Not on My Flightplan

When we first started ITP, my goal was to be an aircraft rental agency and acquisitions. It was quite enjoyable, getting to meet people who wanted to fly leisurely and other various missions. Our first experience with rentals was before we even officially started ITP. One of the line guys at our FBO wanted to rent our Cherokee, which my brother and I were the owners of. We decided to do that for him, so I spoke to my insurance agent to find out what I needed to have to make that happen.

Daniel was our very first renter and customer, and it was a pretty positive experience. We enjoyed it so much, that we continued to do it. Then we eventually acquired our second plane, a Cessna 172. Then a third, a Comanche 250. It was a nice little well-rounded fleet, but I had no place to keep them all in one place.

At that time the hangar on the Charlie taxiway at the Denton Airport became open and available, but was at a pretty steep price. We decided to take the leap, and I retired from my career as a professional pastor after a 32 year career, and I became a full-time business owner. I still pastor though. My flock has changed. This one actually flies! :)

But as I said above, the desire and goal was to be in aircraft rental agency and acquisitions. We rocked along for about a year, trying to do just that. We were very successful with it. During that time, a flight school at another local airport went out of business. There was a small handful of students that needed a place to finish their training. I liked their instructor that they were working with, so I let them go ahead and finish out at ITP. Then word got out that we were doing flight training. This was not necessarily the word I wanted to get out! I was happy doing rentals and acquisitions. But, the students started coming.

I kept avoiding what was obviously happening. And it kind of stressed me out. Being a man of faith, I prayed about it, a lot. Finally I felt like the blessing that was to be ours, was becoming a flight school. So like the old saying goes, if it walks like a duck swims like a duck and quacks like a duck… it probably is a duck! So, as time moved forward, we looked more and more like a school all the time. So we embraced it, and officially became In The Pattern Flight School on September 8, 2019. And we haven't looked back since.