Flight Training - November/December 2021 - 25

YOU CAN FLY
BY JULIE SUMMERS WALKER
WHO'S THE BEST?
FLIGHT TRAINING EXPERIENCE AWARDS ANNOUNCES REGIONAL WINNERS
THE RESULTS OF THE 2021 ANNUAL FLIGHT TRAINING
Experience Awards have been tabulated and 42
schools and 100 CFIs have earned a " Distinguished "
Award; six schools and six instructors have been
tapped as regional winners (see " Regional Winners, "
right). The national winners of the 2021 survey will
be announced at Redbird Migration in February.
The Flight Training Experience Survey and
Awards are part of the You Can Fly program, powered
by AOPA. You Can Fly is a comprehensive set
of initiatives designed to get people flying and keep
them flying. The Flight Training Experience Survey and Awards support that effort by
recognizing flight schools and instructors that deliver exceptional training experiences.
The survey encourages anyone who has taken flight training in the past 12 months
to candidly share their training experiences. Responses are used to measure the overall
performance of the respondent's flight training providers and spotlight areas where
they are successful and where they have opportunities to improve. Survey participants
include pilots of all experience levels, from new students to those earning advanced
ratings or taking a flight review.
aopa.org/ftsurvey
julie.walker@aopa.org
Research findings
AOPA conducted research to determine what makes a good flight training experience.
These findings have guided the annual Flight Training Experience Survey and Awards
since then:
* The sheer enjoyment of flying is an important attribute that should be emphasized
in flight training.
* Recreational goals are the most common reason for learning to fly and most students
learn outside the Part 141 environment.
* Students come to the process through referrals and place a premium on personal
interaction with the aviation community.
*
*
The flight instructor's performance is especially important.
Flying and the sense of accomplishment it delivers is a powerful influence that
mitigates quality issues and results in an overall positive experience.
* The notion of an " aviation community " that shares this experience is a key
motivator.
* Value means far more than price. Schools should seek ways to stretch the student's
dollar, offer free or low-cost learning opportunities, and demonstrate they're billing
the student fairly.
MIGRATION FLIGHT TRAINING CONFERENCE
February 8 through 9, 2022
Aerospace Center for Excellence, Lakeland, Florida
Redbird Flight Simulations says that over the past 12 years, its annual Migration event has become the leading conference for flight training professionals.
Featuring presentations from a wide range of industry leaders and small group breakout sessions tailored to meet the goals of attendees,
Migration provides solutions to the real-world problems facing flight training organizations, flight instructors, and their clients.
migration.redbird.com
FLIGHT TRAINING NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021
25
REGIONAL WINNERS
Flight Schools
Central Southwest
In the Pattern
Denton, Texas
Eastern
Air Ventures Flying School
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Great Lakes
Blue Skies
Chicago, Illinois
Northwest Mtns
Ridgeline Aviation
Bozeman, Montana
Southern
Aviator Zone Academy
Miami, Florida
Western Pacific
Sierra Charlie Aviation
Scottsdale, Arizona
Flight Instructors
Central Southwest
Steve Fairbanks
Wills Point, Texas
Eastern
David Strassburg
Northampton, Massachusetts
Great Lakes
Ambyr Peterson
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Northwest Mtns
Jess Padden
Bozeman, Montana
Southern
Matt Eichel
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Western Pacific
Sergio Ramirez
Temecula, California
For a complete list of winners
aopa.org/ftawards
The national winners will be
announced at Migration in
February 2022.
DAVID TULIS

http://www.aopa.org/ftsurvey http://www.aopa.org/ftawards http://migration.redbird.com

Flight Training - November/December 2021

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