2020-03-03-knapinski-eaa-email

Hi, all:

Hope you're having a great Leap Day! I did receive some more information about the Sport Pilot Academy and had an opportunity to look at it in a little more detail.

The breakdown of the Sport Pilot Academy numbers are roughly as follows - percentages may move a few points in either direction, but this is a good general estimate:

• 45-50 percent for staffing (flight instructors, aircraft mechanic time, program manager time, etc.). One interesting note I didn't know: it's not as easy as one thinks to have two CFIs commit to complete three-week stretches. Most CFIs, of course, have things outside of the flight lessons that they do.
• 20 percent for lodging/meals/etc. This one is a little less than normal because of our on-site Air Academy Lodge that can be used for housing and meals instead of a hotel and restaurant.
• 20 percent for aircraft operations, such as fuel, oil, parts/supplies, insurance, and all the things that all of us who fly are familiar with.
• 10-15 percent for miscellaneous items (all "the other stuff"), such as DPE practical test fees, marketing costs, printing, future program investment, and the like.

The goal is to financially end up a bit ahead of even, because losing money isn't going to keep the program viable for very long.

Hope that helps! I know your next recording is this coming week.

Best, Dick

EAA Sport Pilot Academy