About this Video

• Video Title: WHY I Shutdown My Flight School In NC
• Channel: MojoGrip
• Speakers: Michael Ojo
• Duration: 00:09:10

Introduction

This video is an interview with Michael Ojo, who discusses the relocation and shutdown of his flight school. He explains the reasons behind moving from Winston-Salem, NC, to Gwinnett County, GA, highlighting challenges related to partnerships, family life, talent acquisition, and the overall goal of making aviation more accessible to underserved communities.

Key Takeaways

• Relocation from Winston-Salem to Gwinnett County: The flight school initially operated in Winston-Salem due to a partnership and affordable space. However, challenges arose with the partnership, and the lack of talent in Winston-Salem made relocation to Atlanta necessary.
• Focus on Diversity and Inclusion: Ojo emphasizes the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in aviation. The school's location in Gwinnett County, the most diverse county in the US, reflects this commitment. A significant portion of their student body is female.
• Addressing Financial Barriers: The high cost of flight training ($120,000) is a major barrier to entry. Ojo acknowledges this and discusses efforts to improve access to funding and financial aid.
• Promoting Aviation Careers: The video highlights the lucrative career opportunities in aviation, aiming to inspire and inform underserved communities about these possibilities.
• Unexpected High Number of Female Students: The school has experienced a surprisingly high number of female students, exceeding expectations. Many are flight attendants transitioning to pilot roles.

The transcript states that the Winston-Salem location closed due to a combination of factors:

• Partnership issues: The partnership involved in the initial launch of the flight school "went south." Specific details about the nature of the problems are not provided.
• Difficulty finding talent: Winston-Salem presented a challenge in recruiting skilled staff to operate the flight school effectively. It is described as a "ghost town" in terms of available aviation talent.
• Family life: The back-and-forth travel required between Atlanta and Winston-Salem created a strain on the owner's family life, especially with the addition of a second child. This made the commute unsustainable.

The video focuses on the relocation to Gwinnett County, not a complete closure of the flight school. The school continues to operate in its new location.