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 flight school at King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KBFI), has abruptly closed after 94 years, citing the infeasibility of providing general aviation services at the airport.
The closure affects 40 employees who will not receive severance or compensation for unused vacation days, and over 100 customers.
As the last fixed-wing flight school at KBFI, Galvin Flying's departure further diminishes the general aviation presence at the airport, a trend that has seen many flight school spaces replaced by corporate hangars.
Prior acquisition talks with Rainier Flight Center, another local flight school facing its own lease termination issues, reportedly fell through before Galvin's closure announcement.
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.
