Flight Design has established a network of Flight Design Pilot Centers to meet the needs of training institutions. The process began at Oshkosh 2008 with visits to numerous flight operators to best determine their needs for Light-Sport Aircraft. By fall, the program was well underway and by Spring, Flight Design USA had rolled out the new program.

"Our Flight Design Pilot Center (FDPC) program is a complete, professional package of elements needed by large and small schools," indicated Tom Peghiny, president of Flight Design USA, importer of the German line of best-selling aircraft. "The primary components of the FDPC are: a leading Light-Sport Aircraft; a Flight Design-branded learning system of books and DVD instructions; a PC-based flight simulator with specialization for the CTLS; and a 'First-Aid Kit' for flight schools, which provides them with a starter kit of commonly needed maintenance items to reduce CTLS downtime to a minimum."

Students at FDPC flight schools benefit from learning in the 'third-generation' CTLS. All flight schools use materials to help train students to take knowledge tests (written and oral exams), and flight evaluations, but Flight-Design made a dedicated effort to assure their study guides were specific to the CTLS.

The decision to use X-Plane software, which is available for PC-, Mac-, or Linux-based computer operating systems, proved to be a smart move after Microsoft suspended development on its Flight Sim program. The X-Plane version not only runs on more computers but is more customizable to fit the Light-Sport segment. Flight Design will strive through regular upgrades to make the X-Plane CTLS ever closer to the actual experience as it considers the software a training aid more than an entertaining game.

FDPC students will also benefit from a feedback system and active online CT Owner Group to help them learn from others operating the CTLS (and earlier CTsw model), plus "Most Favored" insurance rates and readily-available financing. As Flight Design has sold more Light-Sport Aircraft than any other company, it also benefits from a growing support network to assure the CTLS continues its training mission.

All Sport Pilot candidates benefit from reduced hourly requirements and simpler aircraft flying in simpler airspace. The cost of obtaining the first pilot certificate offered by FAA is far lower than for the Private Pilot ticket. The final cost of a Sport Pilot certificate varies, but is widely quoted as $3,500 to $5,000, well below the $8,000-10,000 average for a PPC. 

FMI: www.flightdesignusa.com, www.flightdesignusa.com/dealers.asp, www.fd-pc.com