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) and a 94-year-old institution, is permanently closing due to the infeasibility of offering general aviation services at the airport.
The closure was abrupt, with employees informed on November 21st and customers the next day, and employees were told there would be no severance or cashing out of unused vacation days.
Galvin's closure, reportedly involving financial difficulties and high lease payments, further diminishes general aviation presence at KBFI and follows failed acquisition talks with Rainier Flight Center.
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.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
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.
