HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL PR 2012-11-02 Aviation Adventures award
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
Aviation Adventures Receives National Recognition for Flight
Training Excellence
“Share the Success” reception planned for Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at the
Leesburg Executive Airport, beginning at 4:30pm.
Leesburg, VA (November 2,
2012) – The country’s top
aviation training professionals
were honored October 10, 2012
during the Aircraft Owners &
Pilots Association (AOPA) Flight
Training Summit in Palm
Springs, California. Sponsored
by Flight Training magazine,
AOPA’s inaugural Flight Training
Excellence Awards were created
to recognize flight schools and
flight instructors who
contribute to an optimal
training experience and encourage best practices. Leesburg-based Aviation Adventures was
among the honorees, receiving both the Outstanding Flight School Award and the Students’
Choice Award, given to the school with the most nominations.
Owner Bob Hepp’s focus on standardized instructor training was a key element to Aviation
Adventures’ selection as an award winner. To keep his staff sharp, he closes the doors once a
year and holds a CFI academy, where he makes sure everyone is on board with procedures and
safety. In a market that is short on instructors, Hepp is incredibly picky. His interview process
starts with a phone screen, goes on to a ground lesson, and ends with a flight lesson. Prior to
the ground and flight lesson, applicants are given materials to prepare, including the school’s
standardized teaching procedures. The result is that Hepp has a group of top-notch instructors
he can count on to do the right thing.
(more)
TOL PR 2012-11-02 Aviation Adventures awards
Page 2
In addition, Aviation Adventures supports its students through a wide range of activities and
extra learning opportunities. Hepp tries to foster student involvement through an atmosphere
that he says feels more like a club than a business. They offer sessions to meet the designated
pilot examiners and courses specifically designed to get pilots back in the air. There are regular
fly-outs to great destinations such as the Bahamas and the Hudson River corridor.
“Leesburg Executive Airport is a great place to operate a flight school,” said Hepp. “I want to
thank everyone associated with the airport – the staff, the Town Council, the Airport
Commission and the Economic Development Commission – who has contributed to us being
recognized with these very special awards.”
“Bob Hepp and Aviation Adventures’ commitment to the Leesburg Executive Airport and the
Leesburg business community is exemplary,” commented Marantha Edwards, Leesburg’s
Economic Development Director. “We are delighted to see Bob and all of his employees
receive this national recognition.”
In celebration of Aviation Adventures’ awards, the Leesburg Airport Commission and Economic
Development Commission are jointly sponsoring a “Share the Success” reception on
Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 4:30pm, at the Leesburg Executive Airport (1001 Sycolin
Road SE, Leesburg, VA 20175). The public is invited to attend.
Contact:
Marantha Edwards
Economic Development Director
medwards@leesburgva.gov
703-737-7019
# # #