Initiative Designed To Promote Growth Of The Pilot Community

Aviation Access Project (AAP) has announced the formation of a Flight Center at Greenville Downtown Airport (KGMU) in Greenville, South Carolina. Headed by local Greenville businessman Mitchell West, the Flight Center represents a new initiative to promote the growth and development of the pilot community in the Upstate area of South Carolina by offering low-cost aircraft ownership with a flight training option. Flight operations will formally begin on Saturday, May 24, 2014 in conjunction with the airport’s Take Flight 5k, a fundraiser for the aviation themed community park that is being completed.

"Since this recession hit, fewer people are entering the field of aviation and, in fact, many established pilots have had to sell their planes and get out of flying altogether," said Joe Frasher, Airport Director of the Greenville Downtown Airport.  "Aviation Access Project's concept of shared aircraft ownership, and optional training, may encourage many to enter, or get back up into, the sky!"

AAP's CEO Rick Matthews calls their newest Greenville, SC location an “essential” component in the company’s plan to increase access to recreational and personal business aviation.  Matthews states, “Our shared ownership and management model allows more current pilots and those who have a passion for aviation the opportunity to own a well-equipped, highly capable aircraft for thousands less than the price of a new car. With a monthly maintenance fee of less than half of the average new car payment, we offer an unparalleled opportunity to enter or re-enter the world of aviation for a fraction of the cost and none of the hassle they might expect.” Matthews cites a survey done by the Experimental Aircraft Association some years ago that noted many people are interested in aviation, but are deterred by high costs and complexity.  AAP aims to address those concerns.

One cornerstone of the AAP program is the sharing of both one-time and recurring costs among a group of pilot-owners. In a typical arrangement, AAP sells 1/8 shares in an aircraft and charges a monthly fee that covers all recurring costs such as insurance, maintenance and storage. Each owner is allocated approximately 75 hours per year of flying time in the aircraft. There are no hourly fees, and the owner just buys his or her own fuel.

A unique aspect of the program is flight training, which is included in the cost of the share purchase.  “New student pilots fail to complete traditional training programs close to 80% of the time. One reason is because they have no real incentive to do so unless they can own an aircraft at the end of the process. Another is because of a revolving door of flight instructors, many of which are “building time” to qualify for airline jobs. We fix those issues”, says Matthews.

Local director West sums it up when he states, “The AAP model focuses on excellent training, community-building and distribution of costs. For a large segment of the market, aircraft partnerships like this make sense.  I also know the AAP guys love the Upstate of South Carolina market due to the population demographics and the quality operation here at Greenville Downtown Airport. To us, it is a natural way to grow the pilot population and increase access to flying.”

Aviation Access Project was formed as a result of the 2010 study on pilot training commissioned by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Headed by veteran fractional sales and service executive Rick Matthews, AAP is made up of a group of aviation and educational professionals who desire to double the number of active pilots and cut by half the dropout rate for new pilots by building a community of aviators built around an economical shared ownership model. Other locations are under development nationwide.

(Pictured Top: Leonard (Len) Assante, Mitchell West and Gerald (Gere) Gaige,  KGMU's AOPA Airport Support Network Volunteer when Aviation Access brought its first plane to KGMU this week. Bottom: Mitchell West with 3 year old daughter, Madison and the new plane that arrived at KGMU)

FMI: www.aviationaccessproject.com