Flight Training Initiative

The AOPA Flight Training Student Retention Initiative is a long-term, industry-wide effort dedicated to increasing the percentage of students who earn a pilot certificate. Facilitating a positive flight training experience will help student pilots achieve their goals while growing the pilot population and strengthening general aviation. See below for resources designed to help student pilots, instructors, and flight schools get the most out of the flight training experience.

Research

Research Report: The Flight Training Experience
Download the PDF (4MB).

This comprehensive study provides a deeper, more objective understanding of the flight training experience and serves as the foundation of the AOPA Flight Training Student Retention Initiative.

AOPA Flight Training Excellence Awards

The AOPA Flight Training Excellence Awards, brought to you by Flight Training magazine, are designed to encourage best practices and recognize flight schools and independent training professionals who put those practices to work every day. They are based on AOPA’s flight training student retention research.

AOPA Live®: AOPA Aviation Summit Keynote Presentation

Watch APCO Insight® Chairman Mark Benson’s presentation on the research findings and hear more about AOPA’s initial plans from Director of Flight Training Initiatives Jennifer Storm.

News

• Flight Training Summit 2011 - Shifting the training paradigm
• Student Retention Initiative gains frontline perspective at regional meetings
• AOPA launches flight training scholarship program
• CA bill could ease concerns of flight school certification
• New pilots key to future of aviation
• AOPA convenes major flight training summit
• Research identifies what students need
• President’s Position: Seeking a new training paradigm

AOPA Publications

• Flight School Business e-newsletter
• Let’s Go Flying e-newsletter
• Flight Training magazine
• AOPA ePilot: Flight Training Edition
• CFI to CFI newsletter
• AOPA Pilot magazine

AOPA Airports Online Directory

• Search AOPA Airports
• Add an AOPA Airports flight school listing
• Update an AOPA Airports flight school listing

Please email comments or questions about the AOPA Flight Training Student Retention Initiative to FTinitiative@aopa.org.