Various organizations offer complimentary educational resources and promotional travel benefits designed to introduce consumers to aviation and reduce travel costs. These offerings range from free introductory flight school courses to limited-time airline fee waivers. Understanding the specific requirements, eligibility criteria, and redemption processes is essential for consumers to access these opportunities effectively.
Free Online Flight Training Courses
For individuals interested in becoming pilots, specific educational platforms provide free introductory courses to help prospective students navigate the early stages of flight training.
Sporty's "Get Started with Learning to Fly" Course
Sporty's offers a comprehensive, no-cost course titled "Get Started with Learning to Fly." This resource is designed for those who have considered becoming pilots but are unsure where to begin. The course is accessible on various devices, including web browsers and mobile applications for iPhone, iPad, and Android users via the Sporty's Pilot Training app.
The course content includes four video segments covering topics such as the motivation to learn to fly, the learning process, the first flight experience, and selecting a flight school. Additionally, it provides a "Getting Started" guide featuring 12 articles that address common questions regarding medical exams and selecting the appropriate pilot certificate. A high-resolution digital cockpit poster of a popular training airplane is also included, along with helpful links to essential pilot supplies and online learning resources.
To access the course, users must complete a checkout process. While the course is completely free, it requires adding the item to a cart and checking out. Users must either sign into an existing sportys.com account or create a new one. Notably, no credit card information is required for this free offering. Beyond the online curriculum, Sporty's also offers in-person flight training at their academy in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Educational Resources for Skydiving and Freeflying
For consumers interested in skydiving and the specific discipline of freeflying, Skydive Arizona provides extensive educational resources. Freeflying is defined as multi-orientation body flight, which includes maneuvers such as backflying, sit-flying, and head-down flight, distinct from standard belly-to-earth flying. These maneuvers result in increased fall rates compared to belly-flying.
Guidelines and Safety Requirements
Skydive Arizona emphasizes specific prerequisites and safety guidelines for those interested in freeflying. It is highly recommended that jumpers: * Become competent belly-flyers and canopy pilots. * Ensure their rig is freefly-friendly, utilizing a hard helmet and securing all clothing. * Equip themselves with both visual and audible altimeters, with Automatic Activation Devices (AADs) also recommended.
The educational content highlights additional dangers inherent in freeflying, such as "corking"—the inadvertent transition from a fast-falling position to a belly-to-earth position, which causes rapid deceleration and can lead to high-speed collisions in a group setting. Consequently, jumpers must be able to maintain a fast-flying position and remain clear of the airspace directly above and below other freeflyers.
Structured Progression and Coaching
A structured approach to learning is encouraged to ensure safety and prevent the development of bad habits. The resources provide a progression guide where skills build upon one another; for example, the recovery position for head-down flying is sit-flying, and for sit-flying, it is back-flying. Competency in each skill is required before moving to the next.
For group jumps, specific planning is required, including defining the exit strategy, jump content, a designated base, and break-off altitude. Beginners are advised to jump solo or with an experienced freeflyer. Skydive Arizona also references external educational materials, such as the USPA's guide on freefly-friendly gear and the British Parachute Association’s freefly progression manual. Coaching is available through AXIS Flight School and individual members of Arizona Anthem.
Limited-Time Airline Promotions
Frontier Airlines offers a time-sensitive promotion providing complimentary add-ons for flights departing from select airports.
Frontier Airlines "FREEBIE" Promotion
The "ONE DAY ONLY! GET YOUR FRONTIER FREEBIES!" promotion allows travelers to receive free seat selection and a free carry-on bag. This offer is valid for flights departing or arriving from specific airports: Boston (BOS), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Houston (IAH), Phoenix (PHX), and Raleigh-Durham (RDU).
To redeem the offer, customers must use the promo code FREEBIE during the purchase of a new flight. The booking must be made by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on May 8, 2024. Travel dates are limited to Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays through June 12, 2024, excluding blackout dates on May 25 and May 28, 2024.
The promotion applies only to the initial booking and includes specific restrictions: * Seat Selection: Free Standard Seat selection is available, but the seat must be selected at the time of the initial booking. * Carry-On Bag: One carry-on bag is permitted per person per direction, subject to standard size and weight limits.
This promotion is available on the Frontier website and mobile app. Discount Den fares are available exclusively to Discount Den members. The fare shown includes all transportation fees, surcharges, and taxes, which are subject to change until purchased.
Discovery Flight Packages
Freeflight Aviation provides an accessible entry point for aspiring pilots through "Discovery Flights." These packages are designed to offer a hands-on introduction to flying, facilitated by FAA-qualified instructors with over 20 years of experience. The flight school is a Part 61 school qualified for private, instrument, and commercial flights, and includes a certified flight simulator.
Options and Inclusions
Freeflight Aviation offers two distinct options for their Discovery Flight packages, both of which include 30 minutes of ground school, a beginner's logbook, and a first flight certificate.
- 30-Minute Package: This seasonal special includes 30 minutes of flight time in addition to the ground school and certificate.
- One-Hour Session: This option includes one hour of flight time, along with the 30 minutes of ground school, logbook, and certificate.
Consumers can contact the Freeflight Aviation team to book a session. Once a package is ordered, a gift certificate is emailed within 48 hours. The school emphasizes community access to aircraft 24/7.
Conclusion
Consumers seeking to explore aviation or reduce travel costs have access to distinct free and promotional offers. Sporty's provides a free, comprehensive online course for aspiring pilots, requiring only an account creation for access. Skydive Arizona offers extensive safety guidelines and educational materials for freeflying, emphasizing structured progression and safety. Frontier Airlines offers a limited-time fee waiver for seat selection and carry-on bags for specific routes and dates, requiring a promo code at booking. Finally, Freeflight Aviation offers paid discovery flight packages that include ground school and flight time. Each offer has specific eligibility rules and redemption steps that consumers must follow to benefit from the opportunities.