Why is this February the best time to learn to fly a plane or helicopter in the Twin Cities? Because…
…lessons are now covered by 529 college savings plans.
…other people (wrongly) believe winter is a bad time for flying.
…AV8 Flight School of Eden Prairie is now accepting new students!
The One Big Beautiful Bill Benefits Flight Students
Do you have a Minnesota 529 College Savings Plan (MNSAVES)? Then you might be interested to learn that the One Big Beautiful Bill’s recent passage has changed the way you can invest in your future.
Students can now spend their 529 plans on flight training! They may only have to meet the following two conditions in order to do so:
Training must be toward a professional license issued or recognized by the state or federal government.
Training is conducted by a recognized post-secondary program (i.e. one in the VA’s WEAMS directory, DOD’s COOL directory, or another directory specified in the bill).
AV8 trains professional pilots at Eden Prairie’s Flying Cloud Airport every day. The independent, locally owned flight school’s Part 141 flight training is on the WEAMS and COOL directories as well.
“We’re delighted that flight training has become available to more aspiring professional pilots than ever before,” said Brenda Briggs of AV8. “A 529 plan can now cover training costs, books, supplies, and FAA written test and examiner fees. The law is still pretty new, so reach out today if you need any help making sense of it!”
What do you stand to gain as a commercial pilot? Oh … nothing much … only a fun and adventurous career, which earns the average pro more than $120,000 a year, and which is illegal to do more than 1,000 hours (or about 25 workweeks) annually.
Or maybe you would like to earn twice the average American income in half as much time. It’s your call!
Winter Is Perfect for Flying
“Now, don’t get me wrong,” said George Lichty of AV8. “It’s always a great season for flying. But too many people assume winter’s no good for it, which is the definition of irony. It’s actually the very best time to learn how to fly!
“That common misunderstanding is the first reason why winter flying is best. Fewer people booking fewer takeoffs translates to more available openings. That means you can really accelerate your training program during the colder months.
“Winter temperatures don’t make planes less safe. Quite the opposite, in fact, because cold air benefits airplane performance in three key ways. It helps the engine consume fuel more efficiently. It helps the plane gain altitude faster as well. Denser air equates to more lift, which is why you may need 1,000 fewer feet of runway to take off during winter. And once you’re up there, you don’t have to take thermals and their turbulence into consideration. Those only occur where the ground isn’t covered in snow.
“And don’t worry. Our planes are heated. If you wore it on the drive to Flying Cloud Airport, you’ll be comfortable wearing it in the cockpit. Our airport is also managed by the Metropolitan Airports Commission. It’s the same organization that oversees Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, and it keeps our own runways and other facilities in pristine operating condition year round.”
“My favorite thing about flying in the winter? It’s the view,” added Brenda. “The sky is so blue and clear. The sunshine is pretty and pure. It’s like magic. And if you go at night, the entire world beneath you turns into an endless, twinkling constellation of Christmas lights. The effect is especially striking during a new moon.”
Discover a whole new world up above. Contact AV8 Flight School today to book lessons at Flying Cloud Airport of Eden Prairie, Minnesota!