North American Institute of Aviation
Encyclopedia
The North American Institute of Aviation (NAIA) was a private, FAA Part-141 flight school located in Conway, South Carolina
, in the United States
. Founded in 1972 in Hammonton, New Jersey, then later moved to South Carolina in 1978, NAIA specialized in flight and aircraft maintenance training. It has also had a campus in Las Cruces
, New Mexico. The school had close connections to North European Aviation Resources (NEAR)
of Vigra
, Norway
, and was for a period of time the ab-initio school of Scandinavian Airlines. The school subsequently commanded an excellent reputation in Northern Europe. NAIA boasted an international student population and graduates work for airlines world wide. The school concentrated its efforts on FAA Part-141 operations and their European JAR-FCL approved program in cooperation with NEAR, which maintained a representative at the school. NAIA operated out of the Conway-Horry County Airport
where it was also the Fixed Base Operator (FBO)
.
NAIA ceased training operations September 5, 2008. The school was up for sale, and had been approached by potential buyers. Most staff members had their employment terminated in order to revert the operations into a pure FBO service. European program students have as of yet seen no refund of their training tuition, although some of the American students have been refunded due to an insurance policy maintained by the school. European program students were transferred to Pelican Flight Training Center
and Hillsboro Aviation.
North American Institute of Aviation filed for Chapter 7
bankruptcy at a federal court in Columbia
on February 16, 2009.
, Instrument Rating (IRA)
, Commercial Pilot License (CPL), Flight Instructor Certificate (CFI)
, Instrument Flight Instructor Certificate (CFII)
and the Multi-Engine Rating
courses. The JAR-FCL
approved training syllabus used by the school in cooperation with NEAR
was a derivative of the original SAS ab-initio program.
The school's Aviation Maintenance Technology Program included the training courses Airframe Systems and Components, Aircraft Structures, Reciprocating Powerplant Systems and Components and the Turbine Powerplant Systems and Components course.
NAIA's School of Aviation Maintenance Technology also had an operational technical maintenance service which provided aircraft maintenance to the flight school's fleet as well as to the local aviation community.
, 11 Cessna 172
, 3 Cessna 172RG
, 2 Piper Seminoles and one DA-40 Diamond Star. In early 2008 the school underwent operational tests of the Liberty XL2
as a replacement aircraft for the aging fleet. No purchase or lease of the Liberty was made. The average age of the fleet was 21.6 years per 2008. Upon closure of the school, the majority of the fleet was transferred to Pelican Flight Training Center
where it continued to operate on lease from Christiansen Aviation.
bomber squadrons. Several flights often went to similar destinations at the same time, normally due to a class being in the process of accomplishing the required 37 hours of solo cross-country flights.
A popular dining option for students and instructors alike was Kyoto Fantasy Express (Mon Cafe Japanese, as of late 2008). It was situated next to the Conway Walmart, which was on the extended centerline of the Conway-Horry County Airport's runway 22. This led to the coining of the term "Kyoto Arrival" for the visual approach to that runway, mimicking the often creative names of STARs at major airports.
Note
Not related to: North American Institute of Aviation Archaeology (home page)
Conway, South Carolina
Conway is a city in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 16,317 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Horry County and is part of the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area. It is the home of Coastal Carolina University....
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 1972 in Hammonton, New Jersey, then later moved to South Carolina in 1978, NAIA specialized in flight and aircraft maintenance training. It has also had a campus in Las Cruces
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces, also known as "The City of the Crosses", is the county seat of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 97,618 in 2010 according to the 2010 Census, making it the second largest city in the state....
, New Mexico. The school had close connections to North European Aviation Resources (NEAR)
North European Aviation Resources
North European Aviation Resources AS is a Norwegian registered company and was a private JAR-FCL authorized Flight Training Organization located at Ålesund Airport, Vigra, in Norway. It provided JAA and FAA training to European students through its ab-initio ATP Integrated Course in cooperation...
of Vigra
Vigra
Vigra is an island and former municipality on the west coast of Norway. It is in the present-day municipality of Giske in Møre og Romsdal county. The former municipality was made up of the island of Vigra along with many smaller islets surrounding it...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, and was for a period of time the ab-initio school of Scandinavian Airlines. The school subsequently commanded an excellent reputation in Northern Europe. NAIA boasted an international student population and graduates work for airlines world wide. The school concentrated its efforts on FAA Part-141 operations and their European JAR-FCL approved program in cooperation with NEAR, which maintained a representative at the school. NAIA operated out of the Conway-Horry County Airport
Conway-Horry County Airport
Conway-Horry County Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles west of the central business district of Conway, a city in Horry County, South Carolina, United States....
where it was also the Fixed Base Operator (FBO)
Fixed base operator
A Fixed-base operator or commonly abbreviated FBO is a term developed in the United States after the passage of the Air Commerce Act of 1926...
.
NAIA ceased training operations September 5, 2008. The school was up for sale, and had been approached by potential buyers. Most staff members had their employment terminated in order to revert the operations into a pure FBO service. European program students have as of yet seen no refund of their training tuition, although some of the American students have been refunded due to an insurance policy maintained by the school. European program students were transferred to Pelican Flight Training Center
Pelican Flight Training Center
Pelican Flight Training Center is a private, FAA Part-141 flight school located at the North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, Florida USA...
and Hillsboro Aviation.
North American Institute of Aviation filed for Chapter 7
Chapter 7, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 7 of the Title 11 of the United States Code governs the process of liquidation under the bankruptcy laws of the United States...
bankruptcy at a federal court in Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
on February 16, 2009.
Training programs offered
North American's Professional Pilot Program included the FAA Private Pilot License (PPL)Private Pilot License
A Private Pilot License or, in the United States of America, a Private Pilot Certificate, is a license that permits the holder to act as the pilot of an aircraft privately . The requirements to obtain the license are determined by the International Civil Aviation Authority , but the actual...
, Instrument Rating (IRA)
Instrument rating
Instrument rating refers to the qualifications that a pilot must have in order to fly under IFR . It requires additional training and instruction beyond what is required for a Private Pilot certificate or Commercial Pilot certificate, including rules and procedures specific to instrument flying,...
, Commercial Pilot License (CPL), Flight Instructor Certificate (CFI)
Flight instructor
A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an aviator in pursuit...
, Instrument Flight Instructor Certificate (CFII)
Flight instructor
A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an aviator in pursuit...
and the Multi-Engine Rating
Pilot certification in the United States
Pilot certification in the United States is required for an individual to act as a pilot of an aircraft. It is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration , a branch of the Department of Transportation...
courses. The JAR-FCL
Joint Aviation Requirements
The Civil Aviation Authorities of certain European countries have agreed common comprehensive and detailed aviation requirements — referred to as the Joint Aviation Requirements — with a view to minimising Type Certification problems on joint ventures, and also to facilitate the export...
approved training syllabus used by the school in cooperation with NEAR
North European Aviation Resources
North European Aviation Resources AS is a Norwegian registered company and was a private JAR-FCL authorized Flight Training Organization located at Ålesund Airport, Vigra, in Norway. It provided JAA and FAA training to European students through its ab-initio ATP Integrated Course in cooperation...
was a derivative of the original SAS ab-initio program.
The school's Aviation Maintenance Technology Program included the training courses Airframe Systems and Components, Aircraft Structures, Reciprocating Powerplant Systems and Components and the Turbine Powerplant Systems and Components course.
NAIA's School of Aviation Maintenance Technology also had an operational technical maintenance service which provided aircraft maintenance to the flight school's fleet as well as to the local aviation community.
The fleet
North American operated until September 5, 2008 a fleet of 6 Cessna 152Cessna 152
The Cessna 152 is an American two-seat, fixed tricycle gear, general aviation airplane, used primarily for flight training and personal use.-Development:...
, 11 Cessna 172
Cessna 172
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing fixed-wing aircraft. First flown in 1955 and still in production, more Cessna 172s have been built than any other aircraft.-Design and development:...
, 3 Cessna 172RG
Cessna 172
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing fixed-wing aircraft. First flown in 1955 and still in production, more Cessna 172s have been built than any other aircraft.-Design and development:...
, 2 Piper Seminoles and one DA-40 Diamond Star. In early 2008 the school underwent operational tests of the Liberty XL2
Liberty XL2
The Liberty XL2 is a two-seat, low-wing, general aviation aircraft manufactured by Liberty Aerospace of Melbourne, Florida for the personal transportation, touring and flight training roles.-Development:...
as a replacement aircraft for the aging fleet. No purchase or lease of the Liberty was made. The average age of the fleet was 21.6 years per 2008. Upon closure of the school, the majority of the fleet was transferred to Pelican Flight Training Center
Pelican Flight Training Center
Pelican Flight Training Center is a private, FAA Part-141 flight school located at the North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, Florida USA...
where it continued to operate on lease from Christiansen Aviation.
Trivia
Students and alumni of North American are colloquially nicknamed "The Conway Bombers", pertaining to their historically often high activity level with aircraft departing from the home base with, what might appear as, similar time-spacing between each flight as that used by aircraft of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
bomber squadrons. Several flights often went to similar destinations at the same time, normally due to a class being in the process of accomplishing the required 37 hours of solo cross-country flights.
A popular dining option for students and instructors alike was Kyoto Fantasy Express (Mon Cafe Japanese, as of late 2008). It was situated next to the Conway Walmart, which was on the extended centerline of the Conway-Horry County Airport's runway 22. This led to the coining of the term "Kyoto Arrival" for the visual approach to that runway, mimicking the often creative names of STARs at major airports.
External links
Note
Not related to: North American Institute of Aviation Archaeology (home page)