Coast Flight Training Takes Delivery Of 40th Aircraft At San Marcos Regional Airport

Coast Flight Training, a San Diego-based company that recruits and trains veteran helicopter pilots to fly commercial airlines, began operating at San Marcos Regional Airport in January 2017 with three employees and three aircraft.

Coast Flight Training, Texas Aviation Partners, and the City of San Marcos hosted a small celebratory gathering to commemorate the delivery of Coast’s 40^th aircraft, yesterday, Oct. 12.

Coast Flight’s Rotary Transition Program (RTP) focuses on training U.S. Military helicopter pilots who are transitioning to in-demand careers as civilian airline pilots. Pilots who attend the program have already received a conditional offer of employment with Envoy Air, a subsidiary of American Airlines. 

The event had two guest speakers: Dan Verda, Director of Operations and General Manager, Coast Flight Training RTP Facility and Scott Gregson, San Marcos Council member, Airport Advisory Board Chairman.

Completion of the training is a stipulation of their agreement with Envoy Air, and is part of the airline industry’s answer to the looming national pilot shortage.

Coast Flight Training, a San Diego-based company that recruits and trains veteran helicopter pilots to fly commercial airlines, began operating at San Marcos Regional Airport in January 2017 with three employees and three aircraft.

After less than a year in operation, Coast is proud to announce it has taken delivery of its 40th training aircraft. With a staff of now 24, Coast maintains an average student count of 70-90 veterans per month. Daily flight operations consist of 80-100 hours per day with an additional 50-75 hours in ground school.

Monthly aircraft traffic counts for San Marcos Regional Airport have doubled since training began. Fuel sales for last quarter were up by 102% from the same period in 2016.