Flight Schools and CFIs

How can Sport Pilot 2.0 positively impact you as a flight school owner or independent CFI?

With increased accessibility comes more opportunities to train more students. Gone are the days of needing special equipment to train sport pilots. No initial investment is required to offer sport pilot training; you can use what you already have!

Here’s what’s in it for you:

Enhance your current fleet’s utility with more attractive flight training options: Changing the aircraft eligible to be flown by sport pilots or those exercising sport pilot privileges from an arbitrary weight limit to performance-based metrics allows for larger and more capable aircraft. Avoid the 80% dropout rate experienced by most flight schools today — fewer required hours mean a higher completion rate, and more overall revenue.

• S-LSA and E-LSA provide exciting new opportunities for training, rental, and aircraft sales.

Increase student completion rate, equating to more ongoing business: With more flight training aircraft available, the opportunities flight schools have within their sport pilot training operations can grow. A more robust sport pilot program utilizing existing and new fleets of aircraft, as well as more flight instructors, can increase the overall number of students and completion rates, leading to a more successful business!

• Stepping-stone to other certificates (retain your trainees)!
• Fewer barriers to entry mean more potential students to train.
• Current fleet immediately available, no special equipment required.
• Creates a clear path for those looking to fly for recreation.
• Develop long-term customers that will stay in your market.

Develop and utilize more Sport Pilot CFIs: Sport Pilot 2.0 creates a path for experienced private pilots and sport pilots to become sport pilot certified flight instructors, providing FBOs with additional revenue streams and additional instructor resources that can provide a long-term instructor base to supplement traditional CFIs.

• CFI-SPs are generally instructional certificates for pilots who are enthusiasts rather than on a professional career track, increasing retention as they are not on the airline career path.
• Opportunity to grow CFI base.
• Lower barrier to entry for existing pilots to become instructors without a high investment — it’s more attainable and affordable with options such as insurance via a flight school, and no commercial or instrument rating required.
• Increases availability for checkouts, sport pilot flight reviews, and endorsements.

Have more questions? EAA's Vice President of Government Affairs addresses questions from flight schools on The Aviation Business Podcast below!