SPANISH FORT AL -Technology and innovation
combine at Fairhope's Zulu Flight Training. Their business model, first class
and edgy, is located as a retail storefront in a high-end Spanish Fort, Eastern
Shore Shopping Centre. Enter a unique
flight training concept where inside is two each-
Basic Aviation Training Device, BATD, Redbird TD2 and two
each- AATD FMX 1000
Redbird Full Motion simulators and begin a new curriculum to become a pilot.
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According to Gloria Liu, Zulu's General Manager, part two of the program- the Fairhope Airport, is 14 miles south of the Shopping Centre flight simulators. Simulators provide training no matter what the weather, are closer to the local community and offer convenience features to clients. Flight instructors are paired with their students individually, both flight and "sim time", for consistency.
Liu says historically student starts have an 80% drop out rate and the average new pilot is men over age 45. Convenience and professionalism at Zulu is designed to retain a new student population with a maximum of efficiency. The private pilot course is 18 device or sim lessons and 27 flight hours on the"glass panel", G1000.
FAA Industry Training Standards (FITS) syllabus concept to train pilots is a scenario based training program which is particularly effective in training today's pilots in Technically Advanced Aircraft. Located at the Fairhope Airport Continental's Service Center is two Cessna 172s with G1000 panels used for flight training.
Liu explained some students are enrolled as a company perk offered by her employer Continental Motors, up to ten slots are allowed and the rest are for the community. Currently there are about 30 clients enrolled and three full time instructors. Most are close to completion with only one dropout. After she designed the Zulu business model for Continental Motors and operations began in July, three "experimental" students have gone through the program. Liu is among the current group of student pilots soon to graduate.
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Some marketing for new students includes offering coupons to win a mug for landing on a carrier within 10 minutes in a sim, a billboard, and inviting the public inside for a look at the program. Students who are inspired to fly come from family, community circles, drawn from curiosity and off the street. The goal is to make the program economically sustainable and have students complete the program on time and on budget. Instructors aid in pushing the training forward, a mindset to work together to further develop the curriculum and push the agenda forward. Some Mississippi students are driving past two other schools to attend Zulu according to Liu.
The old days of "out the box" Part 141 training programs are dimming and the bright future of flight training is becoming not only a global issue to produce pilots but to introduce China to the world of General Aviation. Zulu is an incubator for a potential training module in the Cirrus with Chinese partners of Continental Motors. The future is promising for many possibilities, perhaps a franchise or Zulu training clubs, community outreach for introducing Cadets to flying and schools. Maybe Airbus would adopt the company perk for flight training Mobile Assembly employees.
Zulu's parent company, Continental Motors Inc., is a major player in the future of General Aviation. Major investment and involvement by the industry is necessary to ensure that General Aviation continues to be a viable part of our economy, thereby ensuring the health and future of our flying community. -B Meyer, FMI: ZULU
According to Gloria Liu, Zulu's General Manager, part two of the program- the Fairhope Airport, is 14 miles south of the Shopping Centre flight simulators. Simulators provide training no matter what the weather, are closer to the local community and offer convenience features to clients. Flight instructors are paired with their students individually, both flight and "sim time", for consistency.
Liu says historically student starts have an 80% drop out rate and the average new pilot is men over age 45. Convenience and professionalism at Zulu is designed to retain a new student population with a maximum of efficiency. The private pilot course is 18 device or sim lessons and 27 flight hours on the"glass panel", G1000.
FAA Industry Training Standards (FITS) syllabus concept to train pilots is a scenario based training program which is particularly effective in training today's pilots in Technically Advanced Aircraft. Located at the Fairhope Airport Continental's Service Center is two Cessna 172s with G1000 panels used for flight training.
Liu explained some students are enrolled as a company perk offered by her employer Continental Motors, up to ten slots are allowed and the rest are for the community. Currently there are about 30 clients enrolled and three full time instructors. Most are close to completion with only one dropout. After she designed the Zulu business model for Continental Motors and operations began in July, three "experimental" students have gone through the program. Liu is among the current group of student pilots soon to graduate.
Some marketing for new students includes offering coupons to win a mug for landing on a carrier within 10 minutes in a sim, a billboard, and inviting the public inside for a look at the program. Students who are inspired to fly come from family, community circles, drawn from curiosity and off the street. The goal is to make the program economically sustainable and have students complete the program on time and on budget. Instructors aid in pushing the training forward, a mindset to work together to further develop the curriculum and push the agenda forward. Some Mississippi students are driving past two other schools to attend Zulu according to Liu.
The old days of "out the box" Part 141 training programs are dimming and the bright future of flight training is becoming not only a global issue to produce pilots but to introduce China to the world of General Aviation. Zulu is an incubator for a potential training module in the Cirrus with Chinese partners of Continental Motors. The future is promising for many possibilities, perhaps a franchise or Zulu training clubs, community outreach for introducing Cadets to flying and schools. Maybe Airbus would adopt the company perk for flight training Mobile Assembly employees.
Zulu's parent company, Continental Motors Inc., is a major player in the future of General Aviation. Major investment and involvement by the industry is necessary to ensure that General Aviation continues to be a viable part of our economy, thereby ensuring the health and future of our flying community. -B Meyer, FMI: ZULU