Epic Buzz Newsletter

2025 in Review Since Epic’s founding in 1999, we have experienced many changes as we’ve grown from a single flight school in New Smyrna Beach, Florida to an academy of 10 flight schools and 2 aircraft mechanic schools. In 2025, we experienced significant achievements and wish to thank our students, staff, instructors, and the aviation community for this shared success. Highlights of 2025 include: Holiday Specials for Aviation Training As 2025 comes to a close and the holidays are fast approaching, we are offering our best specials ever for pilot training and aircraft mechanic training! If your plans for 2026 include becoming an FAA-certified pilot or aircraft mechanic, we invite you to take advantage of these special offers. Welcome to … Read more

10th Annual Scholarship Winners We are thrilled to introduce the winners of the 10th Annual Aviation Scholarship Awards. This year, Epic awarded a total of $145,000 to 17 high school students. Over the past 10 years, we have awarded a total of $590,000 to 52 high school students! The King Air Nation Foundation allocated $10,000 to Epic this year for an aircraft mechanic student and $5,000 for a flight student. We were pleased to make these awards on their behalf. Brynn Witke of Wisconsin received the Captain Judy Rice Scholarship for her tenacity in achieving her aviation goals. This included making an emergency landing on a country road when the engine went out on her cross-country solo during her training … Read more

Grand Opening in Provo, Utah We are excited to invite you to the ribbon-cutting and grand opening of our newest flight school, which is located in Provo, Utah. Members of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce will host the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, and we look forward to sharing discovery flights and simulator flying during the grand opening! Join us to celebrate this Epic milestone! Welcome to Our Newest Students! Welcome to our newest pilots (above) at the New Smyrna Beach campus and our other campuses as well. They have completed orientation and are now busy with their flight training. A new class of aircraft mechanic students will begin training on October 13th at our CVG Airport campus and in … Read more

Epic Buzz September 2025 Quick Navigation to Epic Buzz September 2025 Breaking News Keeping Up at Epic Grand Opening Held in Tuscaloosa, Alabama It’s official! We recently held the Grand Opening of our newest flight school at Tuscaloosa National Airport. Members of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama hosted a ribbon-cutting and we welcomed people from the community who enjoyed free discovery flights and flight simulator sessions Brock Rees, director of satellite operations, spoke with WBRC News about FAA Part 141 training. Grand Opening Planned in Provo, Utah We are growing again! Join us at the Provo Airport on Saturday, October 4th for the ribbon-cutting and grand opening of our newest flight school! We are excited to open our second Utah campus and … Read more

Epic Buzz August 2025 Quick Navigation to Epic Buzz August 2025 Breaking News Airline Visits Keeping Up at Epic You’re Invited! Grand Opening at TCL Join us on Saturday, August 30th, 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for the Grand Opening of our newest flight school campus at Tuscaloosa National Airport. Take a discovery flight, fly the simulator, meet staff, and enjoy refreshments! Members of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama will host a Ribbon-Cutting on Friday, August 29th at 11:00 a.m. We’re thrilled to be spreading our wings in Alabama! Captain Judy Rice Exhibit One year ago, we lost a skilled aviator, a compassionate instructor, and a dear friend. Epic PPL Ground School Instructor Captain Judy Rice was all … Read more

Epic Buzz July 2025 Quick Navigation to Epic Buzz July 2025 Breaking News Keeping Up at Epic Epic Launches Part 141 Schools in Colorado and Utah On June 21, 2025, Epic Flight Academy cut the ribbon at its Englewood, Colorado flight school near Denver, and one week later cut the ribbon during the grand opening at St. George, Utah. Danny Perna, founder and CEO, said, “We’ve never opened two flight schools within a week of each other, but everything lined up perfectly. The folks at the Centennial Airport and the St. George Regional Airport really stepped up to welcome us. Also, Brock Rees, Epic’s director of satellite operation put together a great team at both sites, and we are already training pilots. … Read more

Epic Flight Academy Becomes Largest Part 141 Flight School in the United States On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, the FAA completed inspections on three of Epic’s newest flight training campuses and certified them for Part 141 training. This brings the total of Epic’s Part 141 schools to 9, the most in the country.  Epic founder and CEO Danny Perna said, “It’s quite a milestone, especially considering the fact that we are actively developing additional flight training sites that will also be Part 141 schools.” Director of satellite operations Brock Rees added, “FAA Part 141 training is a structured, FAA-approved program that offers a faster, more efficient path to earning pilot certificates with fewer required flight hours.” Flying Magazine shared the full story.  Aircraft Mechanic Students … Read more

Volume 8, Issue 4 | April 2025 Airline Bound: An Aviation Career Seminar We are excited to sponsor Airline Bound: An Aviation Career Seminar on May 3rd, 2025 at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center. Please join us there to meet airline representatives and learn how to navigate your pilot or aircraft mechanic career path!   Multiple Open Houses Last Month We held multiple events last month including an Open House in Ocala (above) where folks enjoyed free Discovery Flights and another in Jacksonville. If you weren’t able to join us, check our calendar for upcoming events, or stop by any of our locations. We love offering tours of our aircraft mechanic schools and flight schools and look forward to welcoming you! Welcoming New Students … Read more

Epic Flight Academy Receives Accreditation from ACCSC We are proud to announce that Epic Flight Academy is now accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) for its pilot and aviation maintenance technician (AMT) training programs in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Epic has undergone a years-long self-assessment with students and staff to achieve this accreditation. CEO Danny Perna acknowledged the commitment of staff and students for collaborating to achieve accreditation. We have leveled up! Aircraft Mechanic Graduates Congratulations to Epic’s most recent aircraft mechanic graduates in New Smyrna Beach! Friends and family attended the graduation last month to celebrate 19 months of hard work. These grads are now FAA-certified Airframe & Powerplant mechanics! Five New Cessnas Epic … Read more