Nation's best CFI, flight school named

National Best CFI: Tiziano Bernard

‘It’s not about me, it’s about the students’

By Paul Hargitt

Aviation has a unique ability to captivate the hearts and minds of those who experience its wonders, and for one flight instructor, this passion took root at a young age. Growing up, flying was not just about getting from Point A to Point B. For Tiziano Bernard, flying was intertwined with family traditions and cultural explorations. “My parents used to fly a lot for exotic vacations,” he says. “They believed in the importance of traveling and understanding other cultures. As soon as I was old enough, I used to fly with them.” This early exposure to aviation became a cornerstone of his life, developing a love for flying that would shape his career.

The way Bernard sees aviation goes beyond the mechanics of flying—it’s a powerful connection to the world and the people within it. “Flying seems to connect the dots, not just people. It seems to connect things that go beyond just meeting someone,” he says.

As an instructor, Bernard focuses on pursuing excellence and continuous improvement. “Becoming a pilot is not the acquiring of a license; it is the acquiring of a profession,” he says. “It means that you need to always pursue excellence in all of its forms.” This belief underpins his approach to instruction, which prioritizes theoretical knowledge and building strong interpersonal relationships.

He takes immense pride in the success of his students. “Every time a student achieves their goal or graduates, it fills me with satisfaction,” he says. Yet, he finds his greatest joy in the relationships formed during training. “I do not limit myself to just teaching skills; I’m committed to building a friendship…I’m very proud when those friendships continue, and I have students that still reach out to me to ask for advice the same way that I still reach out to my CFIs and ask for advice.” The connections formed during training are invaluable, and these lasting relationships are a testament to the meaningful impact that flight instructors can have on their students.

To continue growing as an instructor, Bernard actively engages in learning opportunities, attending lectures organized by aviation associations and participating in recurrent training programs. “Flying is a field where you’re never sufficiently trained or ready,” he says, underscoring the importance of humility and curiosity in his approach. He views every moment as a chance to learn, whether reflecting on past mistakes or reviewing case studies he’s encountered with his students. “What really makes a good pilot is recognizing when something is going wrong and taking corrective action,” he says, understanding that each experience is an opportunity for growth, especially in a profession that often presents unexpected challenges.

For Bernard, aviation is not just about flying; it’s about making connections, striving to be better, and fostering a community of pilots. His commitment to student mentorship and excellence captures the essence all great flight instructors possess, and rather than viewing his role as simply a source of knowledge and skills, he embraces it as an opportunity to shape the future of aviation through the students he teaches. Ultimately, it is the students who make this journey so rewarding.

[email protected]

National Best Flight School: In The Pattern

‘Our core purpose is to experience aviation’

By Capucine Cordina

The 2025 national winner of AOPA’s Flight Training Experience Award for best flight school is In The Pattern, from the Central Southern region, and there’s no question why their students love it.

In fact, this will be the school’s fourth year in a row winning an award from AOPA. The school was recognized as best flight school in the nation in 2021, 2022, and 2023, and as a Distinguished Flight school in 2024.

In The Pattern returned to its perch as the best in the nation in 2025. The school’s secret? Its relationships with the fantastic instructors who help make In The Pattern one of a kind. “It starts with a healthy environment, a good strong culture, and we do that with our team first,” says co-owner Sherman Gardner.

The origins of In The Pattern lie in Denton, Texas, with a 1964 Piper Cherokee 180 named Gertie that brothers Sherman and Darren Gardner bought in 2014. Originally an aircraft for the two brothers to use, they began renting it out. As the demand grew and grew, they added a Cessna 172 to their fleet. Then, in 2018 they decided to dedicate themselves to aviation and opened a flight school.

Seven years later, this fleet now includes 18 aircraft, from the classic Cessna 172 to Piper PA–23-259 Aztecs and Vashon Rangers. The team consists of 40 to 60 people including CFIs, line workers, and a full technician crew that is responsible for the maintenance of the fleet. In The Pattern currently serves more than 150 students a month with 200 checkrides a year, boasting a 92-percent pass rate. The full maintenance crew means the aircraft can be fixed and sent back out to the flight line quickly. With an avionics technician on staff, the school also makes its own panel upgrades and performs its own maintenance when necessary. And having experts readily available helps the students with their learning, as they’re able to walk across the taxiway and ask their questions directly and see the systems up close.

‘Experience aviation’

“We’re Part 61 only, with no desire to go 141. But we do operate like a 141 school on several different levels. Like with our syllabus that we developed, changed, and improved over the years,” says Sherman. In The Pattern caters to every student, from those who learn to fly to check off a personal goal, to those who are aiming for a career in aviation, or any motivation in between. For career-driven students, the school offers a specialized CFI academy.

The team makes sure every student’s goals are actionable and developed, because the flight lessons are just a part of the process.

“Our core purpose is to experience aviation. I want students to have a good time while they’re here. We want them to feel respected, honored, and appreciated,” says Sherman. He puts a lot of emphasis on the team getting to know and making a bond with each student because the more comfortable students are, the more easily they’ll learn.

Serving the community

Not only do In The Pattern team members care for and dedicate themselves to the school’s students, Gardner is passionate about getting himself, and his flight school, involved in the community. His networking led him to develop relationships with experts in the industry and recruiters for airlines and corporate operators, which he uses to connect and help his students. The staff showcases the flight school at job and trade fairs at local high schools and gives away discovery flights at each of them, as well as in silent auctions.

Advocating for youth and getting more young people into aviation is key. And the community notices their presence. After opening a second location in Granbury, Texas, In the Pattern partnered with the local high school and helped run the aviation department within the career and technical education program that includes flight training and an airframe and powerplant mechanic program. In The Pattern continues to leave a mark on the community around it, and the one it’s created, by helping students take flight every single day.

In their own words

AOPA announced the regional winners of Flight Training Experience Awards for best flight instructors and flight schools in January. We asked each winner to share one or two secrets to their success.

Madison Nugent (Eastern)

“Find a way to enjoy it. Some of the proudest moments I have are when I have a student that’s struggling, and we’re struggling together, and then we figure it out. My students are not just hours I’m trying to build and time I’m trying to get. We’re doing flight training together. Any time I find that you really build a relationship with a student and truly care about how that student is doing and what their goals are, and you can align their training with their goals, that will make you a successful instructor.”

John Schaffer (Central Southern)

“Originally, I went to college for construction to be an office engineer until I went on my first discovery flight and decided to switch careers. My advice for new pilots is to know what to do in certain situations and not be in shock when something happens…. I’m proud of all of my students and their checkrides and solos. My success is dependent on theirs, which I think comes from being involved and checking in on them. I’ll always ask about their goals and test dates. If I can align my goals with their goals, then I’ll be successful.”

Peg Ballou (Great Lakes)

“My mother gave me the choice between piano lessons and flight lessons, and the answer was obvious. I think students struggle all the time with having no idea what to do with all these materials. But it’s how you put it together. And you’ve got to want it so badly to dedicate the time, effort, and energy. Everybody wants to be a pilot, but you got to put the work in. That’s what it boils down to. As a flight instructor, it’s caring about the students. Caring about their safety and making sure they don’t develop bad habits.”

Mike Smith (Pacific)

“I think decision making is the most important skill for pilots to learn. Decision-making skills are the essence of safety in our system. With students, I work hard to be articulate and make everything I say be relevant and easy to interpret. And I think it’s important to be a very competent pilot yourself, so you do really good demonstrations and you’re comfortable enough that you can allow the student to do whatever they like, have them feel safe, because they know you’ll be able to help them get out of anything that might not work for them.”

Tiziano Bernard (Southern)

“Becoming a pilot is not the acquiring of a license; it is the acquiring of a profession It means that you need to always pursue excellence in all of its forms…learning different perspectives, understanding how other people dealt with situations. I’m not here to build time, and I never put myself first in any of my instruction. It’s not about me; it’s about the students…and never think that a mistake is for you only. A mistake is for everyone, and everybody can benefit from it. Share your mistakes. What really makes a good pilot is recognizing when something goes wrong and taking corrective action.”

Jacob Peery (Western)

“The most important skill for a new pilot is to keep an open mind and be humble. It is my experience that open-minded learners who are humble in their approach to training progress much more efficiently and avoid hazardous attitudes that often lead to mistakes…. And I encourage my students to develop traits and habits that higher level pilots see in the Part 121 world. I believe introducing them to certain ways airlines train their pilots will make the transition for the new generation of airline pilots easier and smoother.”

Air Ventures Flight School (Eastern)

Air Ventures Flight School offers the whole package. “We don’t sell flight training, we make pilots,” says owner Doug Auclair. Team members know that a flight school’s influence extends past lesson plans. It all starts at the very beginning, by creating a long-term plan that clearly defines individual goals and supports each student every step of the way. Flying regularly can get difficult after graduation, but with some help, it doesn’t have to be. After the checkride, the school continues to nurture passion of flight and encourage community. Auclair ensures that every student has, or can get, access to an aircraft, so they can keep flying for years to come.

In The Pattern (Central Southern)

Sherman Gardner, co-owner of In The Pattern, believes that the secret to happy, successful students are happy, successful flight instructors. “We want people to feel respected, honored, and appreciated,” he says. Creating a bond with the students is key to making them feel comfortable and ready to learn. With an in-house maintenance crew and a fleet going from classic high wings to light sports and twin engines, In The Pattern is prepared to cater to every student’s needs, whether they’re aiming for a professional pilot career or simply to check off a bucket list item. And for that final touch, the school’s expert networking allows students to connect to industry professionals everywhere.

Ballou Skies Aviation (Great Lakes)

Peg and Sam Ballou founded Ballou Skies Aviation because they believe in the importance of a great instructor. Making sure they take the time to connect with students is key. With a background as a homeschool mom, Peg emphasizes hands-on education and personalizing student needs. She creates tools to explain difficult concepts to new students such as an airspace model she presented at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. The school celebrates achievements by offering embroidered T-shirts after a student’s first solo and completing spin training. They also design challenges to make time building fun—such as awarding a bomber jacket earned by visiting all 135 of Ohio’s airports and hosting Hamburger Hangouts.

Flex Air (Pacific)

When owner Paul Wynns founded Flex Air, he strove to set it apart from the other flight schools in the area. The school understands the importance of guidance and community in aviation, operating in a structured and supported way that caters to its large veteran student base. From monthly pulse checks to webinars and quarterly fly-ins and events, Flex Air brings people together. Executive Director of Business Development Eddie Erdmann describes this as Flex Air’s “secret sauce.” With five locations, Flex Air team members are able to serve as advocates and mentors to students when they graduate or move.

Sun City Aviation Academy (Southern)

It’s like one big family. After teaching all three of his children to fly, owner Luke Poulos opened Sun City Aviation Academy to share his passion for flight with others. He makes sure students are taken care of and listened to, creating individual lesson plans to fit everyone’s individual needs and goals. And with the school’s fleet of Cessna 172s, Beechcraft Duchesses, and a Cessna 182 seaplane, there’s no limit to accommodating students’ goals. Meanwhile, Poulos’s wife, Georgette, creates a comfortable atmosphere and hosts events to help students feel at home, build a community, and learn.

Chennault Flying Service (Western)

As a designated pilot examiner and CFI for the military and airlines, Joe Chennault brought his expertise to general aviation flight training with Chennault Flying Service. “The big difference is we have training guides, procedures, and flight training manuals that are all specifically written out for each program and student that incorporates these military and airline techniques,” he says. The school emphasizes that teaching students how to fly is not enough; they need to learn how to learn and operate as a professional pilot. And the school follows through by offering supplemental ratings and endorsements such as spin and upset recovery, aerobatics, and a special course to help students transition to corporate aviation.