Corporate Traffic at FBO's

PGA07 · July 27th, 2006, 09:56

This is a subject for all of you Corporate/Fractional/Charter guys/gals (and anyone else who may have input) out there. As some of you may have seen from my other posts, this is the area of aviation I have my heart set on. I have narrowed my choice down to two schools, the situations are as follows:

1). This school is slightly more expensive, the typical students are business professionals who are looking for a hobby, there is a steady flow of students at all levels (plenty of instructing opps. here), larger airport, about 100 based turbine aircraft with many more flying in and out every day, corporate lounge is on the otherside of the field.

2). This school is the only flight training institution on the field, has fewer students (mixed age and training range), smaller airport that will be expanding (almost double in the next 5 years), maybe 50 turbine based aircraft with some additional flying in and out, corporate lounge is within the training FBO.

Would it be easier to network at the smaller airfield (with both based and non-based operators)?

Do you go where there are more students to build that time faster?

Do you go with the cheapest route?

Do you consider the expansion of the smaller field?

Just a few questions for you experienced folks out there. Sorry for the long post, just trying to get all of the baskets in a line before I choose. Please feel free to bring up another topic that I may have missed, and Thank You!

Swen · July 28th, 2006, 13:30

I got lost. Are you looking to instruct or do you still need to get your certificates?

PGA07 · July 29th, 2006, 09:24

Still need the ratings. Yet I want to try to accomplish everything in one location.

frog_flyer · July 29th, 2006, 16:29

That's pretty optimistic.

Texasspilot · July 30th, 2006, 22:37

right now I would go to the cheapest place possible.

ready2fly · August 1st, 2006, 14:16

Optimistic, yes, but it can be done. At my former FBO, I was able to get all my ratings, instruct, AND fly some SMALL corporate (mostly in single-engine pistons, but some in a C-90).

It's all about location, location, location.

SwimAway · November 27th, 2006, 10:19

I would say go with the larger airport. Bigger airport, more traffic, more like what you'll be flying if you end up on a jet. There are also more chances of networking I'm sure.

As for your ratings... they can be done at one location... I am not one to talk... I changed flight schools every other rating.

DA-2000guy · November 28th, 2006, 19:06

I would have to say the cheaper route. No one knows where you get your ratings until its time for a type then you only have a few choices anyway. You can always get your ratings and move over and instruct at the school with more students.

I've found that flight training on primary level is pretty much the same if you find a good instructor. Talk to his/her current students then choose. You can always change your mind. I did several times.

MichaelCPS · December 7th, 2006, 13:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGA07

This is a subject for all of you Corporate/Fractional/Charter guys/gals (and anyone else who may have input) out there. As some of you may have seen from my other posts, this is the area of aviation I have my heart set on. I have narrowed my choice down to two schools, the situations are as follows:

1). This school is slightly more expensive, the typical students are business professionals who are looking for a hobby, there is a steady flow of students at all levels (plenty of instructing opps. here), larger airport, about 100 based turbine aircraft with many more flying in and out every day, corporate lounge is on the otherside of the field.

2). This school is the only flight training institution on the field, has fewer students (mixed age and training range), smaller airport that will be expanding (almost double in the next 5 years), maybe 50 turbine based aircraft with some additional flying in and out, corporate lounge is within the training FBO.

Would it be easier to network at the smaller airfield (with both based and non-based operators)?

Do you go where there are more students to build that time faster?

Do you go with the cheapest route?

Do you consider the expansion of the smaller field?

Just a few questions for you experienced folks out there. Sorry for the long post, just trying to get all of the baskets in a line before I choose. Please feel free to bring up another topic that I may have missed, and Thank You!

I would go with choice #1. With business professionals coming through the school, they are also potential aircraft buyers. What I have found is that ALOT of those guys are going to want a second pilot along on trips. It is a good and easy way to build time once you get your CFI. Plus, those guys might end up buying bigger equipment and they will remember you if you provided them with good service. You could end up in a Kingair or even right seat of a Citation in no time.

Michael

July 28th, 2006, 13:30	#2
Swen Old Skool Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,596	Re: Corporate Traffic at FBO's I got lost. Are you looking to instruct or do you still need to get your certificates? __________________ "Who'd you give it to? Where's the meat?"

July 29th, 2006, 09:24	#3
PGA07 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Western Chi-Town Burb's Posts: 601	Re: Corporate Traffic at FBO's Still need the ratings. Yet I want to try to accomplish everything in one location.

July 29th, 2006, 16:29	#4
frog_flyer Old Skool Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: FTW Posts: 4,005 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Corporate Traffic at FBO's That's pretty optimistic. __________________ "There needs to be more drinking here on JC. We need more ******* partying!" -Doug Taylor 210TT 20 ME

July 30th, 2006, 22:37	#5
Texasspilot Old Skool Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 2,077	Re: Corporate Traffic at FBO's right now I would go to the cheapest place possible.

November 27th, 2006, 10:19	#7
SwimAway Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Anchorage AK Posts: 83	Re: Corporate Traffic at FBO's I would say go with the larger airport. Bigger airport, more traffic, more like what you'll be flying if you end up on a jet. There are also more chances of networking I'm sure. As for your ratings... they can be done at one location... I am not one to talk... I changed flight schools every other rating. __________________ Corporate, Contract and Fractional Aviation

July 27th, 2006, 09:56	#1
PGA07 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Western Chi-Town Burb's Posts: 601	Corporate Traffic at FBO's This is a subject for all of you Corporate/Fractional/Charter guys/gals (and anyone else who may have input) out there. As some of you may have seen from my other posts, this is the area of aviation I have my heart set on. I have narrowed my choice down to two schools, the situations are as follows: 1). This school is slightly more expensive, the typical students are business professionals who are looking for a hobby, there is a steady flow of students at all levels (plenty of instructing opps. here), larger airport, about 100 based turbine aircraft with many more flying in and out every day, corporate lounge is on the otherside of the field. 2). This school is the only flight training institution on the field, has fewer students (mixed age and training range), smaller airport that will be expanding (almost double in the next 5 years), maybe 50 turbine based aircraft with some additional flying in and out, corporate lounge is within the training FBO. Would it be easier to network at the smaller airfield (with both based and non-based operators)? Do you go where there are more students to build that time faster? Do you go with the cheapest route? Do you consider the expansion of the smaller field? Just a few questions for you experienced folks out there. Sorry for the long post, just trying to get all of the baskets in a line before I choose. Please feel free to bring up another topic that I may have missed, and Thank You!

November 28th, 2006, 19:06	#8
DA-2000guy Newbie Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The good Ole South Posts: 16	Re: Corporate Traffic at FBO's I would have to say the cheaper route. No one knows where you get your ratings until its time for a type then you only have a few choices anyway. You can always get your ratings and move over and instruct at the school with more students. I've found that flight training on primary level is pretty much the same if you find a good instructor. Talk to his/her current students then choose. You can always change your mind. I did several times.

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