SANTA MONICA -- With the economy as it is, many warned Charles Thomson about beginning a flight training company.

His perspective is that this is the most appropriate time to start his company, which is focused on making flying more accessible to the public.

He then heard of light-sport aircraft [LSA], which is safer and much less expensive due to its fuel efficiency, and he saw the opportunity to start a flight training company with one.


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His plane, the Sportcruiser, takes about three and a half gallons of fuel an hour, which means that on a trip to Las Vegas, it is more fuel efficient than a SUV.

For more information, visit www.santamonicaflyers.com