Aviation School Expands, Offers Class to NWACC

Bobby Purvis, owner and chief flight instructor of Fort Smith Aviation Academy LLC, received a contract in March from the U.S. Air Force to provide flight training to pilots who have finished officer training school. He wouldn’t disclose the dollar amount of the contract.

Purvis, along with business partner Lisa Robles, opened the flight school at the Fort Smith Regional Airport in February 2005 to provide flight training. By himself, he trained three students with one plane.

After 14 months of operation, the company now has six employees (including three instructors) with plans to hire another instructor this year. The academy also has three airplanes with plans to add two more before the end of the year. Currently, 63 students are enrolled.

In April, the company moved from a small 250-SF building to a 4,000-SF operation, also located on the airport property. He plans to open a pilot retail shop in May that will have equipment and “pilot toys” for aviators and students.

In March, Purvis opened his school to the flight-training students from Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville. When Drake Aviation LLC closed its flight training school operations in Bentonville and Springdale in March, it left students with no program to finish their certification. And the students had already paid for the classes.

Purvis learned of the situation and offered those students a discounted price to finish their program at Fort Smith Aviation. So far, six students have enrolled in his class.

“What we’re doing is giving Drake students the chance to finish their training,” Purvis said. “We’re trying to what we can to help.”

Fort Smith Aviation offers private, commercial flight training and instrument training, along with the state’s only laser grade testing facility for Federal Aviation Administration tests and other trade tests, he said. Aircraft are also available to rent. Prices vary depending on the length of the rental.