The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has opened its flight training poll, a survey that allows student pilots to offer feedback on their flight training experiences.
This is the third year for the poll, which provides data on the performance — good and bad — of flight schools and instructors as a means of adopting best practices and improving the customer experience.
Last year, 3,375 individuals completed the poll, resulting in reviews of 508 different flight schools and 956 instructors.
Survey results determine AOPA’s annual Flight Training Excellence Awards, which recognize exceptional flight instructors and schools.
The poll is based on AOPA’s research into the optimal flight training experience and it addresses educational quality, customer focus, community and information sharing, according to association officials.
“The poll provides instructors the chance to understand what constitutes a high-value training experience,” said Brittney Miculka, AOPA’s senior manager of pilot community development. “Most people will give a new pursuit one try, and if the experience doesn’t meet expectations, they’ll quit. The poll results allow us to share feedback with flight schools and instructors and shine a spotlight on the flight training professionals who make general aviation stronger by mentoring lifelong, passionate aviators”.
Participants can sign onto an AOPA website to answer 32 questions on flight schools and 26 questions on flight instructors. Poll responses are anonymous, and participants do not have to be AOPA members. The poll will close at midnight on Aug. 23, 2014.
Data collected from the poll will be compiled and shared in a report in Flight Training magazine in early 2015.
Flight Training Excellence Award Categories include:
- Best Flight School
- Best Flight Instructor
- Outstanding Flight School
- Outstanding Flight Instructor
- Honor Roll Flight School
- Honor Roll Flight Instructor
- President’s Choice Award
- Student’s Choice Award
To learn more about The 2014 Flight Training Poll, click here.