Flight Schools Consider Dropping Knowledge Tests

FSANA said that changes in the pricing structure could potentially lead to increased barriers to training and increased costs associated with taking a test.

Meg Godlewski

Thursday, December 15, 2022 at 04:55 PM ET

Verified

FSANA's latest newsletter contains a survey asking about the impact of the closure of third party testing centers at flight schools. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

PSI, the sole FAA contractor for knowledge tests, significantly cut the compensation for third-party testing centers (flight schools/FBOs) from $65 to $22 per test.
This reduction makes it financially unviable for many flight schools and FBOs to continue providing the tests, as the new rate does not cover their operational costs.
The Flight School Association of North America (FSANA) is gathering feedback, concerned that widespread closures of testing sites will create barriers, increase travel, and raise costs for aviation students.

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Is your flight school or FBO getting out of the knowledge test business? The Flight School Association of North America (FSANA) would like to hear about it.

According to the latest newsletter from FSANA, changes in the pricing by PSI Services, LLC—the only company with the FAA contract to provide the tests— might prompt several flight schools and FBOs that provide the tests as a convenience to their customers to close their doors. The flight schools and FBOs are third party providers and have no say in the cost of the tests.