Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group.&nbsp;He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion,&nbsp;the&nbsp;student newspaper at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, serving as editor-in-chief before graduating with a bachelor's in aeronautical science. After a stint as managing editor at Professional Pilot&nbsp;magazine, he joined&nbsp;AIN in late 1998. Chad holds a commercial pilot certificated with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and he also is a CFI/CFII. He lives and works from his home in Venice, Florida.

Online Editor

Chad Trautvetter

“The aviation college degree programs are broken; they cost too much, don’t include instructor ratings, and have too few hours to get a job with an airline when graduating,” International Aero Academy president and CEO Steven Markoff said on Tuesday at Sun ’n‘ Fun 2018. “I aimed to fix that.”

 


He tapped into his experience as an airline executive at Mesa Airlines to develop a program that would better prepare future airline pilots while lowering the cost, as well as get more U.S. students interested in pursuing a flying career in the first place.

 


Thus, Central Christian College of Kansas and Lakeland, Florida-based International Aero Academy announced a partnership this week to develop more cost-effective aviation degree programs. Together they have formed the International School of Aerospace &amp; Aviation in Lakeland, pairing the former’s two- and four-year aviation degree programs with the latter’s accelerated FAA Part 141 pilot training programs at the satellite campus.

 


To maximize time, students at the International School of Aerospace &amp; Aviation will first complete their certificates and ratings at International Aero Academy, up to their flight instructor ratings. After that, they will take classes at the Central Christian College satellite campus in Lakeland while they also flight instruct at International Aero Academy.

 


“That allows students to earn money while attending college courses,” Markoff said. “For all certificates and ratings, 1,000 hours of flight time, four-year degree, and income from flight instructing, I expect net cost to be sub-$75,000. That’s nearly half [that] of other existing four-year aviation degree programs.” Because the college is non-profit, students are also eligible for student loans.

 


In conjunction with the partnership with the college, International Aero Academy placed an order for six two-seat, all-composite Tecnam P2008 light sport airplanes to be used as trainers. The first will be delivered in the second quarter.

 


The flight school currently has 14 aircraft, but the fleet is a mix of Cessnas and Pipers. Markoff said his goal is to rationalize the fleet to possibly include all Tecnam airplanes over the coming years. “The Tecnam product line far exceeded the competition in our analysis, and we are proud to be the U.S. Part 141 fleet launch customer for the P2008,” he added.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Partners Aim To Halve Cost of Four-year Aviation Degree

Central Christian College and International Aero Academy announced a partnership to develop more cost-effective aviation degree programs.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Canadian company takes majority share of business aviation training provider

CAE Ups Ante in Simcom Training Joint Venture

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News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Training program rolled out during PMOPA's annual convention

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News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

Exploring economic impact of private aviation in Africa

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News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

RFDS Queensland will use Bundaberg-based simulator for pilot training

TRU Simulation's King Air Sim Gets Australia Nod

Hanneke Weitering

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

Aircraft avionics and training systems are evolving with artificial intelligence

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Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

Sun 'n Fun 2018

More In Training and Workforce

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Canadian company takes majority share of business aviation training provider

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Exploring economic impact of private aviation in Africa

TRU Simulation's King Air Sim Gets Australia Nod

RFDS Queensland will use Bundaberg-based simulator for pilot training

AI Elicits a New Generation of Avionics and Pilot Training Tools

Aircraft avionics and training systems are evolving with artificial intelligence

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10 kilometer race on the main runway drew 1,200 participants from 22 countries

CAE Will Provide Crew Training for Eve's eVTOL Aircraft

CAE operates a business jet training division with Eve's parent company Embraer

Axis Rolls Out Virtual Cockpit Procedure Training Headset

Device features virtual and mixed-reality technology, as well as an artificial intelligence "instructor"

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