Want To Be a Real Instructor?

The first NAFI Summit brought together an expert’s round of experts in flight training to the table.

Friday, October 27, 2023 at 06:26 PM ET

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John and Martha King, founders of Kings Schools, entertained and informed their fellow instructors at the NAFI Summit in Lakeland, Florida, this week. [Julie Boatman]

Key Takeaways:

The inaugural NAFI Summit successfully convened flight instructors and industry leaders to discuss challenges and advancements in flight instruction.
A Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) panel revealed a significant drop in pilot examination pass rates, attributing it partly to applicants lacking sufficient true solo cross-country flight experience.
Sessions on flight school business practices emphasized maintaining high-quality staff and equipment, defining a unique mission, and the importance of proper employee classification (W-2 vs. 1099).
The summit also showcased new educational programs, such as a GA Type Rating course for airline pilots, and provided extensive networking opportunities among attendees to foster improvements in flight instruction standards.

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Though it’s been around for more than 50 years, the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) hosted its first big event this week—a “summit” intended to bring together instructors from all over to discuss, educate, and debate on a range of topics near to our hearts. The tagline, “Come to NAFI Summit, go home a better instructor,” rang true following the largely informative and engaging sessions on Wednesday and Thursday in Lakeland, Florida, at the Florida Air Museum.

I know I learned a few things.