Posts Tagged ‘pilot training’

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US Aviation Group and Tarrant County College Sign Agreement

Friday, December 17th, 2010

US Aviation Group and Tarrant County College have established an accredited flight training program at Alliance Airport in Fort Worth, Texas.

US Aviation Group(USAG), based out of Denton, Texas, has entered into an agreement with Tarrant County College (TCC) establishing access to USAG’s Part 141 flight training for TCC students. The two organizations will operate an accredited flight training program via a Learning Center established at Alliance Airport (AFW), in Fort Worth.

TCC students will be able to apply available financial aid, including GI Bill benefits and Pell Grants, to help pay for enrollment in USAG’s Professional Pilot Program. Upon completion of the program, students can expect to hold a multi-engine commercial rating and have passed the written exam for their ATP certificate. Additionally, the students can undertake coursework at TCC for a two-year degree in aviation and transfer to a university to complete their four-year degree.

This program sprang from an idea put forth by the North Central Council of Governments to provide a way for students to receive flight training locally. According to Floyd Curtis, Dean of Business, Technology and Transportation at TCC, the college latched onto the idea and began investigating Part 141 flight training providers in North Texas, where they discovered USAG. TCC was pleased with the success of USAG’s flight training program and both parties began negotiations to create the current program.

USAG is expecting “rapid growth and a high success rate” of students in the program. They currently conduct flight training at Denton and Hondo Municipal Airports, but will gradually expand operations to AFW as TCC students enroll for flight training. According to the President of USAG, Mike Sykes, within five years the U.S. airline industry can expect to see a critical shortage of qualified pilots as the numbers of older pilots reaching mandatory retirements out pace the numbers of new pilots. Despite current conditions at some airlines, now is the best time to begin flight training in order to best capitalize on the impending shortage.

For more information on US Aviation Group see our featured schools page for US Flight Academy in Denton, TX.

For more information on flight training and choosing the right school, check out our Flight Training Resource Center or find flight training near you.

Source: US Aviation pens agreement with college
This article was written by Matthew Everett, a private pilot, aviation writer, and frequent contributor to AviationSchoolsOnline.com. You can follow him on twitter @leaving_tf or find his blog at http://leavingterrafirma.com.

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Perks of Learning to Fly are Greater than the Expenses

Saturday, December 4th, 2010

A pilot certificate is the key to many life changing experiences.

Flight training at Dodge County Airport outside Juneau, Wisconsin was the star of a recent article, some much needed good press for learning to fly.

According to the article, the perks of flying are greater than the costs. Chief among the perks is the scenic and transcendental nature of flights. From birds and familiar landmarks, to the idyllic fall flight to see the colors, there nothing like flying to show you the beauty all around. The sense of solitude available to pilots creates a transcendental experience unparalleled by anything available on the ground.

According to the general manager of Wisconsin Aviation, Tim Bentheimer, they offer flight instruction for a number of ratings and certificates at the Dodge County Airport. The school has a private pilot ground school starting January 13.

Bentheimer also addresses the issue of the decaying population of new pilots. Citing AOPA, he indicates a decline in private pilot certificates issued from 2009 to 2010 of a third. Worse, while the number of medical certificates issued remained the same, the number of student pilots issued medical certificates who completed their training declined by more than a third over the same period.

According to Bentheimer and Glen Ingram, a flight instructor, cost and time commitments required by flight training can be excessive if only considered on the surface. With the cost of a private pilot certificate hovering at just about $8,000, flight training can be a difficult sale. According to Ingram, it is important to attend lessons regularly. The reaction most people have is to string out lessons and spread out the impact of costs, but this usually leads to an increase in costs because the lessons become less efficient.

One thing virtually all pilots can agree on is that the perks of learning to fly greatly outweigh the expense. Considering the freedom of being able to go anywhere and do almost anything, $8000 dollars seems like a deal. If you aren’t keen on the freedom or scenery, maybe you’re not a fan of the new TSA regulations for commercial flying, good news, the same $8000 dollars gets you out of the security lines and into the air.

For more information on flight training and choosing the right school, check out our Flight Training Resource Center or find flight training near you.

Source: Flying High: Local lessons allow all to find their wings
This article was written by Matthew Everett, a private pilot, aviation writer, and frequent contributor to AviationSchoolsOnline.com. You can follow him on twitter @leaving_tf or find his blog at http://leavingterrafirma.com.

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Florida Flight Training – Five Reasons to Learn to Fly in the Sunshine State

Friday, December 3rd, 2010

Florida's scenic beaches and perfect weather create a flight training paradise.

If you’re considering traveling to complete your flight training, consider Florida. Whatever your reason, maybe your home isn’t located in an area that is conducive to training or you don’t live near a flight school, relocating to Florida for flight training can save you money and time.

Why learn to fly in Florida? In the second of a series of articles, we look at Florida flight training. Florida is home to more than 150 flight schools and more than 100 airports. It would seem that the same weather that draws vacationers is perfect weather for flying and learning to fly. Florida offers pilots on average more than 350 clear days of flying in a year.

On top of weather, Florida’s tourist attractions and scenic beaches improve down time and provide something for family to do while you train. From Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando to the miles of coastline, Florida has something for everyone. Whether you’re seeking something to do on a day off or something to occupy your family while you’re flying, Florida has something to offer. If you’re looking for a fitting reward for all the hard work you put in during flight training, you could stop by Piper in Vero Beach and buy a new Archer to fly home.

Interested in learning about flight training in Florida? Find out more in Florida Flight Training – Top Five Reasons the Sunshine State is Home to Over 150 Flight Schools.

For more information on flight training and choosing the right school, check out our Flight Training Resource Center or find flight training near you.

This article was written by Matthew Everett, a private pilot, aviation writer, and frequent contributor to AviationSchoolsOnline.com. You can follow him on twitter @leaving_tf or find his blog at http://leavingterrafirma.com.

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Mass. Flight School and College Establish Scholarship

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

A flight school and community college in Massachusetts have established a scholarship in memory of a late flight instructor.

A Massachusetts flight school and community college recently announced the establishment of a flight training scholarship. The scholarship, established by Beverly Flight Center and North Shore Community College, was created to memorialize the late Michael Costales, a flight instructor at Beverly Flight Center.

The scholarship will benefit students in North Shore Community College’s aviation science program and at the Beverly Flight Center. Costales was struck and killed by the propeller of a plane at Beverly Airport on Aug. 27. The schools announced the Michael Costales Memorial Scholarship on November 19, in honor of the late Costales’ 31st birthday.

A press release quotes the director of North Shore Community College’s aviation science program, John Bosco, as saying: “The accident was an incredible tragedy, which greatly affected many. I think the establishment of this scholarship fund will offer the many of us who knew and worked with Michael to acknowledge his contributions and ensure his passion for teaching people to fly continues.”

The Aviation Science Professional Pilot program at NSCC is a joint program between the college and the Beverly Flight Center which combines college classes and flight training in order to train students to become commercial pilots in fixed-wing aircraft.

The flight training industry is in dire need of both programs and scholarships like this. Joint programs like this create a stable source of students for local flight schools and allow colleges to add a degree program relatively simply while opening a new career path for students. Scholarships are needed to help students who want to be a pilot, but can’t afford the training. With programs and scholarships designed to benefit everyone involved, we can look forward to a more stable flight training industry that is better equipped to meet the needs of the aviation industry at large.

For more information on flight training and choosing the right school, check out our Flight Training Resource Center or find flight training near you.

Source: Scholarship is a tribute to a late flight instructor
This article was written by Matthew Everett, a private pilot, aviation writer, and frequent contributor to AviationSchoolsOnline.com. You can follow him on twitter @leaving_tf or find his blog at http://leavingterrafirma.com.

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AOPA Recommends Flight Training Fixes

Wednesday, November 24th, 2010

CFIs just "building time" for an airline job was one of the primary obstacles to student pilot retention indicated in a recent study.

A few months ago, AOPA announced that they would be performing an in depth study regarding pilot training. The results of the study were reported at the recent AOPA Summit in Long Beach. The study was performed by experts at APCO Insight and highlighted some changes that could improve flight training. The study indicated that the industry is struggling to retain students, as reported by a survey expert and new private pilot, because it isn’t exploiting the fact that being a pilot has a “cool factor.”

In a conference at AOPA Summit, APCO Insight CEO, Mark Benson reported that flight training industry is overlooking one of its most important promotional tools – the sense of community and feeling of belonging that pilots feel among other pilots. According to Jennifer Storm, AOPA’s head of their Flight Training Student Retention Initiative, the survey revealed a lot of information about the desires of student pilots when it comes to flight schools. In short, efforts to sell flight training have eroded the “specialness” of getting a pilot certificate. Additionally, student pilots are seeking value for their money. It is important that they feel their instructors and flight schools are actively saving them money. Flight training is already pricey, the last thing a student pilot wants is an instructor or flight school that needlessly runs up the cost.

Perhaps one of the defining issues of student pilot retention is instructor retention. According to Benson, the industry needs to attract more CFIs that are committed and involved in their students’ training. It is essential that they keep the student pilots engaged and check in regularly. The extensive research APCO Insight performed for AOPA on student pilot retention indicated that above all, instructors who are just there to “build time” for an airline job were one of the biggest turn-offs for student pilots.

AOPA and APCO Insight shared the results of the study with CFIs and flight schools at an event just before AOPA Summit. Among the issues discussed were: CFI boredom, CFI pay, and training material availability. According to the study, despited the fact that a majority of student pilots characterize flight training as a good thing, the many unprofessional, disorganized, and unmotivated CFIs across the country were at least partly to blame for poor student retention.

For more information on flight training and choosing the right school, check out our Flight Training Resource Center or find flight training near you.

Sources: Training Needs A Tuneup
This article was written by Matthew Everett, a private pilot, aviation writer, and frequent contributor to AviationSchoolsOnline.com. You can follow him on twitter @leaving_tf or find his blog at http://leavingterrafirma.com.

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Aerosim Flight Academy Looks To Increase Enrollment

Friday, November 5th, 2010

Aerosim uses the Cirrus SR20 for its primary training aircraft.

Boeing’s crew assessment forecast, released earlier this year, calling for at least one million pilots and maintenance personnel in the next 20 years wasn’t missed by Aerosim Flight Academy. The popular flight school intends to increase enrollment in order to meet the needs highlighted in the forecast. During the recent Cocoa Beach Air Show, which took place on October 30th and 31st and had more than 160,000 attendees, Aerosim set up a booth to showcase the school.

The academy’s booth featured the advanced simulator they use during portions of their flight training syllabus. It was a crowd favorite with a long line and wait times that filling the gap between air show performances, but spectators felt it was well worth the wait. The booth was also home to a contingent of career counselors and executives from Cirrus, who manufactures Aerosim’s primary trainer, and several airlines. Aerosim uses the Cirrus SR-20 for it’s primary training aircraft. A group of Aerosim students and instructors were also present at the booth to answer potential pilots’ questions about their training.

Aerosim Flight Academy is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges and was the first flight school to participate in the FAA’s Aviation Safety Action Program. Aerosim provides the utmost in professional and safe training with the implementation of FAA Industry Training Standards for their flight training operations. The academy also assists graduates with job placement through partnerships with numerous airlines.

Aerosim’s commitment to provide safe, professional training is a testament to their commitment to providing the best pilots to meet current and future industry demands. Additionally, their relationships with airlines and Cirrus are a huge benefit for their students who learn to fly in some of the best aircraft produced today and receive placements at some of the world’s leading airlines.

For more, please visit our Aerosim Flight Academy information page.

For more information on flight training and choosing the right school, check out our Flight Training Resource Center or find flight training near you.

Sources: Aerosim Flight Academy Ready to Meet Pilot Shortage
This article was written by Matthew Everett, a private pilot, aviation writer, and frequent contributor to AviationSchoolsOnline.com. You can follow him on twitter @leaving_tf or find his blog at http://leavingterrafirma.com.

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Air Force Academy Expands Flight Simulator Fleet

Thursday, November 4th, 2010

The Air Force Academy has added four new Frasca Instrument Flight Trainers to their fleet of flight simulators.

Frasca International will be providing four additional Instrument Flight Trainer devices to the Air Force Academy in Colorado. The academy, which has operated eight of the devices since 2002, will use the devices to expand cadet aviation programs.

Frasca International, based in Urbana, IL, is one of the leading manufacturers of flight training devices. Their products are currently used by airlines, flight schools, universities, and military organizations. They offer a full range of devices from simple procedure trainers to full-motion flight simulators for all types of aircraft. With more than 2,200 devices in service worldwide, they have created some of the most advanced flight training devices.

The Air Force Academy intends to use the devices to bring combat situations into their flight training programs. In order to accomplish this, the Frasca trainers will be networked together to represent a group of aircraft in one simulation. The IFTs, which include full flight and navigation instrumentation and controls modeled after the T-6A training aircraft, also feature a Frasca visual system. The controls and instruments will all be function the same as in the aircraft.

The devices, only lacking full-motion simulation, are like being in the cockpit of the real aircraft. They feature a high end sound systems for ultra-realistic radio communications via integrated intercom equipment. Additionally, the visual system features the same scenery pilots would see outside a real cockpit, but their instructors can utilize the instructor stations to position these aircraft in a particular place or simply to keep tabs on the student’s performance.

Arguably, one of the best features of these types of devices is their ability to simulate only portions of flights. If a pilot is having a particularly difficult time with one aspect of flight, landing or stall recovery for example, it is really simple to jump to that portion of flight. This would allow a pilot to make 30 landings in an hour versus the 5 landings that could be accomplished in the real aircraft. Additionally, the safety factor of practicing in a simulator on the ground allows pilots inexperienced with certain advanced maneuvers, such as formation aerobatics, to receive training in a safe manner.

For more information on flight training and choosing the right school, check out our Flight Training Resource Center or find flight training near you.

Sources: USAFA Adds Four Frasca IFTs
This article was written by Matthew Everett, a private pilot, aviation writer, and frequent contributor to AviationSchoolsOnline.com. You can follow him on twitter @leaving_tf or find his blog at http://leavingterrafirma.com.

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Phoenix East Aviation First Flight School With ADS-B

Wednesday, October 6th, 2010
Phoenix East Aviation ADS-B equipped cockpit

Future Phoenix East Students will fly with ADS-B technology

Phoenix East Aviation, Inc. (PEA) announces the acquisition of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) systems on its fleet of training aircraft.  Phoenix East Aviation is the first independent flight training academy in the U.S. to have such a system.

This technology is a crucial part of the nation’s Next-Generation Air Transportation System. ADS-B-equipped aircraft determine and then broadcast their positions to ground stations and other aircraft. Position data is derived from a global navigation satellite system or an aircraft’s inertial reference system. ADS-B provides accurate information and updates to airspace users and air traffic controllers and is an important safety and efficiency enhancement.

This system is the latest advancement in Phoenix East Aviation’s training safety and security program; ADS-B will be an augmentation to safe operation and pilot instruction. The system gives students and instructors real-time information on potential air traffic threats. With ADS-B, pilots and air traffic controllers see radar-like displays with highly accurate traffic data from satellites. It provides flight monitoring in both radar and non-radar environments.

The system consists of a network of Ground-Based Transmitter (GBTs), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and electronic equipment in the aircraft. The aircraft transmits its position continuously to the nearest GBT; the GBT then transmits information to the aircraft providing positional information of other aircraft in the area. With ADS-B, pilots also have access to weather and flight information services and terrain maps.

Phoenix East Aviation Chief Executive Officer, Ghassan Reslan, said “We are proud to be the first independent flight training academy in the U.S. to take the lead and implement the ADS-B system. Flight training students will learn to utilize this technology, which will make them better prepared for careers as professional pilots. Without a doubt, as the worldwide aviation system evolves and grows, ADS-B will play an important role in overall flight safety and air traffic control efficiencies.”

Phoenix East Aviation, Inc. provides comprehensive pilot training, specializing in professional flight instruction. FAR Part 141, private, commercial and multi-engine professional programs and FAR Part 61 courses are offered. The school is nationally accredited and is approved to offer Veteran Benefits under the G.I. Bill. Headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, where the climate permits flight operations 350+ days/year, the school has been in continuous operation since 1972.

For more information, visit Phoenix East Aviation‘s featured school page

By Patricia Cobleigh, Phoenix East Aviation marketing.

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Massachusetts Helicopter School Opens In Marlboro

Thursday, September 9th, 2010
Massachusetts Helicopter School Robinson R22

Robinson R22

North Andover Flight Academy, a helicopter training school in business since 2008, announced it will open a new branch in Marlboro Massachusetts. The school currently has two locations in Upstate New York and Lawrence.

The academy will be based at Marlboro Airport and will offer private pilot, commercial pilot, and instrument rating training, according to an article in the MetroWest Daily News. In order to earn either a private pilot or commercial pilot certificate, potential students must pass an FAA medical exam. However, students can begin flying anytime and pass the medical exam during training.

North Andover Flight Academy projects costs for training at $270 per hour, including fuel, the helicopter, and the instructor. Most students require between 50 and 60 hours of instruction to earn a private pilot certificate, event though the FAA only requires 40 hours flight time.

The academy operates Robinson R22 helicopters which are a proven and common trainer for the helicopter industry. In addition to offering helicopter training, the school also hopes to offer scenic tours of the local area out of the Marlboro airport location.

Source: MetroWest Daily News

Learn More:
Find Massachusetts Helicopter Schools
Robinson R22 Helicopters
North Andover Flight Academy

By Kyle Garrett, owner of AviationSchoolsOnline.com and instrument rated private pilot

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MSU, ATP to offer joint aviation degree

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010
By Matthew Everett

Mountain State University students have a new degree option thanks to a recent academic services agreement with Airline Transport Professionals. The agreement, signed by CEO and President of MSU Charles H. Polk and ATP President Derrick Dennis, provides the foundation for the Bachelor of Science in Airline Transport Professional Pilot Operations. Under the agreement, students will complete flight training through ATP at one of their 22 locations across the U.S. and college curriculum through MSU.

MSU, based in Beckley, West Virginia, is a not-for-profit educational institution with several campuses around the nation as well as a number of online degree programs. MSU chose to partner with ATP based on their proven record of professional multi-engine flight training, flying over 6,000 hours and providing 300 FAA pilot certifications a year.

According to David Robbins, director of aviation at MSU, “Airlines hire the most qualified pilots, preferring that applicants have a bachelor’s degree and high quality flight experience.” The program, which is intended to provide airlines with qualified pilot applicants, will allow students to build required flight experience, certifications and work as flight instructors while completing their bachelor’s degree. Additionally, students will study leadership, business and management, communications, and aeronautics.

“What makes this degree so unique is how the college coursework complements students’ flight training and professional pilot careers. With recent legislation requiring more flight experience of airline pilot applicants, it’s important that career pilots build high-quality flight experience as quickly and economically as possible. Graduates of this program will be the first of a new generation of airline pilot applicants,” said Derrick Dennis, president of ATP.

For more information see:
http://www.aviationschoolsonline.com/school-info/ATP-/83/92/F/1.php

Source: MSU

Find flight training near you: http://www.aviationschoolsonline.com/flight-schools.php

Matthew Everett is a private pilot, aviation writer, and frequent contributor to AviationSchoolsOnline.com. You can follow him on twitter @leaving_tf or find his blog at http://leavingterrafirma.com.

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