AOPA CELEBRATES EXCELLENCE IN FLIGHT TRAINING THROUGH 2024 FLIGHT TRAINING EXPERIENCE AWARD WINNERS
FREDERICK, Md., January 25, 2024—The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association's 2024 Flight Training Experience Survey received thousands of submissions from students and pilots across the country. Six flight schools and six flight instructors were chosen as the most excellent in their respective region.
The Flight Training Experience survey asked student pilots, newly minted pilots, and pilots pursuing advanced ratings or taking a flight review for feedback about the quality of their flight training and instruction experience. The survey gave respondents the opportunity to highlight the best parts of their flight training and identify where flight schools and instructors may want to make improvements.
Of the regional winners, one flight school and one flight instructor will be recognized as the nation’s best, announced at Redbird Migration, a flight training conference hosted March 5 and 6 at the Lone Star Flight Museum in Houston.
“This year we have seen something similar to past years,” Chris Moser, AOPA's senior director of flight training education, said. “The emphasis was on how much the best schools and instructors made their customers feel like family. Whether through creating a warm or welcoming atmosphere, or simply just being there when the client needs them, I am excited to hear about the strong community that is being built right from the start.”
The Flight Training Experience Survey has helped the AOPA You Can Fly team recognize superior flight training professionals since 2012.
AOPA’s You Can Fly program is dedicated to building the pilot community by creating programs for flying clubs, rusty pilots, and high school students who need support with their aviation goals.
REGIONAL WINNERS
Flight Schools
Central Southwest
Code 1 Flight Training / Wills Point, Texas
Eastern
Air Ventures Flying School / Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Great Lakes
Pilot Flight Training Courses / Lake in the Hills, Illinois
Pacific
Mike Smith Aviation / Napa, California
Southern
Aviator Zone Academy / Miami, Florida
Western
Copper City Aviation Services LLC / Bisbee, Arizona
Flight Intstructors
Central Southwest
Norm Rathje / Wills Point, Texas
Eastern
Malinda (Lin) Caywood / Frederick, Maryland
Great Lakes
Ernest Boys / Lake in the Hills, Illinois
Pacific
Margaret Watt / Hollister, California
Southern
Kurt Belsten / Melbourne, Florida
Western
Kerry Constable / Scottsdale, Arizona
Read AOPA’s story.
The You Can Fly program and the AOPA Air Safety Institute are funded by charitable donations to the AOPA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. To be a part of general aviation's future, visit www.aopafoundation.org/donate.
