After a year and half of testing its dual site flight training approach, Zulu Flight Training is exporting its model to Europe.
A division of Continental Motors, Zulu Flight Training has established a new method of training private pilots and instrument rated pilots. Located in city centers, close to where student pilots work or study, Zulu facilities are easily reached during weekdays, company officials note. This allows students to take a lesson, with their instructor, during extended business hours, close to their location.
Zulu Flight Training is offering a PPL and IR syllabus, recognized by the authorities (EASA and FAA) that utilize simulation technology, standardized syllabi, and an emphasis on safety and competency. This allows student pilots to train with greater frequency and they have the flexibility of keeping up their proficiency and practicing skills at a Zulu facility and when they time available in their schedules, they can travel to where the aircraft are based. This approach has solved the problem faced by all training organizations: Students tend to abandon their training after a few months, finding that it is next to impossible to fit their training in a schedule that is becoming more and more crowded, company officials said.
“We have found that using a simulator-integrated curriculum with training available in a convenient location has greatly increased frequency of training for our students, and this in turn has enabled us to keep our student retention rates of greater than 96%,” says Gloria Liu, General Manager at Zulu Flight Training.
Zulu Flight Centers are not competing with existing ATOs or aero clubs. These organizations may utilize the logistics of existing Zulu Flight Training centers. Zulu Flight Training Centers provide the location, the simulator but do not offer flight training directly to student pilots. This allows existing ATOs and aero clubs to build a business partnership with Zulu Flight Training centers, company officials said.
Additionally, Zulu Flight Centers are available as a venue for aviation related events. Aero clubs organize safety seminars around one central subject, in the city center, inviting their members to attend a conference including hands on training of specific safety related issues. Aero clubs can also invite prospective student pilots for introductory sessions, all year round.
In this light, Zulu Flight Training Centers also become aviation related meeting points, helping to gather the community and participating in the development of the future pilot population, company officials said.
Zulu Flight Centers will open throughout Europe using a franchise model.
“We are already in contact with people or companies that have expressed their interest in opening a Zulu Flight Center in their area. Zulu Flight Centers has started to work with interested parties, helping them to choose the right location and prepare the arrival of their simulator(s), certification process (EASA and FAA) of the simulators and training syllabus and the general setup of their operation,” says Johnny Doo, Senior Vice President Marketing and Business Development.
Zulu Flight Training was started by Continental Motors in the second quarter of 2012 to tackle the most common obstacles in successfully training safe pilots. Zulu Flight Training is a dual site flight school with its ground operations at the Eastern Shore Centre in Spanish Fort, Ala., and its airport operations at H L Sonny Callahan (KCQF) in Fairhope, Ala. Zulu Flight Training embraces the FAA Industry Training Standards (FITS) syllabus concept which is a scenario based training approach.
For more information: ZuluFlightTraining.com
Is this a joke? Europe already has the best training options through low-cost flying clubs, many which offer everything from model airplanes for youngsters, then gliders for teenagers, then the tow planes are used for primary training or rental cross-country ships. Many have campgrounds or bunk houses so members can stay on the airfield over long weekends or vacations and quickly knock out a license. Simulators might be useful for instrument training, but there is no substitute to the real thing.
Kent, note the stated syllabus is for Private Pilot license and Instrument ratings. For both of those a simulator would be useful with no need to have a real aircraft for much of the training. As you likely know an instrument rating can be obtained in the U.S. completely in an approved simulator, I don’t think that is good, but it is do able. Primary training yes you need the aircraft,but learning an avionics suite can be done any where.