flight school podcasts

From the End Zone to the Cockpit - Episode 67

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2026 38:59

NFL Alum and Pilot Jimmy Graham shares stories about stunt flying and how it helped him relax when off the field.In this episode, we discuss how Jimmy earned his pilot certificates during his football career, airshow aerobatics, and his restored 1957 Army Beaver and Vietnam-era UH-1 Huey. We also explore Jimmy's role as Chairman of the EAA Young Eagles program, and his commitment to inspiring future aviators. From the discipline of professional football to the focus required in the cockpit, this one is going to be cool!Resources:Jimmy Graham BioEAA BioYoung EaglesBell UH-1H Iroquois Fact Sheet (U.S. Air Force)de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver Fact Sheet (Wikipedia)Chapters:(00:00) - Intro (01:04) - Meet Jimmy Graham (01:29) - Football vs Flying (04:18) - Early Aviation Inspiration (05:52) - College Years (07:25) - Unexpected Path to the NFL (08:55) - Draft Day (09:44) - First Huddle (10:29) - Career Highlights (11:04) - Motivation Shift (12:11) - Flight School (14:00) - Ten Licenses (15:12) - Flight Training & Checkrides (17:01) - Lifelong Education (19:20) - Decision-Making (20:30) - First Aerobatic Flight (21:16) - Young Eagles (23:08) - Aviation as Therapy (25:44) - Jimmy's Aircraft (28:36) - Growing Young Eagles (32:31) - What's Next (35:33) - Advice (37:33) - Outro

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407 Starting a Flight School with The Flight Academy

Aviation News Talk podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2025 53:57

Max talks with John Fiscus, co-founder of The Flight Academy, and Director of Operations Jordan Ming to break down how one of the country's most respected Cirrus-focused training organizations was created, expanded, and refined over more than two decades. Whether you're an instructor considering the entrepreneurial leap, a pilot curious about how flight training businesses operate, or someone fascinated by the evolution of modern GA training, this conversation delivers clear, practical insights rooted in real experience. John opens with the origin story behind The Flight Academy—one shaped unexpectedly by the aftermath of 9/11. Before starting the company, John was an instructor and corporate pilot for Cirrus Aircraft, preparing for an airline career. When airline hiring collapsed overnight, he and colleague Luke realized they could not compete with furloughed, highly experienced pilots suddenly entering the market. But they also saw a growing demand: Cirrus owners nationwide needed instructors who truly understood their aircraft. Many local CFIs didn't yet have the expertise or avionics familiarity that early-generation Cirrus owners required. That gap created an opportunity. Instead of opening a traditional flight school with airplanes and an office, John and Luke launched The Flight Academy in 2002 with a completely different model. They owned no airplanes, no local training fleet, and no physical facility. Instead, they traveled around the country teaching owners in their own Cirrus aircraft. This approach dramatically reduced overhead while giving customers access to specialized training. What seemed unconventional at the time turned out to be the ideal way to enter the market, and demand steadily grew. As the business matured, the founders recognized the need for a home base and added a small office at Boeing Field. Eventually, they purchased their first aircraft—not a leaseback, but a nearly new Cirrus that offered strong depreciation benefits and made financial sense for the business. Today the school operates 13 aircraft across two locations—Seattle and the Portland area—supported by eight to ten instructors, depending on season and demand. About 70–80% of all hours flown at The Flight Academy are dual instruction, a reflection of their focus on high-quality training rather than simple aircraft rental volume. Jordan explains that this training-centric model shapes everything about how the business operates. The Flight Academy books training in full-day or half-day blocks, giving instructors and clients the freedom to adapt to weather, focus on deep learning, and avoid the churn of hourly scheduling. Their instructors also spend significant time traveling to clients, giving them a unique range of experience compared to CFIs who fly the same local routes every day. Many instructors make multiple coast-to-coast flights before reaching the airlines, which sets them apart in both skill and confidence. Beyond daily training, the school has diversified its business through multiple complementary revenue streams. John describes their history of Atlantic ferry flights, delivering both new and pre-owned Cirrus aircraft to Europe. He also recounts the dramatic ferry incident—captured on video—in which a malfunctioning transfer tank forced a ferry pilot to deploy the Cirrus parachute into the Pacific. That experience eventually led the team to discontinue Pacific ferrying, though they continue to complete many Atlantic deliveries. Another major offering is their Vision Jet program, which includes discovery flights, pre-type-rating preparation, and training support. Luke also works with Arista to support the Vision Jet pre-owned market, creating a powerful ecosystem that blends aircraft sales, owner transitions, and specialized instruction. Jordan emphasizes that this interlocking structure allows the team to provide a seamless experience for owners, from first flight through long-term advanced training. Perhaps the most distinctive part of The Flight Academy's identity is their adventure trips—all-inclusive guided flying experiences to destinations such as Alaska, Morocco, the Caribbean, Europe, and New England during fall foliage season. These trips sell out consistently and create long-lasting friendships among participating owners. Jordan notes that many pilots appreciate having experts plan the hotels, customs logistics, activities, and daily flight legs—allowing them to simply enjoy the journey and the aircraft. When it comes to hiring CFIs, John is clear: "We don't hire pilots. We hire teachers." A strong instructor mindset matters more than flight time or ratings. He looks for individuals who demonstrate genuine interest in the business, a thoughtful approach to training, and the professionalism needed to work with sophisticated clients. He also shares hard-earned lessons about policies, cancellations, contracts, and pricing—key areas where many new flight school owners struggle. The episode closes with candid advice for CFIs considering launching their own school. Jordan stresses the importance of accepting that owners will fly less and manage more, while John encourages thoughtful planning and learning from others who have successfully done it. Their message is hopeful but realistic: starting a flight school is absolutely possible if you approach it with a solid plan, a clear mission, and a commitment to delivering exceptional training. If you're getting value from this show, please support the show via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or Patreon. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1199 HOLIDAY SPECIALNEW – Lightspeed Zulu 4 Headset $1099 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $849 HOLIDAY SPECIALLightspeed Sierra Headset $749 My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu Send us your feedback or comments via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone. Mentioned on the ShowBuy Max Trescott's G3000 Book Call 800-247-6553 The Flight Academy flight school Cirrus SR22 Parachute Pull near Hawaii Check out our recommended ADS-B receivers, and order one for yourself. Yes, we'll make a couple of dollars if you do. So You Want To Learn to Fly or Buy a Cirrus seminars Online Version of the Seminar Coming Soon – Register for Notification Check out Max's Online Courses: G1000 VFR, G1000 IFR, and Flying WAAS & GPS Approaches. Find them all at: https://www.pilotlearning.com/ Social Media Like Aviation News Talk podcast on Facebook Follow Max on Instagram Follow Max on Twitter Listen to all Aviation News Talk podcasts on YouTube or YouTube Premium "Go Around" song used by permission of Ken Dravis; you can buy his music at kendravis.com If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.

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Matthew Samuelson Shares His Faith Journey To Flight School, & Victory Over satan In His Thoughts.

Faith Ignite

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2025 29:53

Matthew was once described as a child that carried a dark cloud around. However, when he become a follower of Christ, his entire life shifted. He nows walks around with a contagious joy that uplifts others. Listen and watch as Matthew shares his journey of faith and the things he's learned along the way. Want to become a partner?www.faithignite.us/donate

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Exploring AI Anxiety With A Leader In Charge Of AI Transformation with Lee Gonzales

The Anxious Achiever

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2025 42:51

What if your AI anxiety isn't a flaw, but a signal to evolve how you work? In this episode, I sit down with Lee Gonzales, engineering leader and creator of BetterUp's AI Flight School, to talk about why AI feels existential, why it threatens your craft and identity, and how you can move from fear to agency. We dive into how psychological safety, values, and collective sensemaking help people shift from “AI will replace me” to “AI can expand me.” Tune in if you're ready to move from avoidance to informed action and become the pilot of your AI future, not the passenger. Check out our sponsors: Northwest Registered Agent - Protect your privacy, build your brand and get your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes! Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/achieverfree In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why AI anxiety pushed Lee to reinvent his entire career. 04:45 How AI differs from every prior technological leap. 08:00 What distinguishes an “AI passenger” from an “AI pilot”? 10:00 Is the agency real or a helpful illusion? 14:45 Why psychological safety is the first requirement for AI learning. 18:03 How to reframe anxiety into possibility using values and task design. 22:15 Why AI can weaken your cognitive muscles if you're not careful. 25:15 The values-based exercise that helps you understand your resistance. 28:45 Why engineers struggle with AI's impact on the craft they love.30:30 What AlphaGo teaches us about self-learning systems and exponential change. 32:00 How prompting helps people reflect on values and reclaim agency. 34:15 Lee's “aha” moment from Flight School participants. 36:00 Why AI can feel like an “infinite agency machine” when used well. Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Lee on LinkedIn: @leegonzales

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Latest podcast episodes about flight school

From the End Zone to the Cockpit - Episode 67

407 Starting a Flight School with The Flight Academy

Matthew Samuelson Shares His Faith Journey To Flight School, & Victory Over satan In His Thoughts.

Exploring AI Anxiety With A Leader In Charge Of AI Transformation with Lee Gonzales

Flyber Monday: Our Only Sale of the Year!

Aviation Instructor's Handbook (AIH): Chapter 10 - Teaching Risk Management During Instruction

Aviation Instructor's Handbook (AIH): Chapter 9 - Techniques of Flight Instruction

Aviation Instructor's Handbook (AIH): Chapter 8 - Instructor Responsibilities and Professionalism

Aviation Instructor's Handbook (AIH): Chapter 7 - Planning Instructional Activity

Aviation Instructor's Handbook (AIH): Chapter 6 - Assessment

Aviation Instructor's Handbook (AIH): Chapter 5 - The Teaching Process

Aviation Instructor's Handbook (AIH): Chapter 4 - Effective Communication

Aviation Instructor's Handbook (AIH): Chapter 3 - The Learning Process

Aviation Instructor's Handbook (AIH): Chapter 2 - Human Behavior

Aviation Instructor's Handbook (AIH): Chapter 1 - Risk Management and SRM

Instrument Procedures Handbook (IPH): Appendix A - Emergency Procedures

Instrument Procedures Handbook (IPH): Chapter 7 - Helicopter Instrument Procedures

Instrument Procedures Handbook (IPH): Chapter 6 - Airborne Navigation Databases

Instrument Procedures Handbook (IPH): Chapter 5 - Improvement Plans

Ep. 294 Picking the Perfect Flight School. What They Don't Tell You!

Instrument Procedures Handbook (IPH): Chapter 4 - Approaches

Instrument Procedures Handbook (IPH): Chapter 3 - Arrivals

Instrument Procedures Handbook (IPH): Chapter 2 - En Route Procedures

Instrument Procedures Handbook (IPH): Chapter 1 - Departure Procedures

Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH): Chapter 11 - Emergency Procedures

Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH): Chapter 10 - IFR Flight

Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH): Chapter 9 - Navigation Systems

Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH): Chapter 8 - Helicopter Attitude Instrument Flying

Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH): Chapter 7-2 - Electronic Display Flight Maneuvers

Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH): Chapter 7-1 - Analog Flight Maneuvers

Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH): Chapter 6-2 - Electronic Display Instrument Flying

Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH): Chapter 6-1 - Analog Instrument Flying

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Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH): Chapter 4 - Aerodynamic Factors

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E179 - A Day in the Life of a Flight School Owner

Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH): Chapter 2 - The Air Traffic Control System

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