Thank you for the recognition – it’s up to us to keep it going

There are hundreds of flight schools in Florida, from a one plane, one instructor operation to a small fleet with a few part-time instructors to operations like ours, with multiple locations, a fleet of 34 aircraft, simulators and approximately 50 full-time flight instructors.

Every prospective commercial or recreational pilot has their own unique circumstances and interests in what a particular flight school may offer them. In reality, the competition can be stiff in Florida simply because there are so many choices and considerations. That’s why seeing Paragon Flight on Flying Magazine’s recent guide to the Best Flight Schools in Florida was especially gratifying. We didn’t submit a nomination to be on the list, we didn’t pay for it and, frankly, we didn’t even know about it until publication!

While Paragon Flight is no stranger to awards and accolades – all of which we believe are earned from the skill, integrity, hard work, commitment and relentless positivity of our collective team rather than a few individuals – such recognition from respected aviation leaders always puts an extra bounce in our step. Yet, it also puts added pressure on us to keep our efforts going at our usual strong pace and not become smug or content with the status quo.

To that end, we’ve made some major investments this year that continue to set us apart as a flight training academy of choice. In July we took delivery of our 33rd Piper p100i aircraft, solidifying our commitment to top-notch flight training equipment. This coincided with the delivery of two Alsim companion simulators, the best technology in the business to maximize training and pilot preparedness, simulating real-life flight emergencies and challenges that can’t be emulated or taught in the air.

Capping off a summer of investments, in late August we announced a student lending partnership with Sallie Mae®, a trusted, leading provider of financing options for specialized education opportunities. It’s difficult to contain my enthusiasm for this partnership. Comprehensive flight training is expensive; from the aircraft, technology, skilled personnel and aircraft maintenance costs to the overarching role of ensuring safety in all that we do, there is very limited room for cost cutting. At the same time, lack of access to personal resources or funding that will see them through to completion of their training has been a barrier to many aspiring pilots. Financing through Sallie Mae® will change that at Paragon Flight; indeed, it already has. We had several individuals in the queue just waiting for the Sallie Mae® program to go into effect – and when it did, they immediately became students here, with hundreds of others sure to follow in the near future. Seeing this program already opening doors is beyond gratifying. It’s also a reminder to say thank you to all students who entrust us with their flight training experience. We never take your trust in us for granted.