CAA: GA News, "Illinois aviation schools hit by federal restrictions"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Monday, October 22, 2001

Slow fly zones
Area aviation schools hit by federal restrictions
By Ron Pazola
The Naperville (IL) Sun


  Owners of area aviation schools say their businesses have been crippled in
the aftermath of recent terrorist attacks in New York City and near
Washington, D.C.

   "In the last two weeks, we've lost about $45,000 in aviation pilot
training and aircraft rentals," said Mark Clements, owner of Northwest
Aviation, a flight school at Schaumburg Regional Airport and manager of Aero
Estates in Naperville.

   The Federal Aviation Administration prohibited all flights in the United
States on Sept. 11, the day of the terrorist attacks.

   Aircraft that can be identified or tracked by radar were grounded for 10
days. Other smaller craft were shut down for weeks and while most
restrictions on flying have been lifted, some new regulations limit how
close planes cane fly to populated areas and still limit some kinds of
flights.

   Each year, Northwest Aviation instructs thousands of students to operate
small single-engine airplanes for recreational or career purposes. A student
needs 40 hours of training to become a private pilot.

   There are about 30 flight schools in the Chicago area.

   "We've grounded about 560 scheduled aviation training flights," Clements
said. "Many little mom-and-pop aviation schools across the country have gone
out of business during the last couple of weeks. Luckily, our school has
been strong enough to stay open."

   Smaller flight schools have found it difficult to pay for their operating
costs while waiting for business to pick up.

   Clements said the FAA has not imposed security or background checks on
Northwest Aviation because his school does not train students to fly
commercial flights.

   At Aero Estates, a private residential airport in Naperville that serves
225 pilots, most of the 125 privately owned planes were grounded until
recently, Clements said.

   "We're not complainers," he said. "We support the security measures
currently taking place, even though the aviation industry has been hit
hard."

   The tighter restrictions also have taken a toll on other area flight
schools, such as Cougar Aviation at DuPage Airport in West Chicago. It owns
seven aircraft, including single and twin-engine planes.

   "The terrorist attacks have dramatically affected the lifeblood of the
aviation industry," said Steven Pearson, an attorney representing Cougar
Aviation. "The vast majority of private pilots have been grounded and 90
percent of training flights have been put on ice."

   Jim Harvilchuck, president of A&M Aviation at Clow International Airport
in Bolingbrook, also has felt the impact of recent federal restrictions.
"Basically, our business has slowed down considerably," he said. "For a week
after the terrorist attacks, we did no flying at all."

   Harvilchuck said federal restrictions have loosened up and some of his
student pilots can fly now.

   A&M Aviation has 26 single-engine and multi-engine airplanes. The school
teaches private pilots and offers instruction in commercial instrument and
cargo transport. The company also offers a charter service.

   The business is still prohibited from flying advertising banners from its
planes.

   "I think the government was stunned by what happened and stopped aviation
completely," Harvilchuck said. "Regulators are slowly bringing aviation
back, even though the restrictions have taken quite a toll on the industry.
But aviation is here to stay and we're hopeful that our business will bounce
back soon."

   Post your opinion on this story in the CAA General Aviation Forum
http://www.californiaaviation.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?conf=DCConfID2

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