Best /Worst FTU Website

[Blakey]

Thanks. Time for some clarification because the site is still being 'massaged'.

Blakey: Supervised solo has the instructor riding along a safety pilot in order to keep the insurance company happy. Student logs PIC when flying as PIC, Dual when actually undergoing instruction. For example, on the flight to the coast for the 25 and 50 hr programs, the student is PIC because there is no actual training going on. When you get to our spots out there and the training mode kicks back in, the dual column gets filled in again. The solo T/O and landings are SOLO!! The float program actually comprises three possibilities: BASIC 7 hour, ADVANCED 25 hour, and PROFESSIONAL 50 hour. All taught by 3500floats Otter/Turbo/Beaver Pilot, former CP of coastal operations, yadda yadda.


The issue about the shape of the window should be brought up with Cessna- it's supposed to reflect the view from the back seat while on a scenic flight. Interesting take, though. perhaps i could get the guy to put the links on the bottom, and have them scroll up, I'll see.

Airtids - I don't mind the shape of the window at all! However, at the risk of appearing obtuse, or of hijacking a perfectly valid thread, I have a couple more questions if you don't mind me asking:

1. If the student is logging PIC on the transit and the instructor is logging PIC during the instruction, what do you put in the journey log under "PIC" for the flight and does the instructor log second pilot for the transit portion?

2. Does this mean that all the "solo" time on the course is straight and level in transit?

[mikegtzg]

I like the style of the new website. More detail is a good thing. School policies (customer accounts, payment terms, training weather limits, etc.) is a good piece of information to have easily available. I personally was told many things that weren't in writing on either site. Better that someone has the information in advance to avoid disappointment.
Somewhere in the new site you mentioned testimonials from previous customers. So there should be a link to them. (I'll give you one if you want)
Very nice pictures, especially the floatplane. (yellow looks good on floats) The fleet page should show the actual aircraft, it's equipment, and rates.
Since one of your marketing goals is to represent your business as a laid back and family owned school, with very professional standards. Perhaps include more of a description of your staff. And a small anecdote, possibly educational, (or humorus, don't put Garth Wallace out of work though) of experiences training students with a valuable lesson.

On-line booking with a discrete customer logon could be a convenience for both renters and students.

I think the key goals of any website should be:

-provide a web prescence of your businesses products and how you do business.
-the information should be updated constantly, making visiting the website a worthwhile experience.
-increase your sales/exposure by making it convenient to do business with you.

These points brings up another thing to consider when deciding on how to document the descriptions of all the information provided. And this might be considered a page from Business 101. As a professional salesperson all my customer interactions include this important message.

-Makes sure you provide information on both Features and Benefits. They are very different, but define the reason someone should want to do business with you. The benefit is the part that fills the need.
For example: Training in Nelson offers spectacular views. (feature)
How this is an advantage over Regina? (benefit)
Nothing against Regina,just had to pick a place

Some of the people looking at your website will not call and are looking at websites throughout Canada. Make sure that you make the shortlist, so you do get the call.

[biscayne9]

http://www.ofc.ca

Before you click the "you are only a click away" link you have to check the box at the bottom where it says dont show this page next time.. (the page with the intro flight sale)

They need to set that up differently or at least make it painfully obvious where the box is.

The rest of the site is pretty nice though

[Airtids]

Blakey: Check PMs

Mike: Thanks for the input. I'm forwarding all these suggestions to our website designer. I feel a website should be a dynamic thing, always changing and keeping people coming back to see what's new.
By all means, we'd love to get a testimonial from you. I hope you picked up a thing or three out here, and we look forward to seeing you and the oldest flying homebuilt in Canada out here for Flightfest 2006, July 14, 15 and 16th.
Appologies I wasn't around to fly with you on your last couple of days, but as I'm sure you can imagine, setting up our AMO kind of took a mssive toll on my abilities to do anything else.

[privateer]

http://www.proifr.com


sooooooooooooo cool

[Airtids]

www.proifr.com


sooooooooooooo cool

Yeah, okay, but WHY? Besides being yet another resounding endorsement of Pro from Privateer , what specifically is it about this website that you like?

[G whiz]

http://www.algonquinflightcentre.com

[Ronner]

Judge for your self?!
http://www.offtraining.com
http://www.offtraining.com/weather2.htm

[threepoint]

I would have to say that http://www.abbotsfordflight.com is probably one of the worst site for an FTU.. i hear they have ONE very good instructor though...

One wonders how this sort of advertisement even helps them at all. For a school that counts so heavily on international students, you would think that the internet would be their first point of contact and thus the site would be somewhat professional looking.
Wonder who that ONE good instructor is. I'll bet it was the declaration of the last CFI - a legend in his own mind, but very likely one of the worst individuals in this industry. Pity he doesn't know it.