Company Takes Flight in Aviation Business

By Ja’Rena Lunsford, The Oklahoman

Apr. 22–BETHANY — Increased demand for flight training and aircraft rentals has taken off at Oklahoma Aviation.

Since the company began in February 2004, Oklahoma Aviation has gone from one flight instructor to five. The company, which is a Cessna Pilot Center, has recently added new aircraft to its fleet, bringing the total to five planes.

“We’re soon to add a sixth one before the summer,” Chief Flight Instructor Shohaib “Sho” Kassam said. “We’ve had a growth in demand.”

Oklahoma Aviation’s newest aircraft is a Cessna 172SP NAV III. The four-seat aircraft has glass panel technology, air conditioning and an improved air navigation system called WAAS, Wide Area Augmentation System.

“WAAS gives us more accuracy,” said Rob Rothman, assistant chief flight instructor.

Oklahoma Aviation flight instructors said the new airplane is a sign that the company is forward-thinking and striving to keep up with improvements in technology.

Enrollment still going up “It’s really a testament to a flight school that can grow with a new fleet,” instructor Marcus Buchanan said.

The number of flight students at Oklahoma Aviation has continued to increase, with about seven students enrolling each month since January.

“Last year we had half that,” Kassam said.

Kassam said word-of-mouth has been Oklahoma Aviation’s main source of growth. Many students — about 80 percent — turn around and become renters at Oklahoma Aviation, and some former students, such as Ted Phillips and Scott McBrayer, become flight instructors.

Phillips said as soon as he walked in the door at Oklahoma Aviation, he knew it was the right company to do his flight training and later seek employment from.

“These are the best airplanes I have seen,” Phillips said. “That’s what attracted me here.”

Chris Whinery started flight training in January. The Elk City resident said he did research on various companies before choosing Oklahoma Aviation. Like Phillips, Whinery was impressed with Oklahoma Aviation’s growing aircraft fleet.

“The facilities and the aircraft, that’s what drew me,” Whinery said.

Oklahoma Aviation will have an open house today from 4 to 7 p.m. to celebrate the new aircraft and four years in business. Kassam said the company would not be where it is today without its customers.

“We wouldn’t have been able to do this without them,” he said. “We’re just here; they’re the ones who are facilitating all the growth.”

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