for Sport Pilot training, and increasing deliveries of Cessna’s LSA should come as good news to pilots looking for LSA to rent and train in.
For more information on flight training and choosing the right school, check out our Flight Training Resource Center or find flight training near you.
SLSA will be prohibited from operating under instrument conditions.
The ASTM committees for light sport aircraft recently voted to prohibit the use of special light sport aircraft in actual instrument meteorological conditions. The committee members have not yet agreed on whether SLSA should be operated in IMC, but they have elected to go ahead with the indefinite ban until such an agreement can be made.
The ban still requires further approval and FAA acceptance before it takes effect and even when it does it will not be retroactive. All currently flying SLSA that are properly equipped and operated by qualified pilots will be allowed to operate in actual instrument conditions. This will not prevent the aircraft from being used as instrument trainers or operating on IFR flight plans provided they remain under visual conditions. Additionally, the ban has no affect on operation of SLSA at night.
The ban is intended to limit liability concerns until the committees can establish a standard for IFR-capable SLSA. Once such a standard is developed, manufacturers would be permitted to remove placards prohibiting flight in actual instrument conditions from compliant aircraft. Regardless of standards, individual manufacturers can prohibit operation of their SLSA in actual instrument conditions.
This is an important development in the area of SLSA and one that could have far reaching implications in price and adoption of SLSA. In order to meet potential requirements for instrument flight, SLSA manufacturers would see increased costs that could drive up the sticker price. Additionally, many instrument-rated pilots and flight schools who might have adopted SLSA could elect to stick with FAA-certified aircraft, which would represent a significant blow to SLSA markets.
How could this affect your flying? If you are considering an SLSA, would a permanent ban on flight in actual instrument conditions change your mind?
Source: AOPA – LSA flight into IMC to be prohibited
Find sport pilot training near you.
By Kyle Garrett
Three Advantages of Light Sport Pilot Training
Is a sport pilot license in your future? Guest blogger Matthew Everett explores some of the main advantages to sport pilot training in his latest addition to AviationSchoolsOnline.com.
The Light Sport category is the fastest growing category of aircraft and pilots in the United States. It is a recent development intended to reduce training costs, training time, and regulations. Light Sport is a perfect match for you if you’re looking to fly alone or with one other person on leisure flights. Due to the nature of the category, there are several notable advantages to Light Sport Training including: less cost for license, no required medical exam, and less-costly, technologically-advanced aircraft…read full text Advantages of Sport Pilot Training.
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