Gold Rush Is On for Flight Schools Offering LSA Models

Friday, December 17, 2021 at 10:58 AM ET

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Sling Pilot Academy has found success using Sling Light-Sport NGTs for initial airline pilot training. Credit: Sling Pilot Academy

Key Takeaways:

The aviation industry is experiencing a severe commercial pilot shortage, creating significant career opportunities like hiring bonuses and faster progression for aspiring pilots.
Sling Pilot Academy (SPA) addresses this demand by employing modern Light Sport Airplanes (LSAs), specifically the Sling NGT, as their primary training aircraft.
The Sling NGT offers multiple benefits for pilot training, including high student retention rates (90%), development of superior "stick-and-rudder" skills, substantial cost savings for students due to fuel efficiency, and proficiency with advanced, airline-relevant avionics.
This modern training approach successfully prepares students for professional careers, with SPA graduates being rapidly hired by regional airlines and other commercial operators.

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Pre-pandemic, the commercial pilot shortage was top of mind for just about anyone in the aviation community. Then, COVID-19 ravaged the globe, airline travel took a massive hit, and in survival mode airlines began shedding pilots through furloughs and early retirement packages.

Fast-forward to today, and airline travel is back in a big way, even as new variants of the coronavirus emerge. What’s also back is that troublesome pilot shortage, with every major and regional airline, and many Part 135 operators scrambling to find qualified, current pilots to fill their front seats.