Ascend Flight Training Summit Aims to Transform Pilot and Instructor Education

Joint venture between AeroSummit and NAFI focuses on career readiness, networking, and professional growth.

Meg Godlewski

Monday, August 24, 2026 at 11:30 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

A rendering of the Ascend Summit [Credit: Ascend Flight Training Summit]

Key Takeaways:

The article highlights a prevailing culture where aspiring airline pilots, especially certificated flight instructors (CFIs), prioritize accumulating flight hours over developing in-depth knowledge and skills.
The Ascend Flight Training Summit, a joint venture between AeroSummit and NAFI, aims to counteract this trend by offering broader programming, deeper academic content, and a stronger focus on career readiness and professional progression.
Scheduled for September 8-10 in Dallas, the summit will unify student pilots, CFIs, and flight school leadership through educational sessions, expert panels, and extensive networking opportunities to foster a more qualified and connected aviation community.

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It is a given that most pilots who aspire to a job at the airlines build their flight experience as certificated flight instructors. Working as a CFI is seen as a stepping stone, and over the past 10 years that has created a culture where pilots acquire hours but not so much knowledge and skill.

The Ascend Flight Training Summit, a joint venture between AeroSummit and the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) on September 8-10 in Dallas, seeks to change that.