Named A Distinguished Flight School For The Third Straight Year

For the third year in a row, Stratos Aviation has been recognized as a Distinguished Flight School by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). AOPA also recognized Stratos Aviation Instructor and Founder Dimitri Partafyllas as a Distinguished Flight Instructor.

Winners were honored for providing a high level of service to their customers, based on responses to the 2018 AOPA Flight Training Experience Survey, which evaluated 954 different flight schools and 1,849 individual flight instructors.

“I researched flight schools extensively and spoke with experienced aviators which led me to Dimitris and Stratos Aviation. Each lesson has been interesting, exciting, challenging and rewarding.  I can’t imagine an instructor having higher standards than Dimitris, who instills those standards in his students.  Dimitris’ #1 priority is his student’s safety and the safety of the aviation community at large. If you’re not ready and if you don’t have your head in the game, he won’t let you fly. If you're contemplating flying lessons, I couldn’t recommend Dimitris and Stratos more highly. It’s comforting to know that AOPA did their homework and they certainly got the recognition of Dimitris and Stratos right. The recognition through these awards is well deserved,” stated Justin Winter, a Stratos Aviation student and instrument rated private pilot.

“We were excited to see how many customers described our winners this year as including them as part of a family and helping them join a rich aviation community,” said Chris Moser, Senior Director, Flight Training Education of AOPA’s Flight Training Initiative. “Giving the personal touch, in addition to providing great flight training, is something we know helps create lifelong pilots.”  

"Earning the AOPA Distinguished Flight School award ranks one in the top 4% of all flight schools and the Distinguished Flight Instructor award puts one in the top 1% of all flight instructors in the U.S.," added Moser.

In 2014, Stratos opened its doors and has been a dream come true for Partafyllas, who worked as a mechanical engineer, in various management positions and within the automotive industry for over 20 years. "I have always had a passion for aviation and wanted to fly ever since I was a child. I started learning to fly in 1996 and became an instructor in 2007," Partafyllas said. “I really enjoy teaching people to fly," Partafyllas added.

"Dimitri has taught many local Greenville pilots to fly, as well as international employees who are residing in Greenville and he must be doing a great job as evidenced by him being selected for this prestigious recognition three years running. We are honored to have Dimitri and his company, Stratos Aviation, at our airport!"  Stated Joe Frasher, Airport Director for the Greenville Downtown Airport (GMU).

(Images provided with Greenville Downtown Airport news release)

FMI: www.greenvilledowntownairport.com