The National Association of Flight Instructors plans the three-day event to take place September 21-23 in Akron-Canton, Ohio.
Portage, Mich. — August 13, 2025 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 Akron-Canton. 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
