Pilots!
June Gloom has arrived early. We are plagued with poor visibility and very low ceilings in the mornings, burning off only around noontime.
Come to think of it, that's exactly what happened this time last year.
We've heard grumblings from numerous students, who receive our unfortunate calls telling them we'll be cancelling their flight... again. Take heart! The gloom is usually only here for a week or so, and following it is almost always clear blue skies all day long.
Pilots wanting something to do with their newfound free time can certainly request some ground instruction with their instructor. We also stock MS Flight Simulator if you're interested in a little armchair pilotage ($30, check with the office :) )
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Some other news -- we have completed our bookkeeping, and have finalized new pricing for 2006, which will go into effect Wednesday, May 3. We have been able to hold down prices for the last 13 months, and now we must adjust to our increasing costs.
Generally, prices will be increased only $5 per hour across the board at the block rate level, with the exception of the Cessna 150s, which remain at $49/hr wet. After discussions with various fuel providers, we have decided not to roll the current fuel surcharges into these new prices, since there may be some relief in sight in the near future. (and like taxes, price hikes are impossible to get rid of once implemented). Prices will still be set at the optimistic $3.00/gallon AvGas price, which we hope to return to soon. Fuel surcharges will still apply, at our cost, to fuel prices over this target.
Retail rates will be raised an additional $5 per hour.
Since nobody likes surprises, least of all pilots, we have adopted the following grandfathering policy to ease the transition for our existing students:
Students or renters who are currently on block rates, and who have greater than $1,000 on account with us at any point before Sunday, May 8 - will be grandfathered at the old block/package rates until June 15th. After June 15th, no grandfathered rates will be used.
Retail renters and those with only a few flights remaining will use the new rates, unless they are to raise their account above $1,000 before the 8th. In essence, we are offering pilots one week to purchase a block of time at the old rates, before we effect the transition to the new.
I welcome your comments on this policy -- you may email me at mike@flycorona.com with any questions or concerns.
We believe this "no surprises" grandfathering policy to be the most equitable solution to our existing students, and we will continue to represent the best priced, most fun aviating in the southland.
Blue Skies,
- Mike
