AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2018 - 82

AOPA ANNUAL REPORT

certificated flight instructors that offer top-quality
training value for a pilot's dollars. Based on pilots'
feedback through the survey, the Flight Training
Experience Awards recognize those flight schools and
CFIs-shining a national spotlight on the best ones. In
2017, we acknowledged 89 flight schools and 71 CFIs.
To get to those top performers, we sifted through
survey responses on more than 1,000 flight schools
and 2,000 instructors. It doesn't stop with a news
announcement and an awards ceremony. We share
these successful flight schools' and instructors' best
practices to help other flight schools and instructors
gain a similar level of quality.
The 2018 Flight Training Experience Survey
opened April 9 and closes at noon August 13. Go online
(www.aopa.org/ftsurvey) to nominate an outstanding flight school
or flight instructor, and help other pilots find the very best aviation has to offer.
To further support training professionals and their students,
the Flight Training initiative is gathering data about the sticking points that both groups face during the training process and
looking for ways to reduce the friction. With the help of a Flight
Training Advisory Board made up of school owners and chief
flight instructors from across the country, we're identifying the
areas where schools say they need more support. In response,
tools designed to simplify record keeping, give CFIs access to the
insights of their peers, and make training more transparent for
students are in the works.
And as we work to improve the training experience for students, we're also working to make their training and testing
more relevant. AOPA chaired an industry-led effort that has

resulted in new, integrated airman certification standards and
the elimination of obsolete and irrelevant test questions-gone
are the questions on nondirectional beacons, transcribed weather
broadcasts, and other outdated topics. Standards for private and
commercial certificates, along with the instrument rating, have
been published and revised yearly. Aviation maintenance technician, instructor, airline transport pilot, and rotorcraft/powered
lift standards are in development.
ON WINGS OF FLYING CLUBS

Flying clubs are one of aviation's best-kept secrets: Their members can fly more for less money; they provide access to airplanes
as well as instructors; and every flying club is a ready-made community whose members support each other continually. What's
more, flying clubs offer social activities and events that give their
members reasons to fly, and get everyone in the family involved.

THE AOPA FOUNDATION INC.
Amounts in thousands (unaudited)
2017 OPERATING REVENUE
(Total operating revenue $8,130)

2017 OPERATING EXPENSES, INCLUDING GRANTS
(Total operating expenses $8,186)

Other income
$133

Management
and general
$271
Fundraising
$1,516

Contributions
$7,997
Education
$6,399
EDUCATION represented the bulk of the AOPA Foundation's

expenses, in the form of grants to AOPA to support the You
Can Fly program and Air Safety Institute.
82 | AOPA PILOT June 2018

http://www.aopa.org/ftsurvey

AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2018