AOPA's 2025 Flight Training Experience Award Winners

The program is designed to spotlight what methods are working for today’s students and set a benchmark for aviation educators. A sense of community and a student-first approach were the defining qualities of this year’s winners.

Instructors and schools were invited to apply and request reviews from their clients. Applications were then reviewed by a panel of industry experts. National winners were announced March 5 at the 2025 Redbird Migration in Denver, Colorado. 

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 at Savannah Aviation in Georgia, 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, where both theoretical knowledge and strong interpersonal relationships are prioritized.

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 a flight instructor 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 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. FT

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National Best Flight School/in the pattern

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

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 both 2021–2022 and 2023, as a Distinguished Flight school in 2024, and of course, back to being the best in the nation this year in 2025. The school’s secret? Its relationships with the fantastic instructors that 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 Aztec 250s and 2021 Vashon Rangers. The team consists of 40 to 60 people including CFIs, line workers, and a full technician crew, responsible for the maintenance of the fleet. They currently serve 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, they also make their own panel upgrades and perform their 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 Gardner. In The Pattern caters to every student, whether they’re learning to fly to check off a personal goal, aiming for a career in aviation, and everything in between. For the 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 Gardner. He puts a lot of emphasis on the team getting to know and making a bond with each student because the more comfortable they are, the easier they’ll learn.

Serving the community

Not only do the team In The Pattern care for and dedicate themselves to its 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. FT

Capucine Cordina is a former assistant editor for AOPA. She is currently studying to be a CFI.