Sport Aviation Marketing

Expanding Sport Aviation Through Local Media

A while back I set up a few news alerts through Google. Using keywords such as “general aviation” and “sport pilot” Google dutifully sends me an email once per day containing links to stories from around the country that contain the terms. While many of the links contained in the news alerts are irrelevant (for example, the Honda “Pilot” SUV is often described as “sport”-y), many are fantastic. Here is a quick sample from the last week or so:

Free as a bird
A writer from the Calgary Sun takes an “uplifting” flight in a sailplane.

MN Airstrip Rises From Cornfield in WWII
This story by WCCO TV covers the history of the Stanton airport, just outside of the Twin Cities. It includes mention of Sport Pilot and contains quite a bit of footage of what appears to be a Flight Design CT.

The Ups and Downs of a Reporter’s Flying Lesson
Bob Cox from the Fort Worth Star Telegram goes for a lesson through AOPA’s Project Pilot program. While somewhat reluctant, Cox gives a favorable impression and recognizes the sense of empowerment that aviation delivers.

Stories such as these are fantastic. I can’t help but wonder what would happen if each flight school, FBO owner, and aircraft dealer tried to get similar stories produced in their local communities. Seems like a great way to reach out to non-pilots and generate some interest in the sport. Taking a unique approach, such as the historical perspective in the WCCO video, might be a good approach if you are a small business looking for a noteworthy angle.

If any of you have tried this approach I’d love to hear about it. Also, if you see local stories such as these, please send them my way!

[tags]AOPA, Aviation Marketing, General Aviation, Light Sport Aircraft, Sport Pilot[/tags]

Add comment May 15th, 2006

listen in at local airport on 88.1

I just ran across an article titled “Aviation’s airwaves” by Alexa James in the Times Herald-Record. The story is about retired U.S. Navy Capt. Frederick “Fritz” J. Kass, Jr., an airport director in Montgomery, New York. Along with running a successful airport, Kass set up a transmitter that broadcasts pilot communications on an FM frequency of 88.1. He maintains the low-power transmitter as a tool to educate and entertain the airport’s neighbors. “I wanted to demystify the airport, and help the local people enjoy an asset they ultimately own,” he said.

What a fantastic story! As AOPA and others in the aviation industry focus on reaching out to new pilot prospects to strengthen our sport, Kass has already started. Small efforts such as this will lead to big results. Can you imagine if every general aviation airport in the country did this? I bet the one or two observers that I see parked at my local airport on a nice Saturday morning would start to multiply…

Nice work Captain Kass! We need more ideas like this.
[tags]General Aviation, AOPA[/tags]

2 comments April 24th, 2006

aopa and sport pilot

Over the last few days I’ve heard several people say that 2006 is the make or break year for sport pilot. I was surfing around recently and ended up on the AOPA site dedicated to sport pilot. It hasn’t been updated in nearly seven months. This is significant considering the thoroughness of the AOPA web communications. Does this mean AOPA believes sport pilot will break?

[tags]AOPA, Sport Pilot, Light Sport Aircraft[/tags]

Add comment January 14th, 2006

online integration with press releases

A week or so ago AOPA ePilot, Aero-news.net Propwash and EAA e-hotline emails all had a story about Symphony Aircraft’s certification for doors off flying. I clicked to go over to the Symphony Aircraft site to read more. Their site didn’t even mention it!

This is a huge missed opportunity. Consistency in messaging strengthens a companies position. Having the “doors off” press release picked up by three of the aviation industry’s biggest online newsletters is extremely valuable. Carrying that message through to the home page of the manufacturer website is a no-brainer. Before sending out your next press release, make sure your website is ready to speak directly to the visitors who arrive as a result of the story.

[tags]Symphony Aircraft, EAA, AOPA, Aero-News, PR, Online Marketing, Aviation Marketing[/tags]

Add comment November 26th, 2005

cirrus supports women

Shortly after I posted about marketing aviation products to women I ran across this in the AOPA ePilot email newsletter:

THREE AOPA EXPO ATTENDEES TAKE FLIGHT WITH PATTY WAGSTAFF
Three lucky women won an hour-long flight in a Cirrus SR22 with aerobatic pilot Patty Wagstaff during AOPA Expo 2005 in Tampa, Florida. Cirrus Design hosted the raffle as a fundraiser for Women in Aviation, International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating scholarship and leadership opportunities for women in aviation and aerospace.

Nicely done, Cirrus.

[tags]Cirrus, AOPA, Patty Wagstaff, Aviation Marketing, Women in Aviation International, Marketing to Women, Online Marketing[/tags]

Add comment November 26th, 2005