Market Intelligence: North America

National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) Summit Packs a Schedule Full of Top Training Industry Talents for 2025

USA — The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) Summit 2025 will bring together training experts and industry professionals from around the country, with a packed schedule full of compelling seminars, workshops, and networking opportunities. NAFI announced its complete list of speakers this week.

The NAFI Summit will take place at the MAPS Air Museum in Akron-Canton, Ohio, from September 21-23.

According to NAFI President Paul Preidecker, the program features presentations by industry leaders focusing on four themes: leveraging technology, supporting pilot health and well-being, enhancing industry and government relations, and integrating tips, techniques, and best practices. Preidecker said, “We are excited to bring this program of more than 30 presentations to AkronCanton. Attendees will gain valuable insights and information, see products and services from the exhibitors, and network with friends and colleagues.”

After afternoon registration and an opening reception in the evening on September 21, NAFI Summit attendees can look forward to two full days packed with educational sessions and panels, running from 8 am to 5 pm at the museum, located at the Akron-Canton Airport (KCAK). As a highlight, NAFI confirmed that Lee Collins, President of the National Flight Training Alliance will deliver the keynote address, and Dr. Susan Northrup, FAA Federal Air Surgeon, will be the featured dinner speaker.

Exhibitors covering a wide range of training-related products and services will have their displays open to attendees throughout the Summit.

For more information, please visit: nafisummit.org.

NAFI Summit Speakers Schedule

The planned schedule as of press time included the following speakers and presentation topics, subject to final updates.

  • Keynote Address: The Value of Advocacy Groups in Flight Training
    • Lee Collins
  • FAA Update
    • Everette Rochon
  • Panel: DPEs Discuss Current Trends
    • Moderator: Paul Preidecker
  • Panel: Pilot Health and Wellness
    • Moderator: Dr. Victor Vogel
  • Teaching Smarter: Using Autopilots as a Teaching Tool
    • Gary Reeves
  • Straight Talk about Aviation Safety
    • John and Martha King
  • Elevating Safety Through Professionalism
    • Michael Emmerich
  • Things That New Instructors Aren’t Taught
    • Rick Miller
  • Using AI in Flight Training
    • Ned Parks
  • NextGen CFI: Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Modern Flight Instruction
    • Dr. Piotr Dlugiewicz
  • MOSAIC Is Here: What Instructors and Pilots Need to Know
    • Samantha Bowyer
  • Health and Fitness While Instructing
    • Tony Reed
  • The First Few Hours of Flight Training
    • Susan Tholen
  • Why Student Pilots Quit: A Data-Driven Look at Flight Training Attrition
    • Greg Reverdiau
  • Teaching Engine Failure on Takeoff
    • Brian Schiff
  • Slips v. Skids
    • Carolina Anderson
  • Training Documentation Hiccups That Stop the Checkride Before It Happens
    • Jason Blair
  • Memory Fails: Checklists Don’t Gary Reeves Beyond the ACS: Training for Real-World Safety
    • Mary Kuehn
  • Death By Deadline
    • Diane Earhart & Gary Streeter
  • Panel: Incorporating Angle-of-Attack Indicators
    • Moderator Karen Kalishek
  • From Rote to Ready: Using AI to Help Create and Deploy Scenarios for Flight Training
    • John Boos
  • Using Artificial Intelligence Tools in Flight Training
    • Lex Crosset
  • Analyzing Departure Briefing Utilization in General Aviation
    • Collin McDonald
  • Transition Training: Best Practices for High-Performance & Technically Advanced Aircraft
    • Matt Speare
  • Positive Transfer of Controls—to the Autopilot?!
    • Barbara Filkens
  • Ramp Inspections—What It Means to You
    • Michael Floriani
  • Enabling CFIs to Teach Risk Evaluation and Exercising Judgment
    • Dr. Victor Vogel
  • Resilient Instruction: Stress, Mental Fitness, & Wellness Strategies for CFIs and Students
    • Dr. Robert J. Zeglin
  • Instructing with the OODA Loop for Practical Correlation & Certification Standards
    • Richard Cox
  • Maximizing the Power of Simulators: A Mindset Shift for General Aviation Instructors
    • Todd O’Brian
  • Get Out of Jail Free? The History & Power Behind NASA Reports: Make CFIs Better & Safer
    • Jeffrey Madison
  • From Cockpit to Courtroom: The CFI’s Guide to FAA Enforcement and the NTSB
    • J. Lorenzon & Judge Stuart Couch

About NAFI
The National Association of Flight Instructors serves flight instructors and training providers, prospective pilots, and the greater aviation industry by providing resources to all flight educators. With a 55-plus year commitment to raising and maintaining the professional standing of instructors in the aviation community, NAFI elevates its members, led by its Code of Ethics. NAFI is the largest association dedicated exclusively to flight instruction, with a membership of more than 8,000 training professionals, which it serves through a bimonthly magazine, weekly newsletters, and MentorLIVE streamed events, More Right Rudder podcast, and an annual NAFI Summit.

Source: NAFI

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Leadership Transition Complete as Matthew Bromberg Takes Helm at CAE

Global – CAE has completed its leadership transition with Matthew Bromberg assuming the role of President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as of August 13, 2025. Bromberg succeeds Marc Parent, who led the company for 16 years and oversaw its transformation into the world’s leading provider of aviation training solutions.

  • Appointment announced in June 2025, effective August 13, 2025.

  • Bromberg joins from Northrop Grumman, where since 2022 he led Global Operations.

  • Previous roles include President, Military Engines at RTX Corp. (2017–2022) and President, Commercial Aftermarket Operations at Pratt & Whitney (2013–2017).

Statements

  • Matthew Bromberg: “Today, I step in as President and CEO of CAE. Ready to lead, ready to elevate. In recent weeks, I’ve already stepped foot into the arena, from engaging at the Paris Air Show to strengthening strategic alliances with partners like KF Aerospace. Through all my interactions, two things are consistently evident: the exceptional calibre of CAE’s people and the undeniable trust the company has earned worldwide. We’ll keep building on our momentum. We’ll keep aiming higher. Safety will remain our compass. It will continue to guide our decisions, shape our innovations and define how we respond to challenges. Lives depend on our work. Every reflex, every split-second decision is crucial, and CAE will always live in all these moments that matter.”

Source: CAE

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Training Aircraft Manufacturer, Textron Aviation, Leads Funding for WSU Tech Aviation Training Expansion in USA

USA – Driven by its ongoing commitment to train the next generation of the aviation workforce, Textron Aviation is investing in the expansion of WSU Tech’s aviation training programs as the lead contributor to a new facility at the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) campus in Wichita, Kansas.

The NCAT expansion project will add approximately 85,500 square feet of instructional space and is designed to serve an additional 1,450 students and trainees within its first three years. The facility will feature key training areas including emerging aviation training centers, advanced manufacturing training centers, a professional pilot training center and hangar, and a high school Aviation Maintenance Technology Academy. It will also serve as a hub for industry partners to train and upskill their existing workforce, supporting employer readiness across the country. Construction is scheduled to begin this month, with the new facilities expected to be operational and welcoming students by January 2027.

In recognition of Textron Aviation’s support, WSU Tech will name its new training hangar the Cessna + Beechcraft by Textron Aviation Hangar.

“Textron Aviation’s gift underscores its ongoing commitment to developing a highly skilled workforce and supporting the long-term growth of the aviation industry,” said Ron Draper, president and CEO, Textron Aviation. “WSU Tech graduates are an essential part of our talent pipeline, and this expansion ensures more students are prepared to join us in designing and delivering the best aviation experience for our customers.”

“As a launchpad for the next generation of industry leaders, this expansion is an investment in our future,” said Maggie Topping, senior vice president, Human Resources & Communications. “Textron Aviation is honored to support an initiative that cultivates talent through high-quality training and encourages students to achieve their dreams.”

“This gift from Textron Aviation reflects a shared vision to grow and sustain Wichita’s position as a global leader in aviation,” said Dr. Sheree Utash, president, WSU Tech. “Together, we are investing in the next generation of technical talent and strengthening the workforce pipeline that powers our region’s economy.”

Through this gift, Textron Aviation reaffirms its dedication to equipping the next generation of professionals in aviation and manufacturing with world-class training and development opportunities.

Source: Textron Aviation

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National Flight Training Association Celebrates Passage of “One Big Beautiful Bill” Expanding 529 Plan to Cover Flight Training Costs

USA – The National Flight Training Association (NFTA) has announced the signing into law of Section 70414, an amendment expanding 529 college savings plan eligibility to include postsecondary credentialing expenses, such as professional flight training. Championed by Congressman Mike Collins and supported by NFTA, the measure marks a significant step toward reducing financial barriers for aspiring pilots and aviation professionals.

  • Section 70414 broadens 529 plan coverage to include industry-recognised credentials and certifications in approved occupational or professional fields, even if they do not form part of a degree programme.

  • The change applies immediately to all qualifying distributions made after the law’s enactment, with no phase-in period.

  • Students and parents can now use 529 funds for a wider range of aviation and aerospace training pathways, supporting workforce development and career readiness in line with modern labour market demands.

  • “From the outset and across the country we have had requests from flight schools on behalf of students and their parents to make this a reality. We now have another tool to help navigate the problem of the continuing expense of professional flight training,” said Lee Collins, CEO of NFTA.

  • NFTA states that accredited flight training programmes offered by eligible institutions now qualify for 529 funding, facilitating investment in critical skills such as pilot training, aircraft maintenance, and other aerospace professions.

About the National Flight Training Association (NFTA)
The National Flight Training Association represents flight training institutions across the United States, advocating for policy, regulatory, and industry changes that improve access, affordability, and career outcomes for aspiring pilots. NFTA collaborates with legislators, regulators, and industry partners to modernise training standards, promote safety, and ensure the long-term sustainability of the U.S. flight training sector.

Source: NFTA
Photo Credit: NFTA

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