How to promote flying Micro Lights.

[Tumbleweed]

Going a bit off topic, but; maybe just showing my bias towards franchising.

If you're entering a new business sector and 'pay' for infrastructure and business modules, thats fine.

Aviation is a very selective interest, so print advertising in a small town is a bit costly. If anyone had interest in flying they (like me) would surely find the nearest airfield and make inquiries. The flight school's board at the gate should get them in touch.

Other than several schools pooling various aircrapft types, I still don't see how the mpl intructor, up at 05h00 and then from 16h00 till 18h30, including weekends, should give a percentage of his time based earnings to someone who's at home, or on the golf course.

[RV4ker (RIP)]

DVV
Not quiet as simple as that. My thinking as follows
In my case I would like to do part time instruction, but it would be at locations where there are no schools. I agree fully in Jhb this is a bit iffy, but not so in 95% of rural SA. There are plenty plattelanders and plaas japies that want to fly, but do not have access to the facilities. Trip to Jhb to get MPL? I think Not. Trip to Jhb is usually spent more wisely when you have pink ticket away from home. and often involves a huge babelaas and some time with SA's Finest...

I would like to get involved purley for the fun of it. I give plenty guys flips in my aeries, but always from P1 seat. Would be nice to let them have the stick legally for a while. Many are ex PPL or SAAF and can fly, but do not have the required paperwork. I speak purely from 3 axis point of view (at this stage). I do plenty work in the sticks (rural SA) and there is huge interest, but no access to schools or planes. It also does not make scense for a school to start up as there is not sufficient demand full time, but there are a couple who would benefit and use it. At one such field there are 15+ remote controlled flyers now after starting the year with 1. They have the means and the time, but need access to the facilities.

In my case I would envisage something like autho sheet payment per entry as is done for instruction on owners own aerie. Tapping into systems et al of the main school (Franchisor)and having access to the Grade A & B instructors on a rotational (monthly or bi monthly) basis to sign out solo and do tests as well as keep standard of instruction up. I am thinking alloud, but a school license and all the admin in huge (co$ts not as much as the schlepp with CAA etc.) I would be willing to pay for the helping hand so to speak.
my 2c...

Failing that a 'flight school in a box' would be an interesting concept. Includes all paperwork and step by step guide to becomming instructor, setting up the school etc. I know of a couple game/hospitality farms that would love to be able to provide flips legally, but running a school is not their main aim. It would rather form part of the package (flown by properly rated game ranger for eg as additional service to the guest rather than as school) rather than full time MPL employed just fpr flips. The ML would then also double as game spotter, fire, fence and poacher patrol. It would be a useful business tool that could effectively pay for itself...

There is huge scope IMHO, but the initial negativity I have found with sharing information etc needs to be overcome. I have been trying to get (in writing) exactly how to get 3 axis MPL instructors rating and register a flying school for the past 3 years. To date in Jhb NADA other than come to my school & I do it all for you? Seems there is fear of exactly what you speak of. Somehow sharing info with another will lead to loss of earnings thus I will not do it unless there is something in it for me. Must say I have had far better responce from KZN and Eastern Cape than Jhb from instructors/Schools...

Simply thinking aloud & not personal before I face the wrath of all ...

Easier access to flips leds to more people flying and thus more pilots? Maybe I am living it a dream world (again?)

[Cali]

RV4ker.

Great idea. I agree 100%.
Good luck.

[Low Level]

The answer lies in Bennie's other thread - How did you start ?

Almost everybody started after their demo flight. Promote flying by flying - open days etc.

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Agree, but seems there are not that many going on their first flight, else there would be more flying. ML's are now competing with boats, wakeboards, MPV's, Jetski's, kite surfing, quad's, bikes, drag racing etc as well as the ever present golf, tennis and other traditional sports etc as leasure time activities. Need for greater exposure is there and think there needs to be some positive PRO vs sensationalism that frequents media.

Thinking alloud (again )
Trike display at Sandton City/Eastagte/ER mall/Dome etc with instructors on hand to do some meet & greet? Costs bucks and there no direct benefit thus co$ts will sink it again I suppose?

[The Agent]

Agree with G must be on show where the money is.


Not impossible to arrange.

Must find a place form the Bantam to land though.


Early morning parking lot landing, that could be cool hey.

[t-bird]

Hi Agent

Gareth Davies landed a Thunderbird on the Kyalami track +- 3 years ago. There was a big outdoor show and the T-bird was on display

[Bennie Vorster]

Now we are getting somewhere guys.

No one said you have to do every thing for free, at least break even and cover cost. Like for instance when organizing an open day, go with a national add, threw in a bring and braai and ask a minimal entry fee. Go Local radio add for a few cents and maybe think of having open days and send out invites to radio controlled aircraft clubs, seems like they are the easiest suckers to catch.

Advertise it as a family sport and a day for the whole family to have plenty of fun. Just order nice Wx for the day and get a big enough venue.

You can even claim Commissions or sell stall or advertising space to manufacturers, suppliers, training schools and hot dog stands for the day.
Negotiate a percentage discount for every new student that you sign up for a certain training school and pocket it.

Just go BIG or stay at home.

[Bumpy]

I too have often thought about the reason so few people are involved a great sport/pastime/hobby that does not have to cost an arm and a leg. I started for +/- R70K second-hand trike and license.

If I built planes for a living I would setup several points of sale across the country, not just microlight schools (you see scuba diving shops in shopping centres, where clearly there is not much diving to be done) but you capture the walking trade, that may never have thought it possible to fly for so little!!!

Again and again I come back to the same point.

• The local manufactures are clearly not interested in expanding the market because the current consumer is willing to pay high prices, which includes high profit margins. Therefore they can survive on relatively few new sales each month! – Please tell me how many times you have seen advertising for microlights in anything other than an aeronautical mag…

Unfortunately people that are good at designing and manufacturing are not always good at sales and marketing.

For +/- R150k you can get into the game… this should be an off the shelf product… walk-in -- have a look around – choose a wing hanging on the wall --- choose a frame on the floor seat covers and saddle bags --- choose a motor --- some instruments --- fill out the paper work --- and bring your car round to the back, by the time the finance is approved your new trike is on a trailer hooked up to your car. (No time for the misses to think about what you doing) Just like buying a pair of socks!

Come on local manufacturers and agents - - where is you ambition to take over the world

The above also goes for most of those involved in training. There are few that seem to advertise, and even fewer that seem to be interested in getting rich out of it, (have you seen the state of some of the dumps they call training facilities) and unfortunately someone is going to get rich, if this is going to get popular!

This shouldn’t be left up to the people that have already supported you

Like Bennie says "GO BIG"

[Dreamer]

Sounds like we need a venue and a show.....Aviation day for the public, food stalls, microlights, gyros's.intro flips, training specials, plane specials.new and 2nd hand ones on sale..bring in the paragliding, hanggliding, gliding and radio controlled guys, hell even the model builders and those guys that jump out of perfectly good airoplanes.........the right venue, time and some good marketing and you could have quite an event..2 maybe 3 days. perhaps get Rand/swartkops/wboom? or some sililar venue

[Dreamer]

Microlighters Bi-Annual Aviation jamboree

We need a committee, maybe even a sub-committee or 2..
Actually this could work?

[Bumpy]

I like your enthusiasm, but I fear that this will as usual only attract people currently interested in aviation….


If this is to become popular you need daily presence. You need to sell a “lifestyle” where people are not normally expecting to find it.

[RV4ker (RIP)]

The voice of reason from the dark. Demon has been around the block (a few times) and I am inn.

PS
I think the Misasa formo boys are also on the right track. Exposure at 'traditional' airshows. Most of the guys/gals there would like to fly but cost is an issue. That where entry level ML's come in...

[Dre'man]

I think every one has a good point but someone needs to put it together. Most people now days unless you have accidentally won a lotto have to finance their hobbie's. Why not bundle the training with the plane?

I also think an airshow limited to ML categories is a brilliant idea. If you can only get half the people that go to rand airshow every year you will be smiling. I have no doubt people wil pay entry fees. 10000 x R25 can go along way to some marketing funds.

[Low Level]

I also think an airshow limited to ML categories is a brilliant idea. If you can only get half the people that go to rand airshow every year you will be smiling. I have no doubt people wil pay entry fees. 10000 x R25 can go along way to some marketing funds.

Marketing for the airshow must be done outside the aviation community - outdoorsmen from all prospects of life must be reached. I was also into boats and quads etc. Never thought about flying - thought it is expensive beyond my dreams. Was introduced by a friend - and sela.

Years ago I have seen some microlight flying machine on an outdoor show. Problem was - I saw it indoors on display with all the relevant documentation etc. - never flew in it - never got hooked. On mothersday 2006 I had a demo flight - and started my training one week later.

Take a note from the AMID motorcycle show on Kyalami each year. Great show, but what draws the crowds are the bikes to be test ridden on the track. Fifty to hundred bucks (depending on the machine) buys you two laps on the bike (behind an instructorbike) around Kyalami - brilliant

My point being - we need a time and a place where we can do intro flights - the whole day long, and some serious displays of the trips, weekend footage etc. - as per the website :D - and all our SA microlight manufacturers to strut their stuff.