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

The NEW 2025 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 2, 2024
Applications Close: October 31, 2024


Program Details

New for 2025: A Revamped Recognition Process

We’ve revamped the Flight Training Experience Awards for 2025, transitioning from a survey-based model to a more focused, application-driven approach. This new 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.

This year, 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.

How to Participate

To be considered for an AOPA Flight Training Experience Award:

  • 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.

AOPA’s You Can Fly Program

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. 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