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Training & Safety Flight Schools Flight Training Initiative AOPA Flight Training Awards

The 2026 AOPA Flight Training Experience Awards

SHOWCASE YOUR EXCELLENCE IN FLIGHT TRAINING

Attention Flight School and Instructors!

The AOPA Flight Training Experience Awards recognize excellence in flight and ground instruction by honoring outstanding instructors and flight schools nationwide.

Seize this opportunity to be recognized as a leader in the flight training industry.

Applications Open: September 1, 2025

Applications Close: October 24, 2025 (All recommendations must be received by Oct 31, 2025)

 

 

Program Details

Program details

We’ve recently revamped the Flight Training Experience Awards for 2026, transitioning from a survey-based model to a more focused, application-driven approach. This process ensures that our awards reflect the best in flight and ground training, as demonstrated by those flight schools and instructors most committed to providing an excellent experience for their students and clients.

We're inviting you to submit an application that provides a more comprehensive picture of your training program and its impact.

Why Participate

  • Increase your program's appeal to prospective students and clients.
  • Demonstrate your standing among the industry's best.
  • Show your commitment to continuous improvement and exceptional training.
  • Get valuable feedback from your customers to help optimize your flight training operation.

How to Participate

To be considered for an AOPA Flight Training Experience Award or just to receive a Customer Feedback Report:

  • Complete and submit an application.
  • Request reviews from students, clients, instructors, or DPEs who have trained or conducted business with you in the last 12 months. This is included in the application process.

Selection Process

Applications are screened using statistical measures, and top award recipients are selected by a panel of industry experts who are unaware of the identity of the school or instructor being judged.

Award Categories

  • Regional: Best Flight School, Best Instructor, Distinguished Flight Schools, Distinguished Instructors.
  • National: Top Flight School, Top Instructor.

FLIGHT TRAINING EXPERIENCE AWARD RULES

Review the 2026 AOPA Flight Training Experience Award rules.

Flight Schools

The Flight Training Experience Awards

Celebrate excellence in aviation education by recognizing outstanding flight schools that set the standard in pilot training. This is your opportunity to showcase your school's commitment to producing safe, skilled, and confident pilots.

Before you begin, please carefully review the application requirements and prepare all necessary documents to ensure a smooth application process.

Flight School Application Requirements

  1. The applicant must be employed by the flight school.
  2. Submit one application per school location.
  3. The applicant must be a current member of AOPA at the time of application and award presentation. Not a member? Join now.
  4. Request and provide at least ten (10) reviews from students or clients who trained with your school in the past 12 months.
    • Additional reviews from instructors and DPEs who have conducted business with your school in the past 12 months are encouraged.
    • We will also consider customer reviews from your AOPA Airport Directory listing submitted in the past 12 months.
  5. Maintain a current AOPA Airport Directory listing for each airport where you operate. To request a listing, email: [email protected].

Requesting Reviews

Applicants will enter their references' names and email addresses in the application. Email invitations to submit a review will be sent to your references. Applicants are responsible for ensuring their references complete the reviews by the deadline.

Prepare This Information Before Applying

  • Your AOPA membership number
  • Your AOPA Airport Directory listing URL
  • Number of aircraft
  • Number and type of simulators (if applicable)
  • Number and type of instructors working at your school
  • First time pass rate for checkride applicants at your school in the preceding 12 months 
  • Photos of your school’s key areas (e.g., storefront, reception area, classroom/briefing rooms, flight line, hangar)

Maximize Your AOPA Airport Directory Presence

Helpful Hints

  1. Encourage reviews from students, clients, instructors, employees, and anyone conducting business with your school
  2. Respond promptly to any negative reviews to resolve issues
  3. Regularly check and update your listing(s)

Remember that the AOPA Airport Directory reviews factor into award consideration, so maintain an active, positive presence. If you don’t have a listing in the AOPA Airport Directory, we encourage you to request one—it’s FREE! Your listing will reach over 46,000; monthly viewers and is also included in Foreflight and Garmin business listings. To request a listing, email: [email protected].

Review the 2026 AOPA Flight Training Experience Award rules.

Applications Close on October 24, 2025 (All recommendations must be received by Oct 31, 2025)

Instructors

The Flight Training Experience Awards

Celebrate excellence in aviation education by recognizing outstanding instructors who go above and beyond in their instruction. Whether you're a flight or ground instructor, this is your opportunity to showcase your dedication to shaping the next generation of pilots.

Before you begin, please carefully review the application requirements and prepare all necessary documents to ensure a smooth application process.

Instructor Application Requirements

  1. The applicant must be a current member of AOPA at the time of application and award presentation. Not a member? Join now.
  2. Request and provide at least five (5) reviews from students or clients who trained with you in the past 12 months.
    • Additional reviews from instructors and DPEs who have trained or conducted business with you in the past 12 months are encouraged.

Requesting Reviews

Applicants will enter their references' names and email addresses in the application. Email invitations to submit a review will be sent to your references. Applicants are responsible for ensuring their references complete the reviews by the deadline.

Prepare This Information Before Applying

  • Your AOPA membership number
  • Required documents (photos or scans):
    • Your CFI certificate
    • If applicable, proof of membership in at least one professional association (you may also include any additional credential, if applicable)
    • Your endorsement log for the past 12 months (e.g., checkride and knowledge test sign-offs and results). Note: You may obscure student-identifying information
  • Total number of instructional hours given
  • First time pass rate for checkride and knowledge test endorsements in the preceding 12 months

Review the 2026 AOPA Flight Training Experience Award rules.

Applications close on October 24, 2025 (All recommendations must be received by Oct 31, 2025)

Awards & Past Winners

Awards Categories

Applications are screened using statistical measures, and top award recipients are selected by a panel of industry experts who are unaware of the identity of the school or instructor being judged.

MEET OUR WINNERS

Best Flight School and Best Instructor

This award is presented to the flight school and instructor in each region who submit a completed application and receive the highest overall score from the selection committee in this category.

Six awards will be presented for each of the two categories, Best Flight School and Best Instructor, and one for each of the following regions: Western, Pacific, Central Southern, Great Lakes, Eastern, and Southern. A national winner for each category will be selected from among the six regional award recipients.

Distinguished Flight Schools and Instructors

This award is presented to flight schools and instructors who submit a completed application and achieve superior ratings from their customers on the areas highlighted in the Flight Training Experience Research (educational quality, customer focus, community, and information sharing).

Applications close on October 24, 2025 (All recommendations must be received by Oct 31, 2025)


Customer Feedback Reports

Flight Training Experience Customer Feedback Reports

What is This? Why are You Doing This? Who is it For? 

Instructors and flight schools receiving at least five (5) valid responses in the survey will receive a Customer Feedback Report to help them know where they excel and where they can grow. The report includes their average scores in each area and lets them see where they stand relative to the national average.

 

This program allows flight training providers to publicly share their Customer Feedback Reports from participating in the Flight Training Experience Survey. 

VIEW SAMPLE CUSTOMER FEEDBACK REPORT

For Flight Training Providers

Like some popular rating programs for businesses that provide customer service, such as Forbes Travel Guide or ZAGAT awards, the AOPA You Can Fly team’s goal is to help highlight and celebrate excellence in the flight training community.

The Distinguished and Best of Awards are part of a highly competitive field with many exceptional instructors and schools. While the flight training providers may not have received an award, they often have outstanding customer reviews. This program was created to help them receive the recognition they deserve in three ways:

  1. Post their official Customer Feedback Report in the online AOPA Airport Directory for flight schools, or on the official FTE Awards Winners List for instructors where their customers can see their reviews. Click for an example
  2. Receive a Customer Feedback Report logo that they can post on their website and in their promotional materials.
  3. Help the providers continue to grow their business and work towards perfecting their training and services.

For Flight Training Customers

These feedback reports can help potential students and customers to select a flight training provider that best meets their needs. They can review the feedback from other customers like themselves to make informed decisions. AOPA also offers tips on how to select a flight school.

How does it work?

Flight training providers who would like to publicly share their Customer Feedback Reports in the AOPA Airport Directory for flight schools, or on the FTE Awards Winners List for instructors can select that option during the application process or afterwards by emailing the request to [email protected]. Flight schools that wish to participate must have or create a business listing in AOPA’s Airport Directory. An independent CFI’s business must be an LLC to create a business listing. Flight training providers receive a special logo from AOPA to recognize their participation in the program and agree to include a link to AOPA’s website where their report is posted. 

Where can I find the reports?

Flight school reports will be posted in the AOPA Airport Directory under the school’s business listing, where you can search by airport ID, name, city, or state. Instructor feedback reports will be linked in the official FTE Awards winner list. 

What is the review process for these reports?

The legal requirements of the review process include the following. 

We request reviewers to represent that they have received one of the following types of flight instruction from the flight school they review within the past year:

  • Current student pilot 
  • New pilot 
  • Pursuing or earned an advanced certificate or rating 
  • Pursuing or completed a flight review 
  • Pursuing or completed transition training or endorsements 

Reviewers represent that their Response is based on their own personal experiences. 

All reviews are read by an individual looking for a review that does not meet AOPA’s requirements or displaying indications of a fake review. 

Reviewed (flight schools/flight instructors) are given the option to display their feedback reports, so not all feedback reports and ratings will appear on AOPA.org. 

What about people who may have received an incentive to participate in the survey?

AOPA does not encourage favorable reviews or discourage unfavorable reviews. Constructive criticism is encouraged.

Reviewers represent that they have disclosed any incentives received in exchange for a review, regardless of monetary value or source.

Applications Close on October 24, 2025 (All recommendations must be received by Oct 31, 2025)

AOPA’s You Can Fly Program

The Flight Training Experience Awards are part of the You Can Fly program. You Can Fly is a comprehensive set of initiatives designed to get people flying and keep them flying. The Flight Training Experience Awards support that effort by recognizing flight schools and instructors that deliver exceptional training experiences. Click here to read the Flight Training Experience Research.

The You Can Fly program is made possible by generous donations to the AOPA Foundation. To make a contribution, and have your gift matched by the Ray Foundation, visit aopafoundation.org/challenge

You Can Fly