Association Accepting Reservations for Fall Summit

The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) is planning a roster of educational presentations at Lakeland, Florida’s Sun ‘N Fun Aerospace Expo—the Sunshine State’s largest convention which, in 2023, spans 28 March through 02 April.

NAFI’s Sun ‘N Fun agenda includes discussions of the association’s 24 through 26 October Flight Instruction Safety and Business Summit, which will be held on the Sun ‘N Fun campus. The summit will host current and prospective certificated flight instructors, leaders in aviation, industry advocates, government representatives, and media. Early bird rates are in effect until 01 July: $250 for NAFI members, $310 for non-members. NAFI and SAFE Master Instructor rates are $199.

Sun ‘N Fun attendees will be offered opportunity to register for NAFI’s autumn summit at the association’s exhibit in Hangar A, booth 077. Interested parties may sign up immediately for subject summit by visiting: www.nafisummit2023.org .

NAFI’s Sun ‘N Fun exhibit will be staffed by volunteer board members, including association Chair Karen Kalishek, Secretary J.D. Debosky, Chair Emeritus Robert Meder, and Board Member Dr. Victor Vogel—who will be in Lakeland throughout the event for purpose of showcasing NAFI’s programs, benefits, and networking opportunities. What’s more, existing and new NAFI members attending the Sun ‘N Fun Aerospace Expo can renew their memberships or join the association at a discounted rate.

NAFI Board members Vogel and Kalishek will make special presentations during the Sun 'N Fun airshow and fly-in.

Dr. Vogel will present When are you too old to fly? in Room 13 of the Central Florida Aerospace Academy (CFAA) on Wednesday, 29 March at 11:00 CDT and Thursday, 30 March at 10:00 CDT. On Friday, 31 March, Mr. Vogel will repeat the presentation at 10:00 CDT in CFAA Room 09.

Dr. Victor Vogel is a board-certified medical oncologist, a 25-year medical school professor, and a forty-year pilot, CFI and CFII. In 2021, Dr. Vogel founded a public charity called Susquehanna STEM to the Skies which promotes aviation-based STEM education to students attending high schools and career technical centers in south-central Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna Valley. Dr. Vogel is interested, also, in the physiological challenges faced by older pilots who seek to remain safe.

Ms. Kalishek will present Safety Tips for Every Flight in Room 03 of the Central Florida Aerospace Academy (CFAA) on Wednesday, 29 March at 13:00 CDT.

Karen Kalishek is an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE), three-time NAFI Master Instructor, CFI, CFII, MEI, CFI-G, AGI, IGI, FAA Gold Seal Instructor, and FAASTeam Lead Representative. She holds ATP certification and ASES and Glider Commercial privileges. In addition to receiving the National FAASTeam Representative of the Year award in 2019, Ms. Kalishek holds the rank of major in the Civil Air Patrol, serving as a CAP volunteer flight instructor, check pilot, examiner, mission pilot, and cadet orientation pilot.

Founded in 1967 by Ohio State University professor of aviation Jack Eggspuehler, the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) is a United States professional organization for flight instructors. Currently governed by a board of directors comprising eleven members NAFI is dedicated exclusively to "raising and maintaining the professional standing of the flight instructor in the aviation community.”

FMI: www.nafinet.org