Any good ideas?
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 47
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From: USA
Any good ideas?
Here's a good one for those of you involved in the instructional side of the business...
Have done a search but not thrown up much, basically I've recently started at a small flight school as a Helicopter CFI (soon to be CFII). The volume of students isn't proving to be quite as large as I'd hoped, and I was wondering if anyone had any bright ideas for attracting new students to come and train with us - and of course, more selfishly, me.
We have 3 helicopters one of which is an IR trainer, a brand new Flyit sim, a 141 approved groundschool program for the ppl, and IR and Commercial programs submitted to the FAA (so no VA students yet). The location is 12 miles from the centre of a big city, we have pretty much no competition with 3-4 hours drive. We are also able to do Part 91 commercial work.
I know there are some smart people reading this forum who've been in my shoes, and was hoping that they'd feel like sharing whatever they did to make themselves/their school more successful.
Thanks for your help!
Have done a search but not thrown up much, basically I've recently started at a small flight school as a Helicopter CFI (soon to be CFII). The volume of students isn't proving to be quite as large as I'd hoped, and I was wondering if anyone had any bright ideas for attracting new students to come and train with us - and of course, more selfishly, me.
We have 3 helicopters one of which is an IR trainer, a brand new Flyit sim, a 141 approved groundschool program for the ppl, and IR and Commercial programs submitted to the FAA (so no VA students yet). The location is 12 miles from the centre of a big city, we have pretty much no competition with 3-4 hours drive. We are also able to do Part 91 commercial work.
I know there are some smart people reading this forum who've been in my shoes, and was hoping that they'd feel like sharing whatever they did to make themselves/their school more successful.
Thanks for your help!
Avoid imitations
Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 15,110
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From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Advertise, Advertise, Advertise! Any publicity is good.
Why not fly up the beach at low level displaying a placard saying "Show us your tits!"
It worked in Australia.......
Why not fly up the beach at low level displaying a placard saying "Show us your tits!"
It worked in Australia.......
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: The Blue nowhere
Best trick since you are in the US is to make it affordable to come to your school. Two ways of doing this are to look for ex-service personell who can use the GI bill to pay for their Commercial, Instrument and CFI (I).
The other way is to get a bank or credit fund to audit you to provide loans to students, it is possible but requires a lot of work on the school side to get the finance arranged.
Also a good safety record goes a long way with smart students.
Good luck,
Lunar
The other way is to get a bank or credit fund to audit you to provide loans to students, it is possible but requires a lot of work on the school side to get the finance arranged.
Also a good safety record goes a long way with smart students.
Good luck,
Lunar
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 518
Likes: 0
From: England
schools
Having recently, decided to train for my pplh, here in the UK
I looked at many many schools, here and overseas, and decided to train where i'm going to fly, the UK
So then , which school, what swung it for me, was a very friendly
reception, I received at a local school, nothing was too much trouble, even though, they were a bit busy, when I popped in, I was invited to have a sit in the R22, the informal, friendly atmosphere, was just what i wanted, Rather than, high tech glass and chrome building with pretty receptionist, glossy brochure etc , Im very happy, where I learn
I looked at many many schools, here and overseas, and decided to train where i'm going to fly, the UK
So then , which school, what swung it for me, was a very friendly
reception, I received at a local school, nothing was too much trouble, even though, they were a bit busy, when I popped in, I was invited to have a sit in the R22, the informal, friendly atmosphere, was just what i wanted, Rather than, high tech glass and chrome building with pretty receptionist, glossy brochure etc , Im very happy, where I learn
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: USA
highfinal,
May I suggest the following: book a conference room at a downtown hotel for an afternoon, then advertise locally (in papers, at FBO's, local high schools, colleges and perhaps even on the radio), inviting people to your seminar on becoming a helicopter pilot. You should be able to get a room full of people eager to hear about your training program. If you're ready with a great presentation (think informative lecture, in-depth Q and A session, slides on overhead projector and plenty of handouts with helpful information on things like cost, financing, etc.) I bet you'll sign up at least a half dozen students each time. Don't forget to order some coldcuts.
There is one caveat, and I feel I should mention this only because I've heard about other schools that organize these events and are getting carried away a little bit sometimes: Tell The Truth! There's plenty of positive things you can say about a career as a helicopter pilot and it shouldn't be neccessary to paint an overly rosy picture of the effort involved or to embellish your story with inflated projections of future earnings. You'll find that students are generally able to tell when they're being bull$#@&tted and will put their trust in you if they perceive you to be honest and upfront.
Good luck,
May I suggest the following: book a conference room at a downtown hotel for an afternoon, then advertise locally (in papers, at FBO's, local high schools, colleges and perhaps even on the radio), inviting people to your seminar on becoming a helicopter pilot. You should be able to get a room full of people eager to hear about your training program. If you're ready with a great presentation (think informative lecture, in-depth Q and A session, slides on overhead projector and plenty of handouts with helpful information on things like cost, financing, etc.) I bet you'll sign up at least a half dozen students each time. Don't forget to order some coldcuts.
There is one caveat, and I feel I should mention this only because I've heard about other schools that organize these events and are getting carried away a little bit sometimes: Tell The Truth! There's plenty of positive things you can say about a career as a helicopter pilot and it shouldn't be neccessary to paint an overly rosy picture of the effort involved or to embellish your story with inflated projections of future earnings. You'll find that students are generally able to tell when they're being bull$#@&tted and will put their trust in you if they perceive you to be honest and upfront.
Good luck,
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 1
From: USA
Re: Any good ideas?
Can I suggest that you pull together full packages that are complete, and allow a newbie to understand the entire task ahead - flight, ground, equipment, tests, hotel meals, transportation, miscellaneous. Line up local financing in each prospect country, so you can send the prospects to a bank for a means to pay. A good web site with these items detailed and some costs layed out will help people know the big picture. Of course, they should be realistic, so that one can count on them as planning figures.
Then advertize everywhere, get your name out, and show the city that you are in, with its attractions. Conduct meetings at airports in prospect countries, well advertized, and distribute materials. Have the local press cover the meeting (buy an ad and then ask them to cover the event in the regular pages, they bend over for advertisers). There will be 100 people who print and read 20 times a day what you describe for everyone who contacts you, and only 1% of them will sign up, but that 1% will spread the word.
Then advertize everywhere, get your name out, and show the city that you are in, with its attractions. Conduct meetings at airports in prospect countries, well advertized, and distribute materials. Have the local press cover the meeting (buy an ad and then ask them to cover the event in the regular pages, they bend over for advertisers). There will be 100 people who print and read 20 times a day what you describe for everyone who contacts you, and only 1% of them will sign up, but that 1% will spread the word.
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 438
Likes: 2
From: Derby
Re: Any good ideas?
You could put together a series of smaller packages, say a 5 hour taster, a 10 hour "Master the hover square" and so on. It'll break things up into smaller more digestible chunks and allow people who maybe don't want to go the whole hog to come away with something. Some people want more than a half hour trial lesson, but won't be too keen on the costs of a full PPL. You'll have 5 hours to change their minds. Others will go away happy having hovered the beast, with no further ambitions. Again you'll have plenty of time to change their minds. Make sure you point out that all the hours count, if they do decide to continue.
It may be worth taking a stall to the local farm/country shows, or just turn up at them, talk, hand out leaflets, talk, stress how useful a helicopter could be to a landowner, try and get people who've never even thought about aviation to come to your school and have a look.
And vitally, as tangovictor pointed out, treat your students or potential students as people. Friendly, informal, underpinned by a sense of professionalism is the atmosphere to aim for. Anyone walks through the door looking a bit lost, sling a coffee and chocolate Hob Nob in their hands and chat.
It may be worth taking a stall to the local farm/country shows, or just turn up at them, talk, hand out leaflets, talk, stress how useful a helicopter could be to a landowner, try and get people who've never even thought about aviation to come to your school and have a look.
And vitally, as tangovictor pointed out, treat your students or potential students as people. Friendly, informal, underpinned by a sense of professionalism is the atmosphere to aim for. Anyone walks through the door looking a bit lost, sling a coffee and chocolate Hob Nob in their hands and chat.
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Cairns, Australia
Re: Any good ideas?
Not sure the FAA laws on this one as I am in Aus but one thing we did was take one of our smaller machines into the centre of town and do 10 min scenics flights from a local park. Banners on the trees to advertise etc and if the machine is flying the banners do your advertising and if it is stationery they will stop and chat. Make the scenics quick and affordable for the average guy out walking his dog and you will be surprised at how many people he tells and how many people turn up next weekend.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: USA
Re: Any good ideas?
Just wanted to say thanks for the support people have shown in posting back, and the really helpful PMs. Been working on a couple of the suggestions, and been spurred to come up with a few more of my own. Hopefully they will start to pay off as winter begins to melt away!
