After 94 years and more than 20,000 pilots trained, Galvin Flying Center at KBFI shuts down. [Courtesy: Meg Godlewski]
Key Takeaways:
Galvin Flying, the oldest operating flight school at King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KBFI), is closing after 94 years, citing the infeasibility of providing general aviation services at the airport.
The abrupt closure, announced to employees and customers in late November, left approximately 40 employees without severance pay and surprised local aviation officials and King County, who stated it was Galvin's business decision.
The historic flight school, which trained over 20,000 pilots and was the last fixed-wing flight school at KBFI, further diminishes general aviation presence at an airport increasingly converted to corporate hangars.
SEATTLE—“It is with a heavy heart that I share unfortunate news…”
So began an email sentlate last month to employees of Galvin Flying, the oldest operating flight school at King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KBFI), informing them that the business was closing after 94 years in operation.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
