2027 AOPA Foundation Flight Training Experience Awards

Why participate

More than an awards program

Exceptional flight training does more than prepare someone to pass a checkride —
it builds confidence, sharpens skills, and keeps aviators engaged in their journey.

The Flight Training Experience Awards turn real feedback from students, clients, and instructors into a clear picture of your impact—and the credibility to back it up.

Participating helps you:

Benchmark against the bestSee how your training stacks up nationwide.

Turn feedback into actionKnow exactly what's working and what needs attention.

Boost enrollment and retentionRecognition and stronger experiences keep students flying.

Stand out to prospectsEarn third-party validation you can use in your marketing.

Join the top performersStand alongside the schools and instructors setting the bar.

Start your application Meet past winners

Backed by research

The research that defines training excellence

The Flight Training Experience Awards grew from AOPA's Flight Training Experience Research Report. AOPA commissioned independent research to better understand the challenges students encounter during flight training and identify the qualities that define an optimal experience. The study combined focus groups, a survey of 1,000 students, pilots, and instructors, and statistical analysis of factors influencing training quality.

1,000

students, pilots, and instructors surveyed — combined with focus groups and statistical analysis of the factors that influence training quality.

The research identified four core attributes:

Educational quality

Effective, professional instruction that helps students build knowledge, skill, and confidence.

Customer focus

An experience centered on clear communication, attentive support, reliability, and student success.

Community

A welcoming environment that helps students feel connected to aviation and supported throughout their journey.

Information sharing

Honest, useful communication about expectations, progress, costs, timelines, and available resources.

These attributes continue to guide the Flight Training Experience initiative and the way the awards evaluate exceptional training.

Read the research report

How to participate

One program. Two ways to participate.

You do not need to compete for an award to benefit from this program. Pick the option that matches your goals.

What you receive with each option
What you receive	Apply for award recognition	Customer Feedback Report only
Customer Feedback Report
Benchmarking against peers
Eligible for a National Award		—
Eligible for a Regional Award		—
Eligible for Distinguished Recognition		—
National recognition on AOPA.org and through AOPA's editorial and media channels		—
Marketing assets to celebrate your achievement		—
Recognition at Redbird Migration		—

Option 1

Apply for award recognition

Ideal if you want to earn industry recognition while gaining valuable insight into the training experience you deliver.

You'll receive

Comprehensive Customer Feedback Report*
Benchmarking against participating flight schools and instructors
Actionable insights to continuously improve the student experience

You'll be considered for

National Awards — recognition for the top-performing flight school and instructor in the country.
Regional Awards — recognition for leading flight schools and instructors across six U.S. regions.
Distinguished Recognition — recognition for instructors and schools that meet established standards of excellence.

Award recipients also receive

Recognition from AOPA for training excellence
Recognition on AOPA.org and through AOPA's editorial and media channels
Recognition at Redbird Migration
Marketing assets to promote your achievement
Increased credibility with prospective students

Option 2

Customer Feedback Report only*

Ideal if your priority is improving the student experience through meaningful feedback without competing for awards. Short on time this year? You can still participate—it only takes a few minutes to apply.

You'll receive

Comprehensive Customer Feedback Report*
Benchmarking against participating flight schools and instructors
Insights into what students value most
A clear read on your strengths and the areas to work on
The option to share your report publicly

Start your application

*Must meet eligibility requirements

How to apply

Application requirements and deadlines

Ready to begin? Follow the steps below to check your eligibility, gather what you'll need, and submit before the deadline. You can also review the 2027 Flight Training Experience Award rules.

Hold a current AOPA membership

Flight school and instructor applicants need current membership at the time of application and award presentation. Not a member? Join now.

Choose your path

If you are not pursuing an award, select "Customer Feedback Only" at the start of your application.

Invite students to share their experience

Required: invite students and clients who trained with you in the past 12 months to submit reviews.
Optional: reviews from instructors and DPEs who did business with your school in the past 12 months are welcome.

Meet the review minimum

Flight schools: 10 reviews, for either an award or a Customer Feedback Report.
Instructors: 5 reviews for either option.

Additional requirements

Flight schools

Flight schools with multiple locations must submit one application per location.
The applicant must own or be employed by the flight school at the time of application and award presentation.
Maintain a current AOPA Airport Directory listing for each airport you operate. To request a listing, email [email protected].
Have this ready before you begin:
- 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 over the preceding 12 months
- Photos of your school's key areas—storefront, reception, classroom and briefing rooms, flight line, hangar

Instructors

Your AOPA membership number
Required documents, as photos or scans:
- Your CFI certificate
- If applicable, proof of membership in at least one professional association, plus any additional credentials
- Your endorsement log for the past 12 months, including checkride and knowledge test sign-offs and results. You may obscure student-identifying information.
Total number of instructional hours given
First-time pass rate for checkride and knowledge test endorsements over the preceding 12 months

Submit everything by these dates

Applications close: October 24, 2026
Supporting reviews due: October 31, 2026

Start your application

Awards are presented at Redbird Migration, March 2–3, 2027, in Houston, Texas.

Questions? Email [email protected].

Get real insight

Turn great reviews into recognition

Customer Feedback Reports give participating flight schools and instructors a credible way to showcase
authentic feedback, demonstrate their commitment to excellence, and build trust with prospective students.

Why publish your Customer Feedback Report

Public visibilityPost your official report on the Flight Training Experience Awards winners list, so prospective customers can read your reviews. See an example.

A shareable logoUse your Customer Feedback Report logo on your website and in promotional materials.

Ongoing growthUse the feedback to keep improving your training and your service.

How public Customer Feedback Reports work

Feedback reports help prospective students choose a training provider that fits their needs by surfacing
what people like them experienced. AOPA also publishes tips on choosing a flight school.

Frequently asked questions

How do I share my report publicly?

Select that option during the application, or afterward by emailing [email protected].

Flight schools need a business listing in AOPA's Airport Directory, or can create one.
Independent CFIs must be an LLC to create a business listing.
Participants receive a special AOPA logo and agree to link back to their report on AOPA's website.

Where do the reports appear?

Reports link from the official Flight Training Experience Awards winners list.

How are reviews verified?

AOPA staff read every review and check it against AOPA's requirements, including signs of fake or incentivized reviews. Reviewers must disclose any incentive they received, regardless of value or source.

AOPA doesn't encourage favorable reviews or discourage unfavorable ones, and constructive criticism is welcome. Providers choose whether to display their feedback reports, so not all reports and ratings appear on AOPA.org.

Reviewers must confirm they received instruction from, trained with, or worked with the provider within the past 12 months as one of the following:

A current student pilot
A new pilot
Someone pursuing or holding an advanced certificate or rating
Someone pursuing or completing a flight review
Someone pursuing or completing transition training or endorsements
A fellow instructor or DPE who worked with the school or instructor in the past 12 months

They must also confirm the review reflects their own personal experience.

View the 2026 feedback reports

See how your training measures up.

Apply by October 24

Start your application Compare the two options

Questions? Email [email protected].