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 National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) successfully hosted its first major summit, attracting 200 attendees to discuss and advance flight instruction.
Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) highlighted concerns over significantly declining pilot examination pass rates (50-60%) and a lack of genuine solo cross-country flight experience among applicants.
Discussions on flight school operations emphasized maintaining high-quality employees and equipment, identifying a unique market niche, and careful consideration of contractor vs. employee status.
The summit also featured new training initiatives, such as a GA Type Rating course for airline pilots, and provided extensive networking opportunities with key aviation industry figures.

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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.