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 94-year-old and last fixed-wing flight school at King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KBFI), abruptly closed its operations in late November, informing employees and customers.
The closure was attributed to the infeasibility of providing competitive general aviation services at Boeing Field, further diminishing the airport's shrinking GA presence.
Considered a "Seattle institution" and a vital pipeline for generations of pilots, Galvin's sudden shutdown surprised the local aviation community, with employees reportedly receiving no severance or vacation payouts.
Earlier discussions for a potential acquisition by Rainier Flight Center, another local flight school facing its own lease termination issues, reportedly fell through prior to Galvin's closure.
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.
