Evektor is back with great news for students looking for a place to get Sport Pilot (and further) training in Light Sport Aircraft (LSA).
At the 2022 SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo, I interviewed an impressive young aviator and businessman, John Mauch, Jet Access’ Chief Flight Instructor and Director of Operations.
Jet Access is the 10th largest charter flight operator in the world based on flight hours and the company has extensive operations to support such aircraft. However, it also runs several flight training operations. The company manages its schools so well that several collegiate aviation programs have hired Jet Access to manage their operations.
Based in Indianapolis, Jet Access has multiple flight school operations and plans several more. All of them will feature the Evektor LSA line, primarily focused on the Harmony model.
Mauch said Jet Access chose Evektor because they have found them durable for steady flight training operations, easy to fly and maintain, plus they have a low fuel burn. Given today’s sky-high fuel prices, this advantage has become much more important.
“These are technically advanced aircraft with glass cockpits and autopilots,” observed John. “This prepares our students for modern piloting that improves safety, while still focusing on stick and rudder skills due to the cooperative flight characteristics of the Evektors. They’re also larger inside than legacy trainers with far better visibility and cabin airflow.”
Jet Access ordered a dozen Evektors and plans to keep adding models as the operation expands. This will help many pilots seeking instruction in modern Light-Sport Aircraft.
I like the idea of this aircraft. But I take exception with the following:
“These are technically advanced aircraft with glass cockpits and autopilots…” with the implication this is good for teaching students pilots.
Stick and rudder skills and being able to fly VFR is important. But with the glass cockpits, how much eyes inside will one have to have to fly this thing?
There was a twin engine plane that was just landed by a passenger. The advanced cockpit displays were such that this person couldn’t find, nor could be told, where the “IDENT” button was. Part of the reason is there is no standardization from one system to the next. Kudos to them for intuitively knowing PRIMARY was FLY THE PLANE.
A certain FO that flies international flights said that he would have been like a dog watching a movie trying to figure out that panel so he could get the freqs changed, and find and hit “IDENT”, etc.
And it looks like one of these Evektors is in my future because I was just told that the flight school was in the process of getting one. So all my Garmin 430/530 knowledge is out the window, and the KLN89B knowledge. How many hours will it take to transition to this “simple” airplane? LSA that has a panel more complex than the Saratoga I’ve been flying, having a 430/530 pair.
Mind you, I like the glass panel. But how much time will it take to go from first flight to solo in this? And then how do you teach pilotage and dead reckoning with a glass panel? What happens when the the GPS dies? What happens when the glass goes black? These were the skills we were taught with paper charts and didn’t realize it, until the tablet and panel choked at night. Just say’n’.
Totally agree! Too much dependence on glass tech takes away basic skills. Learning stick and rudder plus map, compass and watch in the early days always gives you an advantage when the lights go off! Remember Air France out of Rio years ago? Airbus went back to basics to correct what should have been there years ago in the beginning!