Sporty's: More than a Pilot Shop

         If you think of Sporty's as just the world's largest pilot supply store, you'd be missing a big part of the story. With corporate activities in every segment of light aircraft from training to maintenance to aircraft sales, Sporty's is a beehive of aviation activity.

         But, first a little history. After a brief corporate career, Sporty's Founder and Chairman Hal Shevers began work as a flight instructor at Cincinnati's Lunken Airport. He also began selling pilot supplies to his students and also marketed a small radio that picked up airport control towers. He sold the radio to pilots by mail, using the trunk of his car as his first warehouse. This was the birth of Sporty's Pilot Shop in 1960.

         He says, "Our first major success, though, was the creation of the three-day ground school in 1963." Today it's known as the "weekend seminar," and Shevers pioneered the concept. He traveled throughout Ohio and Indiana to teach a three-day accelerated ground school that prepared students for the instrument written. He says, "These ground schools were an instant success. They provided to those who were having difficulty in their training, and to those who were deciding on that next step, the extra help and encouragement to advance to the next level."

         Shevers partnered with Joe Vorbeck, a professor of aviation at Purdue University, to write a more complete ground school course. (Vorbeck later became a long-time Sporty's employee.) Together they created Traveling Aviation Seminars to travel the country teaching the new and improved course. Shevers says, "Many thought it impossible to complete an instrument ground school course in just three days, but the success of this course proved otherwise."

         In the meantime, Shevers' pilot supply business was growing and so when a fixed space became available at Lunken, he says, "We grabbed on to it, not really knowing what we could do with it." As the store prospered, Shevers says, "We wanted our own building, and since the management of Lunken Airport was not much different than the management of all airports, they didn't think there was much of a future for a place like Sporty's. In fact, they didn't even think we were in the aviation business." He adds with a smile, "Bureaucrats rarely understand aviation."

         Shevers started to look elsewhere for Sporty's home base. At the time, the governor of Ohio had a program to ensure each county had an airport. Shevers explains, "The object was to bring industry to rural Ohio." Clermont County Airport was newly built and looking for the first business for its industrial sub-division. Sporty's became the airport's original business. As Sporty's grew, expansion became necessary. In 1971, a larger facility was built, which was expanded over the next 15 years. And then, in 1990, a new facility was built across the field.

         Clermont County Airport (I69) is pilot-controlled. (Shevers prefers this description to "non-towered.") Its runway is just under 4000 feet with straight-in instrument approaches to both ends. There are medium intensity runway and taxiway lights, REILs and PAPIs. Sporty's FBO - Eastern Cincinnati Aviation - manages the airport on behalf of Clermont County. One hundred and eleven T-hangars are in place, with total hangar capacity for more than 130 aircraft.

         Today, Sporty's consists of a family of catalogs - Sporty's Pilot Shop and Wright Bros. Collection in aviation - and Preferred Living, Sporty's Men's Collection and Sporty's Tool Shop for upscale consumers. All together, the catalogs offer about 7,000 different products.

         Almost all 7,000 catalog products are stocked in Sporty's warehouse. That's one of Sporty's strengths. Sporty's President Michael Wolf says, "Stocking our own products means we can ship immediately and ensures the highest level of customer service." He adds, "Our customers have come to expect that they'll get their orders in a few days, sometimes even the next day."

         At airports or at trade shows such as AOPA Expo or EAA AirVenture, Shevers finds himself in the unlikely role of aviation celebrity. He says, "I take it as an ego builder if someone asks to have a photo taken with me. Customers usually tell me about their experience with Sporty's - for example, they'll say, `You run a good outfit.' Pilots know we have a feeling for what they need and want. It makes me feel good."

         It's not all sunshine and roses, though. Shevers says, "You have to remember that anyone who has a gripe will also be at a show. There aren't many, but one tough customer can ruin your day." He prides himself on having a listed home telephone number and says, "I get a call at home once every two or three years." In fact, one customer's complaint struck him as so legitimate that he got in his car, came out to Sporty's, prepared the customer's order himself and drove it to Cincinnati airport for shipment.

         While Shevers participates in many national aviation organizations, the Aviation Exploring Committee of the Boy Scouts of America is a priority for him since he is an Eagle Scout. In fact, he has been awarded the Boy Scouts' Distinguished Eagle for his lifetime achievements in aviation. More than 200 Aviation Explorers who attended EAA AirVenture enjoyed a permanent food service facility (dubbed the "Skyview Café" by the Explorers themselves), funded by Sporty's, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the Experimental Aircraft Association . Sporty's also sponsors Aviation Exploring Post 78 at I69.

         Sporty's takes its research and development very seriously, having created its own on-site laboratory - a flight school. Tasked with overseeing this department is Eric Radtke, President of Sporty's Academy, the education division of Sporty's. Radtke, an ATP and Master flight instructor, oversees a team responsible for courseware, training materials and flight training. "Our flight school is vital to the entire organization," explains Radtke. "I'm not sure of any other method for creating, testing and refining the educational products that we offer without gaining first-hand experience through our flight school."

         Sporty's Academy is the training provider for the University of Cincinnati Professional Pilot Training Program. The program, founded in 1992, offers an associate degree in aviation as well as a bachelor's option through the University's College of Business. The Academy provides aviation curricula, instructors and flight training in support of this program. "The program has about 60 students and is growing rapidly," Radtke says. "These students will graduate with a commercial pilot certificate for single and multiengine airplanes and have a unique opportunity to combine their aviation studies with a business program, an educational background in high demand throughout the industry."

         Sporty's Academy also manages flight training offered through Sporty's affiliate FBO, Eastern Cincinnati Aviation (ECA). At any given time, ECA is training approximately 100 students through its many training programs which include recreational, private, instrument, commercial, multiengine, glider, ATP and even CFI for those who have done previous training with Sporty's. Radtke explains the CFI training policy by saying, "this policy comes from the belief that before we put the Sporty's name behind a CFI, we want to be certain we know the candidates well. We want to know their motivation, goals and work ethic - it's that important to us and to the industry."

         One training philosophy that separates Sporty's from other training providers is its belief in the Recreational pilot certificate as the first course of training. Radtke says, "Time and time again when I speak to prospective pilots, their biggest obstacles to learning to fly are time and money. Recreational pilot training addresses both."

         According to Radtke, earning a Recreational pilot certificate as the first course of training only makes sense because the training is identical to the first phase of Private pilot training, but it breaks down the curriculum into a smaller, more manageable doses. The Recreational certificate can be earned in a legitimate 35 hours of flight training and can be accomplished in only a few months versus 70 hours of training over an 8 or 9 month period, not to mention the significant reduction in cost. In addition, if the Recreational pilot wishes to continue their training toward a Private, they only need accomplish a short transition course and flight test.

         "This approach to flight training keeps the process fun and most importantly, keeps students engaged and coming back to the airport," says Radtke.

         The Sporty's training fleet is comprised of predominately Cessna aircraft including a glass-cockpit equipped Cessna Skyhawk and Skylane. A Bonanza is used for Commercial training and a Piper Aztec is utilized for multiengine training. Rounding out the fleet is a Diamond motorglider which is used for initial glider ratings as well as self-launch endorsements for glider pilots.

         Sporty's takes pride in its safe, modern equipment. Chuck Gallagher, President of Eastern Cincinnati Aviation and Airport Manager adds, "students at our facility will train in safe, well-maintained airplanes with modern navigation equipment and amenities. This adds to an enjoyable flight training experience."

         Sporty's operates under the guiding principal that the airport should also serve as a social gathering point for pilots. On Saturdays, visiting customers and local pilots are treated to free hot dogs at lunch and an opportunity for fellowship, hangar talk and swapping lies. Pop, coffee, ice cream and snacks are available in Sporty's café, which overlooks the runway. Hot dogs on Saturdays are such an integral part of Sporty's culture that an icon on the Web site tracks how many hot dogs have been served. Link to hot dog tracker

         If you haven't visited Sporty's lately, you can be sure that the welcome mat is out. An annual fly-in and open house is held each May at Sporty's/Clermont County Airport. For more information please visit sportys.com/flyin.

         Sporty's offers several ground schools each year for topics including Recreational Pilot, Private Pilot, Instrument Rating and Glider Rating. A list of Sporty's ground schools can be found at FlyEca.com/groundschools.

         Sporty's Cincinnati Avionics, a full-service avionics shop, specializes in piston powered aircraft. Since it is Sporty's corporate belief that a business should be a reflection of the work it performs, Cincinnati Avionics is modern, clean, well organized, properly managed, and equipped with some of the most advanced equipment in the industry. Cincinnati Avionics is housed in a state-of-the art 6,000 sq. ft. hangar.

         And Sporty's Eastern Cincinnati Aviation is an authorized Cessna dealer for Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. The sales team at Eastern Cincinnati Aviation will work diligently to understand your requirements and offer the right aircraft, financing, insurance, and training to ensure your new Cessna will serve your personal and business transportation needs.

         More information on all the activities at Sporty's is available at Sporty's Web site (www.sportys.com) which is updated daily. In addition to providing more information about products in the catalogs, the site has company news, fuel prices at the airport, information for student pilots and much more. Five web cams show company activity and what's happening on the ramp.

         One of Shevers' current projects is Sandy's Farm, a residential airpark, named for his wife and company co-owner. Shevers says, "We have 11 homesites, each with taxiway access to the airport." Several homes with hangars are built at Sandy's Farm and several premium homesites are still available all with underground public utilities.

         An ATP with more than 10,000 hours, Shevers sums up Sporty's corporate philosophy: "Sporty's is basically an educational institution. We educate pilots." He points to the more than 100 hours of original educational DVD video on a variety of topics and his staff of instructors, including 7 Master instructors. He adds, "That is the focus of our business, and it has allowed us to make available to pilots other items such as jackets, flight bags and charts."

         Although Sporty's corporate philosophy has always embraced philanthropy, Shevers formalized the company's corporate giving by establishing The Sporty's Foundation in 2007. The Sporty's Foundation has as its goal funding programs that work to educate young people on the excitement and life-enhancing potential of general aviation. The Foundation's most recent initiative was to sponsor four new recreational pilot training awards for individuals from Aircraft Electronic Association member shops. Each award, called the Sporty's Recreational Pilot Certificate for AEA Member Technicians, is worth $5,000 and will be administered through the AEA Educational Foundation. For more information on the Foundation, visit www.sportysfoundation.org.

         Late last year, Shevers received recognition highlighting an illustrious career when he was inducted into the National Association of Flight Instructors Hall of Fame. Having founded Sporty's as a flight instructor, he has remained a flight instructor and takes pride in the role of aviation educator.

         Shevers says, "My goal remains to produce only the best flight training products that help develop safe and proficient pilots, while keeping flying fun." And that goal blends nicely into what he says is the best part of his job. He says, "What I enjoy the most is to wander around the airport and see everything from our student pilots to our avionics shop and see that we are preserving general aviation for future generations."