Since its introduction in 2021, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s Flight Training Advantage (AFTA) program has accrued more than 5,000 hours of flight instruction.
AFTA is a web and iPad-based training platform created by AOPA’s You Can Fly team to “streamline the flight training experience for students, flight instructors, and flight schools,” according to AOPA officials.
It does this by customizing lesson plans, adapting to each person’s way of learning, and making the process more rewarding, they say.
The aim? Reduce the time associated with flight training, alleviating the financial burdens of student pilots, AOPA officials said.
AFTA addresses the most common reasons student pilots either drop out of flight training or take much longer to complete their primary certificates. While the FAA requires 40 hours of flight time to obtain a private pilot certificate, studies show that the majority of students take an average of 60 to 70 hours to complete their certificates.
In lieu of a paper syllabus, AFTA brings a more flexible and logical approach to flight training as students and CFIs can track their progress in real time, according to AOPA officials. Students know what to expect and how to prepare for each flight. They can instantly see how they’ve performed on each activity and are given a detailed lesson history. Students are also able to check their progress and gain access to tips, videos, and articles to help master skills and concepts.
AFTA also allows flight instructors to get fast lesson prep, in-cockpit grading, and instant access to all of their students’ records. The program automatically assigns lesson elements based on student performance, and these can be modified on demand. They can take the iPad with them into the cockpit to see airman certification standards and common errors as they grade maneuvers.
“AFTA is truly a game changer for the flight training industry,” said AOPA Senior Director of Flight Training Education Chris Moser. “This modernized method of teaching allows student pilots to master their skills quicker and more efficiently than before. Because of AFTA, the needs of today’s pilots are being met to their fullest potential.”
To date, more than 1,200 schools are using AFTA, which has surpassed 5,000 hours of instruction.
AFTA is free for flight schools, flight instructors, and AOPA members. Students who are not AOPA members can sign up to get a free three-month trial, then pay a monthly subscription fee.