Ascend Flight Training Summit
The annual professional development summit for flight instructors, presented by NAFI Mentor (the rebranded National Association of Flight Instructors). Three days focused exclusively on instructor technique, professional development, and the business of flight instruction — formerly known as the NAFI Summit. The 2026 edition runs 8-10 September 2026.
What to expect
Quick facts
Dates
September 8–10, 2026
Location
TBC
Various, United States
Estimated attendance
~600
Exhibitors
~30
Registration
from USD 450 full pass
Languages
EN
Regulatory focus
FAA
Also known as
Ascend Flight Training Summit, NAFI Summit, NAFI Mentor Summit, Ascend 2026, National Association of Flight Instructors Summit
Who attends
Active flight instructors, master instructors, flight school chief instructors and owners, CFII and MEI candidates, FAA designated examiners, and aviation educators from collegiate programs.
Why flight schools attend
Ascend (formerly NAFI Summit) is where flight school owners go to invest in their CFI workforce. Schools that send their chief instructor and 1-2 senior CFIs report measurable improvements in instructional quality and CFI retention. The conference is also one of the best venues for recruiting CFIs — the attendees are committed-to-instruction professionals rather than time-builders.
Frequently Asked Questions
The National Association of Flight Instructors rebranded to NAFI Mentor, and the annual NAFI Summit was renamed to Ascend Flight Training Summit. The event continues uninterrupted under the new brand, run by the same organisation with the same CFI-focused content.
Ascend Flight Training Summit 2026 runs 8-10 September 2026. Confirmed details are published via nafimentor.org/event/ascend-flight-training-summit-2026/.
Ascend (formerly NAFI Summit) focuses on individual instructor professional development. FSAI Conference (formerly FSANA) focuses on flight school business, operations, and ownership. Schools that take both seriously usually send instructors to Ascend and ownership/operations leadership to FSAI.
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Listing last verified May 4, 2026 · Always confirm dates and registration via the official site.