Of the thousands of submissions the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) received for the 2023 Flight Training Experience Survey, six flight schools and six flight instructors have been tapped as the best in their region.
In addition to the regional winners, 32 flight schools and 65 instructors have earned distinguished awards, according to AOPA officials.
From the regional winners, one flight school and one flight instructor will be recognized as the nation’s best, announced at Redbird Migration, a flight training conference set for April 11-12, 2023, at the EAA Education Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
The survey polls student pilots, new pilots, and pilots who are pursuing additional training. AOPA is looking for feedback about the quality of a student’s flight training and flight instruction experience. It’s an opportunity for students to highlight where instruction was successful and where flight schools might need to make improvements, AOPA officials explained.
“Successful flight training is about more than just learning to fly. Building a sense of community to support the people who are learning takes the experience to a much higher level where they can excel. This year’s instructors and schools have clearly brought their customers into the pilot community,” said AOPA Foundation Senior Director of Flight Training Education Chris Moser.
Performance is evaluated in four key factors:
- Educational quality,
- Customer focus,
- Community, and
- Information sharing.
The flight schools and instructors ranked the highest are awarded as the best in their region, with survey scores adjusted using statistical measures so smaller flight schools remain competitive, according to AOPA officials.
Schools and instructors also are given access to a customer feedback report of survey results so that they can celebrate positive feedback and address constructive criticism, AOPA officials said.
REGIONAL WINNERS
Flight Schools
- Central Southwest: In the Pattern Flight School and Rentals, Denton, Texas
- Eastern: NoVa Pilots, Leesburg, Virginia
- Great Lakes: Blue Skies Flying Services, Lake in the Hills, Illinois
- Northwest Mountain: Ridgeline Aviation, Bozeman, Montana
- Southern: MIL2TAP, Goldsboro, North Carolina
- Western Pacific: Bush Air, Cal-Nev-Ari, Nevada
Flight Instructors
- Central Southwest: Bryan Gutraj, Dubuque, Iowa
- Eastern: Douglas Auclair, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
- Great Lakes: Logan Arlis, West Chicago, Illinois
- Northwest Mountain: William Dale Crabtree, Everett, Washington
- Southern: Brandon Gardner, Orlando, Florida
- Western Pacific: William Cole Hickcox, Scottsdale, Arizona