BACK TO YOUR ROOTS

Back to Your Roots

If you're a current or retired professional pilot looking to start flying recreationally, we've got exactly what you need!

Even if you’ve logged thousands of hours flying some of the largest, fastest, and most advanced civilian aircraft, getting back into low-and-slow VFR flying might feel daunting. That’s where AOPA’s Back to Your Roots program comes in—helping you smoothly transition back into general aviation (GA) flying.

Part of the AOPA Foundation’s You Can Fly initiative, Back to Your Roots is specifically designed for pilots who fly or used to fly for a living. Whether you’re eager to teach, take passengers on their first GA flight, plan a flying vacation, or relive the thrill of recreational flying, this program offers the path back to GA with all the guidance you need.

Through Back to Your Roots, you’ll revisit essential topics such as medical reform, weather briefings, preflight planning, FARs, and airspace regulations. We offer two flexible learning options:

Attend a live Back to Your Roots webinar

Take the self-paced online course

Or, you can do both!

Whichever track you choose, you’ll earn FAA Wings credits. Depending on the course, you’ll also receive a logbook endorsement or a certificate of completion to share with your CFI. And the best part? Both tracks are FREE for AOPA members!

For more details, check out the links in the menu to the left.

Resource Guide

Download the Back to Your Roots Resource Guide. A handy cockpit reference and study guide to help you transition back to VFR flying for recreation. It's perfect for use alongside the webinars or the online course.