Let’s Discuss the Future of Flight Training

By Scott Spangler on July 22nd, 2010

As I write this, the start of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is five days away. Between the daily rain showers and afternoon thunderstorms (yes, it’s pretty soggy here) the air is growing increasingly alive with the sound of engines I seldom hear during the rest of the year.

AV-Map If you plan to be a member of this airborne symphony, or in the automotive conga line snaking its way into Wittman Regional Airport, and you’re free at 1130 on Wednesday, July 28, I urge you to visit the Learn-To-Fly Discovery Center for a panel discussion on the Future of Flight Training.

The LTF Discovery Center is on Main St., which connects the main gain to AeroShell Square, where all the big, cool airplanes are. And the discussion should be lively, which is one reason why (I think) NAFI Executive Director Jason Blair invited me to participate.

When he called to seek my participation, Jason, a loyal JetWhine reader, specifically mentioned some of my previous posts and said something about my not seeing the world with ordinary eyes. I’m not so sure of that, so you be the judge—here are my some of my recent training related posts:

Rote is the Route to Prosaic Mediocrity; Does Parochialism Hinder Aviation’s Future?; Becoming a Pilot: Is it a Relevant Choice?; Pay Attention to California School Regs; NIFA Challenges Pilots Past Bare Minimums; California Requires Pro Training Standards that Have Nothing to do with a Pilot’s Education; Pro Pilot Training Evolving to Industry Needs. Well, you get the point, so I won’t go on.

If you’re around the EAA AirVenture Learn to Fly Discovery Center at 1130 on Wednesday, July 28, I hope you’ll stop in. Jason says he’s still confirming the rest of the panel members, but it should be interesting.

AV-Forums And if you are around AirVenture the previous afternoon, let me reiterate Rob’s invitation to Become an Airplane Geek for a Day. I’ll be with the geeks at Forum # 6 on Tuesday, July 27, starting at 1600. I hope to see you there, and at the Future of Flight Training panel discussion. –Scott Spangler

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3 Responses to “Let’s Discuss the Future of Flight Training”

  1. Mark Jones jr Says:

    Scott,
    I’m glad someone is talking about it, but I hope it’s more than rhetoric that comes out of it.

    For example, I hope that we ask AND answer, “what makes a flight school successful?” and then implement it. I’m an MEI who wants to fly more light twins, and I get turned off by the lack of professionalism of local flight schools–I say local, but the nearest one with a twin is 1.5 hours away.

    All of this is enough to completely turn away the newcomers to aviation and those of us already invested in it, those of us willing to become loyal customers, the one’s the flight schools NEED to become referral engines.

    Sincerely,
    Mark

  2. Andrew Says:

    I have had the pleasure of being part of a great flying club in the Chicago area, at least in my experience, but I agree with a lot fo this article. I received my ratings through Commercial Single at a large, but VERY well structured Part 141 school in Florida, then my Multi at a school in the Chicago area in a few days. The experience was night and day.

    I’m now looking to get back into aviation after a long hiatus (my blog will slowly follow that trek) and I’m hoping for a good experience, especially as I plan on obtaining my instructor ratings soon.

  3. The Aspiring Pilot Says:

    Let’s Discuss the Future of Flight Training – Jetwhine: Aviation Buzz and Bold Opinion…

    As I write this, the start of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is five days away. Between the daily rain showers and afternoon thunderstorms (yes, it’s pretty soggy here) the air is growing increasingly alive with the sound of engines I seldom hear during the re…

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