Back to Your Roots is part of the AOPA Foundation's Rusty Pilots program, but designed for people who fly or used to fly for a living. We all know why someone would want to return to GA flying for recreational and pleasure purposes. The question is, how do you go about returning? Whether you want to teach people to fly again, take people on their first GA flight, vacation, or return to the fun and adventure of flying, the path to return is the same, and the AOPA Foundation will help you.
The Back to Your Roots webinar will cover the areas you may have forgotten: regulations, VFR weather minimums, how to get a VFR weather briefing, airspace, radio communications, including the concept of flight following, a review of sectional charts, pilot-controlled airport operations, and more
Our presenters will demonstrate how easy it is to transition to flying for fun. Back to Your Roots is free for AOPA members and $89 (plus a 5% credit card processing fee) for non-members.
Once you attend our webinar, find a flight school here. Schedule a few lessons with a good CFI, and you will be flying just for fun again before you know it.
Meet Our Instructors Webinar ScheduleTo search for a webinar: Select "Clear all" under the “Community Events” heading on the bottom left of the search form, and select “Clear all.” On the right side, under “Seminars/Conferences/Workshops,” unselect all but “AOPA Back to Your Roots.” Leave the “Event Format” selections unchanged. Then click on “Search.”
Click here to download a copy of the Back to Your Roots Resource Guide. It's a convenient resource to have on the flight deck and a great study guide to help professional pilots return to VFR flying for recreational purposes!
Back to Your Roots webinars are presented once a quarter. If you do not see a Back to Your Roots webinar listed, check back soon or email [email protected]. Check our schedule by clicking here. Select "Clear all" under the “Community Events” heading on the bottom left of the search form, and select “Clear all.” On the right side, under “Seminars/Conferences/Workshops,” unselect all but “AOPA Back to Your Roots.” Leave the “Event Format” selections unchanged. Then click on “Search.”
You will need to register to attend the webinar. The registration link can be found in the posted event on the Webinar Schedule. The webinar platform, GoToWebinar, works best with the Google Chrome browser.
You can attend the webinar from a computer, tablet, or smartphone (although there may be some viewing limitations due to the smaller screen). Remember, you must allow time to download the GoToWebinar application and set it up before the webinar begins. Prepare to log on a few minutes early.
Lastly, if you use a computer to attend the webinar and would like to participate in the polls (optional but not required), you may need to enable JavaScript and pop-up windows in your browser.
We will send a reminder email the day before the webinar. The link to attend the webinar will be included in this email. If you do not receive the email, check your spam folder. If you still cannot find it, send us an email at [email protected] or call us at 800-872-2672.
Download the Back to Your Roots Resource Guide.
This is an excellent resource to use while preparing to return to VFR flying. We will reference the Resource Guide during the webinar but only to tell you where to find additional information. It is not necessary to have it open or printed during the webinar.
You may also want a pen and paper for taking notes during the webinar.
Studies have shown that pilots participating in regular proficiency training are much less likely to experience accidents. The FAA's WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program is one way for GA pilots to ensure they are competent, confident, and safe in their flight operations. You can find more information about the FAA program here. To sign up for an account or log into your account, click here.
The Back to Your Roots webinar qualifies for FAA WINGS credits. Be sure to log onto the webinar using the same email address you use when logging into the WINGS website (FAASafety.gov).
To qualify for WINGS credit, the FAA requires you to: 1. Remain online for the duration of the webinar; 2. Complete a short, 10-question quiz after the webinar and achieve a passing score of 70 or higher. The link for the quiz will be sent in a follow-up email shortly after the webinar concludes. The quiz does not need to be completed right away. However, it does need to be completed before we can issue credit.
Participants who remain online for the duration of the webinar and pass the quiz will receive an endorsement label showing they received 2 hours of ground training. They will also receive 2 Basic Knowledge WINGs credits. Please allow (1) week (after completion of the quiz) for the WINGS credit to be issued and up to (2) weeks to receive the endorsement label. The endorsement label will be emailed as a PDF document that can be printed for your logbook.
We cannot take phone calls during or within 30 minutes of the webinar. We are, however, monitoring the Back to Your Roots mailbox. If you need help, email us at [email protected], and we will do our best to assist you.
If you are having trouble with GoToWebinar, be sure you are using Google Chrome as a browser. You can also try a second device (computer, tablet, or smartphone). If all else fails, try GoToWebinar Support for additional troubleshooting guidance, which can be found here. To talk with someone from GoToWebinar Support, you’ll need to enter your information in order to get a case number. Once you are assigned a case number, GoToWebinar will give you a phone number to call. Generally, wait times are less than 2 minutes. Click here to enter your information.
Unfortunately, we do not record the webinars or share the presentation slides. We do all of the webinars live, and you are welcome to attend as many times as you like.