Free Aviation Learning Opportunities And Flight Promotions

The aviation industry offers several free learning resources and promotional opportunities for enthusiasts and potential pilots. These include free online courses, discovery flight packages, airline promotions, and specialized training resources. This article examines the available no-cost aviation-related opportunities based on current offerings from established aviation organizations and service providers.

Sporty's Free Flight Course

Sporty's offers a comprehensive free course designed to help individuals get started with learning to fly. This course provides valuable resources for those considering becoming pilots but unsure where to begin. The program is completely free and requires no credit card information to access.

The course content includes: - Four video segments covering why to learn to fly, how the learning process works, details about the first flight experience, and guidance on choosing a flight school - A getting started guide with 12 articles addressing common questions, from medical exam requirements to selecting the appropriate pilot certificate - A flight school directory to help locate nearby training options - A high-resolution digital cockpit poster displaying the world's most popular training airplane - Helpful links for essential pilot supplies, online learning resources, and additional aviation materials

The course is accessible through multiple platforms: - As an online course using a web browser - Via the Sporty's Pilot Training app for iPhone/iPad - Through the Sporty's Pilot Training app for Android devices available in the Google Play Store

To access the course, users must add it to their cart and complete the checkout process. This requires creating a new Sporty's account or signing into an existing one. Notably, no credit card information is required for this process, making the course genuinely free to access.

Understanding Freeflying in Skydiving

Freeflying represents a specialized discipline within skydiving that involves multi-orientation body flight. Unlike traditional belly-to-earth skydiving, freeflying encompasses various orientations including back-flying, sit-flying, head-up flight, and head-down flight. All forms of freeflying share the characteristic of increased fall rate compared to basic belly-to-earth orientation, with both fall rate and potential for instability increasing as skydivers progress through more advanced orientations.

Before attempting freeflying, skydivers should follow established guidelines to ensure safety: - Achieve competence in basic belly-flying - Develop skills as a competent canopy pilot - Ensure equipment is freefly-friendly, using a hard helmet and securely fastening all clothing - Utilize both visual and audible altimeters (with Automatic Activation Devices also highly recommended)

The learning process for freeflying follows a structured progression where each skill builds upon previous ones. The recovery position for back-flying is belly flying; for sit-flying, it's back-flying; and for head-down flying, it's sit-flying. Skydivers should become competent in each orientation before advancing to the next.

When jumping with other freeflyers, specific planning elements must be established before even entering the loading area: - Exit plan - Content of the jump (with a predetermined plan rather than improvisation) - Designated base (one person designated as base, with others working to maintain level flight with this person) - Break-off altitude (established with procedures for maintaining level flight, clearing airspace, tracking away, and establishing horizontal separation)

Freefly jumps should be practiced through mock-ups and dirt-diving just as traditional belly jumps would be. Those learning freeflying should limit their jumps to solo jumps or jumps with experienced freeflyers. The maximum number of people in a freefly jump should be conservative, particularly for those still developing skills.

Additional dangers inherent in freeflying skydiving include: - The risk of "corking" - transitioning from a fast-falling body position to a belly-to-earth position, resulting in rapid deceleration from speeds potentially exceeding 175 mph to belly speeds of around 120 mph - Increased risk of high-speed collisions between group members during corking events - The requirement to remain in a fast-flying position at all times when freeflying in groups - The necessity of maintaining clear airspace above and below other freeflyers

For those interested in pursuing freeflying, numerous educational resources are available: - Freefly-friendly gear guidelines from USPA - Demonstrations of equipment like butt-bungees - Articles from AXIS Flight School - Parachutist magazine features on safe freefly progression - BPA's freefly progression manual - IBA's video series on bodyflight skills - Information about Olav Zipser, the founder of freeflying - Resources on the origins of Vertical Formation Skydiving (VFS)

Coaching opportunities for freeflying are available through AXIS Flight School and through individual members of Arizona Anthem, who can be contacted via the Arizona Anthem Facebook page for 1:1 coaching sessions.

Frontier Airlines Flight Promotions

Frontier Airlines periodically offers promotional deals providing freebies to passengers. The current promotion, available for a limited time, offers free seat selection and a free carry-on bag for flights departing from or arriving at select airports.

To take advantage of this promotion: - Passengers must use the promo code: FREEBIE - The offer is available through flyfrontier.com and the Frontier mobile app - The $0 limited-time price is available only at the time of initial booking - New bookings must be made by 11:59pm Eastern time on May 8, 2024 - Travel must occur on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays through June 12, 2024 - Blackout dates apply on May 25 and 28, 2024 - The promotion is valid only for flights departing from or arriving at select airports: Boston (BOS), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Houston (IAH), Phoenix (PHX), and Raleigh-Durham (RDU)

Each passenger is limited to one carry-on bag per direction, with standard size and weight limits applying. Free standard seat selection is included, but seats must be selected at the time of initial booking. Customers must enter the promo code FREEBIE during the new flight purchase process to receive these benefits.

The promotion is available to all customers, though Discount Den™ members may access additional fare options. Frontier Miles members can maximize their travel benefits through this promotion. Those not already members can sign up for free to access these benefits.

Fares shown include all transportation fees, surcharges, and taxes and are subject to change without notice until purchased. The terms of the promotion are available at flyfrontier.com.

Freeflight Aviation Discovery Flights

Freeflight Aviation offers discovery flight packages designed to make learning to fly accessible for different types of learners. The flight school provides two main options for discovery flights, each including different components to suit various preferences and goals.

The first option is a seasonal special package that includes: - A 30-minute flight experience - An additional 30 minutes of ground school - A beginner's logbook - A first flight certificate

The second option is an extended seasonal special package featuring: - A one-hour flight experience - An additional 30 minutes of ground school - Beginner's logbooks - A first flight certificate

After ordering a package, customers receive a gift certificate via email within 48 hours. Freeflight Aviation emphasizes creating a comprehensive learning experience beyond simple introductory flights. The school positions itself as more than just a flight school, describing itself as a community of aviation enthusiasts with aircraft accessible 24/7.

Instructors at Freeflight Aviation are FAA-qualified pilots with over 20 years of experience. The school is qualified by the FAA for private, instrument, and commercial flight training. As a Part 61 flight school with a certified flight simulator, it offers a comprehensive and immersive training experience.

Prospective students can contact Freeflight Aviation's team to determine which discovery flight package best suits their needs. The school provides additional details about what to expect from a discovery flight experience on their website.

Conclusion

The aviation industry provides several no-cost opportunities for enthusiasts and potential pilots. Sporty's offers a completely free flight course accessible through multiple platforms, requiring only account creation without credit card information. For skydivers interested in expanding their skills, freeflying resources and structured progression guidelines are available through various educational materials and coaching opportunities. Frontier Airlines periodically offers promotional deals providing free seat selection and carry-on bags for travel from select airports during limited-time windows. Freeflight Aviation provides discovery flight packages with varying durations and components, designed to introduce potential pilots to flight training with qualified instructors and comprehensive resources. These opportunities represent valuable ways for aviation enthusiasts to explore flight experiences without significant financial commitment.

Sources

1. Sporty's Free Flight Course
2. Skydive Arizona Freeflying Information
3. Frontier Airlines Promotion
4. Freeflight Aviation Discovery Flights