Miami Personal Injury Lawyer for Aviation School Accidents

• I own or operate a flight school and I am being sued for an aviation related incident.
• I am a flight instructor or student that was injured in an aircraft related accident.
• I work at an aviation training center and I have suffered bodily harm as a result of negligence.
• I have been injured and suffered losses from an aviation related accident.
• I am an aircraft owner and provide private air transport services.

In Miami, the Perazzo Law Firm staff of Personal Injury Attorneys have carried out extensive research into proper aviation safety and accident preventive measures to ensure the best possible legal representation for instances following an aviation related accident that leads to injury, losses, or wrongful death. 

Learning to fly an aircraft is an exhilarating and challenging experience that is achievable by enrolling in a flight academy or aviation training center that has certified flight instructors (CFI), sound infrastructure, and a fleet of safe airplanes. Though there is no substitute for actual flight time and experience in the air, the best aviation institutes and centers in Florida are those that have a solid reputation for safety and producing quality pilots with links to commercial aviation airlines. Regardless, not all those hopeful pilots necessarily have flying for commercial airlines as their goal, as many aviation students simply wish to fly their own plane for either pleasure or business. No matter what the individual aim of each aviation student, the training facility where they receive flight lessons, must meet all FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) regulations to prevent accidents in the air and on the ground. 

Aviation training centers may vary in terms of training techniques and methodologies applied in accordance with the flight students’ goals. Regardless, of the flight students’ ultimate goal with learning to operate an aircraft, basic guidelines exist to make flight instruction as hazard-free as possible. Plane owners are legally obliged to carry insurance. Their insurance is the most comprehensive of the available insurance options, needing to cover the plane while in hangar, on land, or airborne, as well as any passengers.

Safety Guidelines for Aviation School Owners or Operators in Florida 

Infrastructure - Classrooms, offices, hangars, maintenance areas, storage facilities, and any other sector of the aviation training center's premises must be kept hazard-free to all students, instructors, visitors, and staff. This entails regular inspection procedures carried out on behalf of the aviation training institution. Special care must be applied to fuel loading stations and aircraft service areas. 

Instructors and Staff - The owner or operator of a flight school must provide students with training by certified flight instructors (CFI) as stated by the FAA. In many cases, the owner of the flight school, depending on the size of the aviation training center, will provide students with flight-time training. The aviation school must also have certified aircraft technicians, mechanics, and service crews for the regular maintenance and inspection of aircraft. Instructors must refrain from acts of negligence which may lead to an accident while in the air or on the ground. This may include the use of narcotics, alcohol, or reckless maneuvers in urban areas.  

Aircraft Fleet - The aircraft that the flight school implements to provide aviation students with actual flight-time training must be certified and registered according to FAA and Florida Laws. Aircraft must receive regular inspection and maintenance service in accordance with the hours of flight time for each craft. Aviation academy owners or operators are obliged by law to make sure aircraft are serviced regularly and proper protocols are met to ensure safety in the air and on the ground. Ensure the adequate maintenance manuals for your aircraft and properly record all maintenance work in the plane's maintenance log. 

Insurance Coverage -  An aviation training facility, and especially its legal responsible, must carry insurance to cover eventual accidents or incidents which may lead to personal injury or losses by all those taking part in the everyday operations as well as its aviation students. To insure a Cessna 172, qualified pilots will typically pay $150-$250 per year for $1,000,000 in Liability Only coverage. Addition hull coverage for the amount of $50,000, for example, places the yearly premium between $450-$1,100 total. Liability coverage covers any physical loss or damages and includes: bodily injury damage, as well as baggage and cargo and third party liability to individuals in or around an aircraft.

 The five types of insurance available in Florida for Aviation School Operators and Airplane Owners:

• Public liability insurance
• Passenger liability insurance
• Ground risk hull insurance not in motion
• Ground risk hull insurance in motion
• In-flight insurance

Contact the Perazzo Law Firm ONLINE for a detailed explanation of how each insurance policy and insurance providers operates in the event of an accident and to understand the type of insurance coverage you carry as an aviation training center operator or private aircraft owner in Florida. 

 What you need to Fly Commercially

 Eligibility for a Commercial Pilot License:

• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Possess a current Private Pilot Certificate. Standard 60 hours of flight training*
• Possess a valid 2nd Class Medical Certificate. Being colorblind may invalidate certification.
• Have written and spoken knowledge of the English language. Communication between control towers and pilots worldwide is in English.
• Need at least 100K to learn to fly and get a sports pilot license (25 hours approx. flight time)

The Perazzo Law Firm staff of Personal Injury and Insurance claims Lawyers in Miami remind Aviation Schools and students that flight time does not necessarily mean experience in the air or on the ground based on flight hours. Given our extensive research, we are able to provide valuable insight into some of the many ways that exist for achieving real life experiences that lack in vast hours of actual flight time. As many of those reading this information, flying an airplane consists of much more than turning a key and starting the engine. When a vehicle takes to the air, the thrust and dimensions take on new meaning. But similarly, to traffic accident in conventional roadway situations, the operators of these vehicle need to take necessary precautions to safeguard their travel experience.   

Staying Safe in the Air

In Miami, the Perazzo Law Firm highly recommends seven vital tips for all novel pilots:

• Always keep your aircraft in check and well maintained through regular service and negligent-free. 
• Keep the cockpit area clear of distraction.
• Make sure to understand traditional trajectory procedures and avoid relying on Global Positioning Satellites.
• Stay alert at all times.
• Only fly if confidence is on your side and not under pressure.
• Role play emergency scenarios and procedures.
• Make sure to check weather conditions and possible routes in case of emergency.
• Have knowledge of possible emergency landing areas and avoid urban areas.

The points mentioned above correspond to aviation training operators and potential pilots alike. These recommendations are based on information available by the FAA and Florida law, as well as professional aviation procedure guidelines. 

 Federal Business Licensing Requirements for two kinds of flight training schools:

• Part 61 mandates 40 hours of flight training but doesn’t require direct approval by the FAA (though all instructors must be FAA approved). 
• Part 61 schools are usually recommended for part-time students aiming to recreational flying
• Part 141 requires 35 hours of training but mandates regular FAA surveillance. This type of schooling is aimed at full-time aviation students seeking a career in commercial aviation.