If you’ve read our last article on when to upgrade your aircraft and decided that it’s the right time for you to finance a new airplane, you might be wondering what to do next. 

For first-time owners, planning for a sale and making your next move can be just as daunting as getting into your first aircraft. 

Thankfully, we have you covered with a five-step guide for what to do once you need to trade in your first aircraft for a new model.

Prepping Your Aircraft

Before you attempt a sale, you’ll want to maximize the value you can extract from your used plane. Obviously, that includes basic tasks, such as making sure the exterior and interior are both spotless and compiling records of the plane’s hours, inspections, and logs. 

Depending on what maintenance items are due or will be soon, you may want to preemptively take care of a few notable repairs or routine part replacements so that buyers will be confident in the aircraft’s condition. 

Likewise, refurbishment will often raise the value of a private jet by up to 20 percent. Of course, the returns you’ll see from a fresh coat of paint or an interior refresh will vary greatly depending on how worn or outdated your airplane appears as-is, and how much you can expect for a pristine and updated version of your model.

That leads us into our next point.

Setting a Price

To determine a fair market price, you can start with a professional appraisal or check out similar models at AvBuyer to get an idea of the current market value on private sales. Aviation classifieds are a great way to figure out what people are actually paying for and what is in high demand. 

Be sure to make note of any specifics that make your aircraft a better-than-average example. Besides detailed maintenance history and logs, any warranty you have left can be a major value to prospective buyers, as with any pre-owned vehicle. Leaving at least a few months of warranty gives the next owner peace of mind in case unexpected issues crop up. 

Listing Your Plane 

Once your plane is in prime condition, take high-resolution photos of both the interior and exterior, including avionics, panels, running gear, and anything else buyers or brokers will want to see. 

AvBuyer is the premier marketplace for buying and selling pre-owned aircraft, with a wide selection and an even wider reach. If you’re looking to sell your jet, turboprop, light aircraft, helicopter, or even vintage aircraft privately, listing here is quick and easy. 

If you want to work with a broker to help finalize a sale or structure a trade, FLYING Finance can connect you with one of our trusted contacts. An aviation broker will facilitate your sale and navigate the process on your behalf, helping both you and the buyer avoid legal and marketplace pitfalls. 

Breaking Down Financial Incentives

If you’re dealing with a business aircraft, it’s vital to understand the benefits and drawbacks of your depreciation schedule and tax incentives or penalties. 

Some federal and state legislation might provide incentives for purchasing a new aircraft, which can be particularly helpful in avoiding excessive sales tax when you sell your current aircraft. 

Depending on where you are on your aircraft’s depreciation schedule, you may have exhausted the financial benefit from your current model. Speak to an aviation tax professional about what incentives apply to your situation so you can optimize your financing and minimize your tax expenditures. 

Financing Your New Aircraft

Even if you have the means to purchase an aircraft in cash, it’s worth considering your financing options.

There are many benefits to financing all or part of the value of your aircraft. By taking advantage of long-term and low-rate financing, you can have the right aircraft for your mission now while keeping liquid capital to deploy more effectively in your business or other investments. 

In most cases, your return on investment will make it worth holding onto your capital and will outpace interest rates. 

For the best rates, reach out to FLYING Finance today, and our team of experts will help you structure your purchase and get you into the perfect aircraft. 

The post 5 Easy Steps to Sell Your Airplane appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Like any piece of machinery, a private aircraft will eventually show wear and tear. Even the best-maintained aircraft will reach a point where it no longer makes financial sense to update and repair when weighed against the cost of simply financing a new airplane.

The question is, how do you decide when that time comes for you?

There are a number of factors that determine whether or not a refurbish or overhaul are worth your while—some of them straightforward, some more intangible. 

Sell or Refurbish?

Depending on the age and wear on your used aircraft, upgrading avionics, interior, seats, upholstery, or electronics can make for massive improvements to ride quality and appearances. 

While costly, refurbishment is proven to raise the value of a private jet by roughly 20 percent. Just as a fresh coat of paint or an impressive staging can raise the sale value of an older home or car, a refresh can make your aircraft much more attractive to potential buyers. 

FLYING Finance offers financing options for refurbishing, upgrading, and modifying your plane, so don’t hesitate to get started.

Knowing the potential sale value of your aircraft is vital whether or not you intend to upgrade to a newer model, as it can help you calculate how much you want to continue to invest in your current machine. You can start with an appraisal or check out similar models at AvBuyer to get an idea of the current market value on private sales.  

In any case, although your aircraft’s superficial cosmetics can be restored or improved with a refurbishment, the airframe and its capabilities cannot. 

Do You Need More Functionality?

For good reason, many first-time aircraft buyers will first own a light, “entry level” craft. Whether the plane was purchased for business needs or hobby use, there’s a good chance your needs will grow with you, your business, and your skills. 

Most older aircraft are far less efficient than modern offerings, and replacing aging components will eventually stop bringing a good return on investment. 

If you own a turboprop or jet for business purposes, chances are, you won’t keep that aircraft for life. You’ll most likely need to upgrade to a newer, larger model to accommodate your needs. The more successful your business, the bigger the likelihood you’ll need to bring more passengers and fly greater distances, which low-end aircraft simply cannot do.

Many light business jets have a capacity of four-to-six passengers, enough for a small team of executives or team members. If your team grows or you find yourself regularly needing to invite clients or potential partners aboard, you will need more space, more amenities (such as a galley for preparing meals, a state room, or a second lavatory), and more range for international flights.

When deciding if an upgrade is necessary for you, consider these details: 

• Acquisition budget (credit availability and liquidity)
• Operational budget
• Travel range
• Number of passengers
• Airport accessibility
• Domestic/International travel needs
• Features/amenities 

The same general rules apply for aviation enthusiasts, even if your use cases are simpler. As you gain more experience and stretch your horizons, your quarter-century-old, piston-driven airplane simply may not have the range or capacity you’re looking for, and the repairs may grow so costly that you’ll find yourself flying less. 

Downsides of Maintaining an Older Aircraft

As with any used vehicle, the frequency and severity of maintenance will eventually escalate as vital components wear out. While you might have calculated the point of diminishing returns for making those repairs, one thing you may not have considered is the opportunity cost of downtime.

With engine overhauls and interior refurbishment, some jobs can take weeks or even months to complete, and all of that is time out of your calendar that you can’t fly. That downside can vary greatly depending on your circumstances, and it’s not always predictable. 

With a newer aircraft, your chances of having to spend significant downtime are vastly reduced. 

Not to mention, some aircraft components simply are not replaceable or upgradable, at least not practically. With modern software and safety requirements, private aircraft owners are finding that software incompatibility can cause issues when electronics fail or need replacement. Unforeseen issues due to lack of update support in certain hardware or software can, in some cases, make certain features nonfunctional. 

Advantages of Purchasing a New (or Newer) Aircraft

Financing a new aircraft with a warranty means that you have a more dependable piece of equipment and peace of mind that your travel schedule will have far fewer unexpected hiccups. Having a dependable aircraft provides a buffer against the inherently risk of unforeseen financial burdens that come with an older model.

Even with a higher purchase cost, most new models, especially turboprops and light jets, are far more efficient and come with lower operating costs. If you fly hundreds of hours per year, the more efficient, more reliable aircraft will cost you less in the long run. 

Then, of course, there’s the fact that newer jets tend to come with more features and more pristine quality. A higher-end model will mean a more luxurious cabin and more advanced avionics, meaning a safer and more comfortable flight for you and any passengers. 

If, after considering all the factors, you decide you want to sell your current airplane, list it on AvBuyer—the leading business aviation magazine with a readership of 100,000 CEOs, flight department managers, chief pilots, and brokers and more than 2 million page views per month.

When shopping for an upgrade, always check in with FLYING Finance first and talk to our team of experts about what steps you’ll need to take to get started on buying your next aircraft. 

The post When to Upgrade Your Aircraft appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

If you or your company are in the market for a business aircraft, having decided that it’s a worthy investment for your travel needs, you may have one lingering concern: What’s the perception of flying in a private jet or small passenger aircraft? 

Optics, like any other facet of business, require thoughtful consideration, especially with some celebrities recently dealing with controversies over their use of private jets.

Depending on your industry and even the state of the economy, you might face questions from staff, clients, or public relations about why your executives need a business aircraft as opposed to flying commercial. 

We’ve put together a list of some common questions and some ways you can answer them:

Why do you need a private/corporate aircraft? Wouldn’t flying commercial cut costs?

The ownership and operation of aircraft has been calculated like any other business expense. Travel costs are evaluated and weighed against time constraints, agenda, and available commercial or charter options.

As with any company assets, accountants will review expenses, tax benefits, and depreciation to determine the costs and benefits. In the case of private aircraft, bonus depreciation legislation means that businesses are able to depreciate the asset swiftly, potentially resulting in additional free cash flow due to tax savings.

Is business aviation a perk for high-level executives?

Due to tight schedules and demanding responsibilities, many top-level executives spend much more time on company business than the standard 40 hours per work week.

On average, using a private or a corporate-owned aircraft saves roughly three hours door to door compared to traveling by commercial airliner. In this case, the costs of private aircraft are outweighed by time savings.

While access to a company aircraft can make the workload easier, it’s also a necessity for some corporate roles—and not necessarily limited to C-suite executives.

Do corporate aircraft aid in productivity?

Studies show that travel time is significantly more productive in corporate or private aircraft, including not only flight time, but entire time spent en route.

Executives are productive for roughly 80 percent of travel time while using business aviation versus 30 percent of time while flying a commercial airliner, which results in a net gain for shareholders. 

Typically, the higher up an executive is in an organization, the wider the geographic breadth of their responsibilities. That means, on average, CEOs and other C-suite professionals spend more than half of their time each week traveling on company business. These productivity figures become increasingly relevant in organizations that span national or international boundaries. 

Not to mention, there are several intangible productivity benefits of business aviation, including schedule flexibility, access to 10 times as many airports, and the confidentiality of private travel. All of these factors are taken into account when evaluating the need for operating a corporate aircraft.

Will a corporate aircraft be sold to cut costs in the case of layoffs?

The costs associated with business aviation are justified by the utility of the asset.

Business aircraft are not a luxury but a tool like any other part of operation. Just as selling laptops and telephones would not likely be a viable way to cut costs and prevent any potential layoffs, neither would selling an aircraft or related asset. 

That said, to the extent a physical location might be shut down and equipment sold off due to lack of utilization or other factors, an aircraft could be liquidated if the needs of the business change.

Are the security benefits of private aircraft necessary? 

Due to the sensitive nature of many high-level topics and business deals, executives often need privacy to discuss vital matters out of public earshot.

In cases of both strategic planning among team members and relationships with clients or partners, traveling together via business aviation can be an incredibly effective tool and double the productivity of scheduled travel time. 

Unfortunately, commercial airliners, public airports, and accompanying ground transportation can also be sources of security risk for high-profile individuals, particularly executives and potential clients. Flying from a controlled environment such as a privately owned or leased hangar facility greatly simplifies the logistics of travel security.  

If you haven’t yet determined if buying or financing a private plane is right for you, check out the investment benefits of financing your aircraft and reach out to FLYING Finance. Our team of experts can walk you through the entire process of budgeting and accounting for the expenses of operating any type of aircraft.

The post Managing the Optics of Flying in a Corporate Aircraft appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Recently, we highlighted the value of turboprops as the perfect niche aircraft between the passenger jet and the piston-driven propeller plane segments. But what if the use cases for turboprops don’t fit your needs? 

For new pilots and aviation enthusiasts, piston planes are the perfect class of aircraft. With fewer regulatory hurdles and less expensive operating costs, here’s a list of what to love about a simple, lightweight aircraft.

Purchase Costs 

In general, piston-driven aircraft are much less expensive than turboprops—and especially jets. 

As a general rule, general aviation models can be found for anywhere from $100,000 to $1 million, while turboprops typically start above the million-dollar mark. Depending on your budget, a piston-driven airplane can be many times more affordable and still meet your needs. 

Training 

For most turboprops, pilots are required to have additional training and certification (sometimes including multiengine and high-performance ratings).

Whatever certificate you hold, whether private, commercial, or ATP, you may need to obtain a multiengine rating or complete type-specific training in a flight simulator or qualifying aircraft.

The operational characteristics of even the lower-end turboprops are more complex than piston engines. As a new pilot or a hobby enthusiast, investing in that kind of certification may not be in reach or necessary, especially if you simply want to fly short distances in a single-engine piston plane.

Fuel Availability 

Even though turboprops and small passenger jets are able to land at relatively remote airports, some FBOs only carry 100LL, a high-octane fuel meant for spark-ignited piston engines.

Turboprops and other jets require specific jet fuels, which can limit your options for resupply.

Fuel Cost

For short flights, piston engines have lower fuel consumption rates than turboprops or jets.

Coupled with the lower cost of the fuel itself, this makes operating a piston-powered aircraft more economical for most personal and hobby use, or even potentially business use for someone who has the necessary licensing or only flies within a few hundred miles. 

Maintenance 

Turboprops and jets are inherently costlier to maintain or modify than piston engines and require your aviation maintenance technician (AMT) to have specialized skills and certification.

There are four primary types of aircraft maintenance: preventative maintenance, maintenance, alterations, and repairs. 

If you are already a Part 91 private, sport, or higher certificate pilot, the FAA allows you to do your own preventative maintenance as long as it does not involve “complex assembly operations.” 

For a list of what type of projects meet the FAA’s criteria, head to the 14 CFR Appendix A to Part 43.

Some of the more basic items approved by the FAA include the following:

• Servicing landing gear wheel bearings (for example, cleaning and greasing)
• Servicing landing gear shock struts (for example adding oil, air, or both)
• Lubricating items not requiring disassembly other than removal of nonstructural items (for example, cover plates, cowling, and fairings)
• Replenishing hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic reservoir
• Replacing safety belts
• Replacing bulbs, reflectors, and lenses of position and landing lights
• Replacing or cleaning spark plugs and setting spark plug gap clearance
• Replacing any hose connection, except hydraulic connections
• Replacing prefabricated fuel lines
• Cleaning or replacing fuel and oil strainers or filter elements
• Replacing and servicing batteries

Simple Design

Piston engines are typically designed with four to six fixed cylinders arranged in a horizontally opposed configuration, not unlike the internal combustion engines found in many other types of vehicles. Likewise, piston engines are often naturally aspirated, meaning there are no complex induction systems. 

These are time-tested designs that have been in common use for over a century. They operate with the same principles and basic mechanics as automotive engines, meaning if you have mechanical experience, much of it will transfer to maintaining your piston-driven airplane.

This doesn’t apply to everyone, of course, but it’s worth mentioning that the tools and training required to work on a piston engine are much less extensive than jet engines. 

Piston planes have a thriving community of aviation enthusiasts from around the world. Given their price point and lower bar for entry, piston engines will be in the skies for decades to come. The new and used markets for these single-engine aircraft are rich with options for whatever your budget or needs.

Check out FLYING Magazine’s thriving piston community and AvBuyer’s aircraft ownership guides for a plethora of resources. 

If you’re not sure about how much to finance and how much to put down, reach out to the FLYING Finance team today. You might be surprised to learn that your capital is better invested by financing an aircraft instead of paying cash, thanks to FLYING Finance’s interest rates, so there’s no reason not to get started and apply today.

The post Why Choose a Piston Plane? appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The aircraft market is continuing to expand, and that means better options for the consumer. 

One of the largest growing segments in aviation is the turboprop—reliable, practical planes that fill the niche between high speed, high altitude jets and lower flying piston airplanes. 

Turboprop-powered aircraft are becoming more popular, and industry experts project that yearly turboprop sales are expected to grow by 2,450 aircraft before 2040. 

While every class of aircraft has its functions, you might be surprised how versatile and useful turboprops can be. If your business needs mean you take regular short flights to and from small airports, financing a turboprop could be a major time and money saver for you.

Turboprops Excel at Short Flights

In Europe and North America, roughly half of all private flights are less than 500 miles long. Critically, this is about the distance it takes for a turboprop to outperform a jet. 

At low to medium altitudes, turboprop engines are more efficient than jets, and cost savings of up to 40 percent are possible. Because every flight involves low altitudes at takeoff and landing, a high altitude cruise needs to be long enough for the turbofan engine to offset the disadvantage during start and landing. 

Not to mention, many people don’t realize that the speed advantage is marginal for faster jets due to the time spent ascending and descending. In a 500-mile flight, turboprops lose only a few minutes versus jets. 

If your business has you flying regularly between, say, Atlanta and Roanoke, Virginia, or Miami and Tampa, Florida, or even all the above, you’ll realistically make out better with all costs by owning a turboprop than a jet. 

Flexibility With Shorter Runways

Especially compared to jets, turboprops have exceptional short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities. Due to their stability at lower speeds and the drag created by propellers, these aircraft can easily decelerate to safe landing speeds for small airports and short runways, and that means that your options for travel open up—dramatically. 

Not every business is based near a large commercial airport. If you work in agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, ministry, or a plethora of other fields, chances are, you’ll need to visit smaller towns. 

With over 80 STOL ports in the U.S. alone, as well as thousands of other small airports around the country that can safely accommodate even the most advanced turboprops, there are plenty of use cases for planes that are capable of lower speeds. 

While owning a jet may not provide enough value for your company to justify the costs, especially without easy hangar or runway access, turboprops’ versatility makes them a much easier sell. 

Low Altitude = Less Turbulence

Like we’ve mentioned above, turboprops are designed for slower speeds and lower altitudes than jets. Why does this matter for your experience?

From 23,000 to 39,000 feet, at the edge of the tropopause, airspace is generally more affected by weather conditions and can often be much more turbulent. Because turboprops typically fly below 30,000 feet while jets generally stay above, most of your flights in a turboprop will be less bumpy than the equivalent ride in a jet. 

Comfortable air might not seem like a major factor, but it is if you spend enough time in your aircraft.

Safety and Reliability

We’ve talked about the benefits of turboprops compared to higher-end jets, but how about smaller, lighter airplanes? 

While some obvious benefits apply to turboprops, such as higher cruising speed and better efficiency, it’s also important to note that turboprops are much safer and more reliable than piston-driven propeller planes. 

Due to the fact that turboprop engines involve rotating mass rather than reciprocating mass, they’re mechanically safer in the case of any failure (and also less prone to catastrophic failure in the first place). 

Equally as vital, the redundancy of twin-engine turboprop models provides an extra sense of security over single-engine planes, including most piston-driven planes. 

Lower Carbon

It’s no secret that fuel prices are increasing. The cost of running a jet will only continue as legislation, such as the European Union’s Taxonomy Regulation, disincentivizes and restricts carbon emissions and consumption in the coming decades. 

In the not-so-distant future, the aviation industry will gravitate more and more toward low-carbon emitting aircraft. 

So we arrive again at the conclusion that turboprops are a practical, forward-thinker’s aircraft. 

Check Out a Wide Selection

Due to the popularity among business charters, there are plenty of options for turboprop buyers. The market has never been better for a range of tastes and needs—everything from luxury to sport to hobby use.

Many major manufacturers are producing turboprop aircraft:

• Cessna
• Beechcraft
• Piaggio
• Piper
• Pilatus
• Daher

If you don’t know where to start, look through AvBuyer’s turboprop guides. And if you’re not sure about how much to finance and how much to put down, reach out to the FLYING Finance team today and get the process started to beat the holiday crunch. 

The post Turboprops: Perfect for a Small Business Owner appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

If financing an aircraft is on your horizon, now is the time to secure your loan. The end of the year is fast approaching, and that means many individuals and businesses will be looking to finalize large purchases for tax offset purposes.

Getting preapproved in August or September is the smart move if you want to miss the hassle of buying during the holidays. As with any financial decision, timing is key.

Why Is There a Time Crunch?

According to Keller Laseter, Chief Commercial Officer at FLYING Finance, the answer is simple: holidays.

“The holidays are the biggest factor to our time crunch,” Laseter said. 

There are multiple bank holidays in the fourth quarter, and that significantly bottlenecks the process.

“When the banks are closed, we lose a lot of valuable time and your loan does not move forward,” Laseter said. 

While some salespeople and lenders may still be eager to close with you no matter the season, it’s an unavoidable fact that many banking and financial professionals will be planning vacations and focusing on family from October to early January—which means they won’t prioritize getting your loan closed. 

“The best way to avoid the busy season is to beat the crowd that’s late to the game,” said Laseter. “Being responsive, communicative, and having your ducks in a row will put you very high on the list.”

Why Start Shopping in August and September?

Waiting until Q4 can lead to delayed closings, aircraft being sold to cash buyers, and worse options and terms.

Typically, clients buying an aircraft for business reasons have complex financial documentation, meaning it takes time for lenders to underwrite them. The savvier and more prepared a client is, the more questions banks and lenders need to clarify. 

With many buyers going through this process at the same time, it can take longer for loans to be completed and can push some finalizations into the next year, which may not be ideal. 

Likewise, inventory is much more limited at the end of the year, with fewer options available for late buyers. The earlier you decide to take to the skies in a new plane, the more variety you’ll find and the more sellers and brokers will be willing to negotiate on terms in order to make those sales.

Can Both Corporate and Personal Aircraft Owners Benefit?

 Absolutely! Actually, securing your aircraft loan early is the surest way to reap the benefits of depreciation and minimize your tax burden. 

“There’s always a rush of clients who approach the finance team in mid-December looking to complete a loan on a large purchase before the end of the year,” Laseter said. “That’s our busiest time, so while we do our best to satisfy this request, it can be difficult.” 

Both corporate and personal buyers can get ahead by submitting the necessary documents as early as possible. Once approved, it’s simple to get reapproved if any time lapses.

Why Have Financing Preapproved in the Fall?

Two of the biggest factors that prolong the financing process are submitting all financial documents in a timely and accurate manner and finding the right deal on the aircraft that suits your needs. Completing the financing side of the equation means you can focus on shopping with confidence in your financial situation. 

The bigger and more complex the airplane, the more in depth the process has to be. Pre-buy inspections, appraisals, logbook review, and other factors mean you’ll want to line up your loan as early as possible so you can be satisfied with a thoroughly vetted aircraft. 

Without preapproval, the time, energy, and money spent on choosing and inspecting the right aircraft can be wasted.

“Just like with buying a house, someone who has an approval in hand when making an offer on an aircraft will be taken more seriously than someone without,” said Laseter. “If you have an approval and the aircraft of your dreams pops up for sale, you can move quickly on the sale and have less risk of the seller going with a cash buyer.”

How to Get Started 

Depending on how your finances are arranged, it’s a good idea to reach out to any investment brokers, accountants, or wealth management firms you work with to get a complete picture of your assets and liquidity. Likewise, make sure you know the details on any existing loans or liabilities so you can go into the pre-approval process with realistic goals. 

If you aren’t sure what documents you’ll need, the FLYING Finance team is here to help you with any questions. Getting started today will get you into your dream aircraft sooner. 

Instead of spending the holidays struggling to finalize details, you can be flying and enjoying the skies.

The post Beat the Holiday Time Crunch: Get Preapproved for an Aircraft Loan Now appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Middle Tennessee State University offers one of the largest aviation schools in the country, and the program continues to grow. 

“We have a handful of programs that draw students from around the country and really around the world, and aerospace is one of those,” MTSU Provost Mark Byrnes said. 

MTSU has over 20,000 students enrolled across its various academic programs, and Byrnes estimates that about 1,200 – or more than 5% – of those students are part of the university’s aerospace program. 

In fact, the aerospace program has outgrown its space at Murfreesboro Municipal Airport, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee (KMBT) – both in the air and on the ground. In order to create more space for students to clock their flight hours, the university is creating a space for itself in neighboring Shelbyville, Tennessee at Shelbyville Municipal Airport (KSYI). The move was made possible by a $65 million allocation from the state. 

“[Shelbyville Municipal Airport] is going to be getting some amazing state of the art renovations and advancements,” Byrnes said. 

The Shelbyville location will be the new full-time training ground for the approximately 900 students participating in the aerospace program’s professional pilot track. Aerospace students with other concentrations – like air traffic control – will continue to utilize their current set-up in Murfreesboro for the time being.

In addition to creating a holistic program for future aviation professionals themselves, MTSU partners with organizations across the industry to provide even more opportunities for students to advance in the field. 

MTSU participates in training and recruitment programs with major airlines, including the Delta Propel and Southwest Destination 225° initiatives. When students are selected to participate in these programs, the airlines come alongside the university and help cater their training. After graduation, selected students are able to accelerate their careers with the airlines. 

Another distinct advantage of pursuing flight training at a university like MTSU is the ability to earn a four-year college degree at the same time. 

“Our pilots graduate with a true university degree. It prepares them both to fly the aircraft and pursue careers that could go beyond their time in the aircraft,” MTSU Vice President of Marketing Andrew Oppmann said. 

As interest in aviation grows among high school students, MTSU continues to spotlight its aerospace program during recruitment events like the school’s annual True Blue Tour. The bus tour travels to four states and 14 cities in order to engage with potential students.  According to Oppmann, potential aerospace students are often among the crowd.

Click here to learn more about MTSU’s aerospace program.

The post MTSU Offers Growing Aerospace Opportunities for Future Aviation Pros appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Redbird director of STEM education Greg Roark wants to get students thinking about what they want to do after high school—the earlier, the better. For kids interested in aviation, the future career options are vast, including everything from aircraft maintenance and air traffic control to flying 

When school districts partner with Redbird, its students have the opportunity to explore  these options and more. The company offers simulation options ranging from desktop products to FAA-approved flight training devices (FTDs), colloquially known as simulators. 

“[Schools] can do everything from experiential types of things through aviation with our simulators all the way up to producing pilots with various levels of certification,” Roark said.

With the help of Redbird, high school students can gain relevant, real-world experience and have the opportunity to achieve industry certifications from the FAA before graduation. This provides them with a wealth of knowledge when they finally take to the skies.

“When they get on the flight deck, they’ve already been there,” Roark said.

Roark, a former classroom teacher, is still motivated by helping kids learn and watching them develop a growing passion for aviation. Now he impacts classrooms across the entire country. 

“I was a classroom teacher for a long time before I came to Redbird,” Roark said. “Many times, we sort of forget how kids learn. When you create opportunities for them and let them show you what is possible, it’s humbling.”

Roark has experienced that humbling sensation with multiple kids, including past students who have gone on to pursue full-time careers in aviation. 

“You have these people that come into your classroom and you know instantly that there is something special,” Roark said.

As Roark works to make simulation-fueled education accessible to more kids in more places, he urges educators and other school leaders to consider how they can best serve the students in their schools—whether that means bringing aviation education to elementary students or building full scale high school programs. 

“It is all about what is right for your school, your stakeholders and your communities,” Roark said. “What does success look like for you, for your students?”

Once a school district decides to integrate simulation into their aeronautics programs, it often becomes a question of how. Funds are not always readily available, but Roark encourages school leaders to explore potential grants. He also urges school districts to consider local fundraising as a viable option.

Ultimately, he is dedicated to helping schools and parents find ways to engage children in the future of aviation.

“We will find a pathway,” Roark said.

School districts and parents interested in learning more about aviation education options can contact Roark at groark@redbirdflight.com.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY Redbird Flight Simulations

Click here to learn more about Redbird Flight Simulations.

The post Simulators Encourage Students to Pursue Careers in Aviation appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Flight training standout Redbird Flight Simulations announced its newest training offering—a mixed reality simulator—at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024. The product utilizes innovative technology to create a truly modern training option in a format that is already somewhat familiar to people with virtual reality experience. 

The new training device will make it possible for current and future pilots to experience a livestream version of what is happening outside the cockpit of an aircraft, while still being able to see their own hands manipulating the training device when looking down. 

During AirVenture Redbird Flight Simulations CEO Todd Willinger and vice president of marketing Josh Harnagel talked about the new product, which is slated to be commercially available by the end of the year.

“It is like virtual reality and augmented reality had a baby, and now it’s mixed reality,” Willinger said.

Schools across the nation are taking an increased interest in preparing students for futures in flying, and Redbird has a growing presence in the K-12 school environment, including career technical education.

“High schools are starting to invest in flight simulation to build the pilot pipeline,” Willinger said.

Many children have experience with virtual technology through video games, making the new mixed reality simulator a natural and attractive training tool for learning. 

“Kids are using these devices at home, so it becomes a natural expansion into the training environment,” Willinger said. 

Redbird hosted a Sim Lab for middle and high school students attending AirVenture. The company offered daily classes covering a wide range of aviation topics—from aerodynamics to weather. The demand for this type of offering further illustrates the next generation’s growing interest in flying. 

“Education is really important and we want to get people interested in aviation as early as possible,” Willinger said. 

Beyond educating tomorrow’s pilots, Redbird’s new mixed reality device offers a wealth of benefits for those already in the field. For many adults, however, the technology behind this new way of learning is more foreign. 

“It will be interesting to see what sort of adoption occurs in the traditional flight training environment,” Willinger said. 

Many organizations—including the U.S. military and commercial airlines—have already started to incorporate mixed reality into the training protocols. This early adoption points to a continuously growing demand for mixed reality flight training options across all different pilot demographics.

Redbird has been on the cutting edge of simulation technology since its inception in 2006. This is largely because the company was created by flying enthusiasts with a passion for making aviation more accessible via modern technology.

“Those of us that started the company didn’t have a background in aviation business, and I think that helped us,” Willinger said. “We looked at things differently than a traditional aviation would have.

Redbird leadership’s nontraditional viewpoints have helped the company stay dedicated to their mission and continue innovating for almost 20 years. 

Click here to learn more about how Redbird is working to make flying more accessible.

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AVweb editor-in-chief Russ Niles had the pleasure of joining Goulian at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to delve into the details of airshow circuit life. 

According to Goulian, he’s often asked why he still performs dangerous stunts after nearly three decades of aerobatics.

“The biggest thing for an airshow pilot is that every day is different—the weather conditions, the wind, our fitness, the airplane, the terrain, the airport,” Goulian said. “Every time you take to the air to do an airshow, it’s a huge challenge, so you never get bored of it. At Oshkosh, you’re here with thousands of your closest friends who are all watching you fly, and you have to bring your ‘A’ game. That keeps it exciting.” 

As aviation technology has improved, aerobatics and competitive flying have also reached higher limits and become more dynamic. Composite propellers, carbon fiber frames, and other advancements in material and equipment production have expanded on what aerobatic pilots can accomplish.

“It’s hard to overstate how much better maneuverability is than it was just 20 years ago,” Goulian said. 

Similarly, the airshows themselves are more in depth.

“A few decades ago, pilots would fly on their own,” he said. “Today, we all have coaches. We have teams watching and guiding from the ground. We have telemetry in our aircraft. These improvements to technology and process mean that airshows like EAA AirVenture have much higher production quality.” 

Each year, a host of pilots and teams like Goulian’s travel across the country to perform at a variety of locations. The airshow circuit in North America follows the weather, typically starting in Florida, moving up the East Coast, winding through the Midwest and down to Texas, hitting sunny California in the fall, and finally returning to Florida again at the end of the year. 

Goulian flies roughly 18 shows each year, between smaller community events and larger-scale industry events.

“We have a tractor trailer that does about 50,000 miles a year,” he said. “The airplane does about 200 hours per year cross-country, and we have a whole team. It’s really a big circus on the road and in the air.”

One of the highlights of the aerobatics for Goulian and his family is the close-knit community that has developed around the airshow circuit.

“Your heroes become your friends,” he said. “I have friends all over the country, and because I was in the Red Bull Air Race, all over the world. We travel with the [Air Force] Thunderbirds, the [Navy] Blue Angels, [aerobatic pilots] Rob Holland, Kevin Coleman, Kyle Franklin, and Matt Younkin. We’re all like a big family.”

AirVenture, arranged annually by the Experimental Aircraft Association, is the biggest aviation event on the calendar, with nearly 700,000 attendees and more than 10,000 participating aircraft. For Goulian and other aerobatic pilots, Oshkosh is a special place.

“For me, the thrill of Oshkosh is all the [aerobatic pilots] who went before me—Charlie Hillard, Tom Poberezny, Gene Soucy, the French Connection,” he said. “You’re flying in front of a group of educated, amazing people who love aviation just like we do, and you’re on the same stage that the greats have been.” 

In his own small way, Goulian wants to contribute to the legacy and history of EAA and AirVenture. 

Goulian was raised in the aviation world his entire life, originally working in the flight school business with his parents. After making his own name in the competitive and airshow scenes, he returned to his roots and started Mike Goulian Aviation at two locations in Massachusetts (Bedford and Plymouth), with his wife. Now, in addition to the airshow circuit, Goulian runs two Cirrus Training Centers. 

“We’re training people in upset recovery and aerobatics, as well as grass airport and back country flying, so we’re trying to make complete pilots with a range of skills,” Goulian said. 

Thankfully, advances in training and technology have made it much safer for student pilots to learn their limits.

“I remember at flight school in the ’80s, you have a gyro with a vacuum pump and you’re worried about the clouds, but not as much today,” Goulian said. 

With the technology moving as fast as it has, the complex airspace learning environment has become simpler for many pilots, aided by simulation training, solid state instruments, and more redundancies than ever.

“All I really hope is that the tech will continue to make it easier and more fun so more people can get into flying,” Goulian said. 

BROUGHT TO YOU BY Whelen Aerospace Technologies

Click here to learn more about Whelen Aerospace Technologies. 

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