Event Details and Registration

Checkride outcomes tend to get treated like they’re about one day. One ride. One performance. But we all know that’s not true. What happens on a checkride reflects how that pilot was trained leading up to it. Stress, pressure, and performance breakdowns aren’t necessarily checkride problems; they are training problems. And the upside to that is we have control over it. Instead of treating checkride stress like something students just need to “handle,” we should be looking at performance under pressure as a skill. Something we should be teaching, practicing, and building throughout training. The focus is on how the training environment we create either sets students up to perform… or quietly works against them. For instructors, this is about getting more intentional with how we train. Not just checking boxes, but building lessons that translate to performance. We’ll talk about how to introduce pressure in a productive way and how to keep training consistent with how students are evaluated.

Booth 354, east of hangar B - just behind the Garmin booth, white tent with a huge NAFI logo.

Emily Meldrum is a CFI/CFII/MEI, FAA Safety Representative, and NAFI Associate Master Flight Instructor from Mesa, Arizona. After completing high school, she pursued flight training at 18 and became a certificated flight instructor at 19. Over the last decade, Emily has served in several leadership and training roles within the aviation industry, from Lead Instructor for the Japan Airlines training program at CAE to her current role as CFI Program Manager for ATP Flight School, where she mentors instructors and helps oversee one of the largest CFI training programs in the country. Emily is passionate about flight instruction, instructor development, and improving the training environment for both instructors and students. Outside of work, she enjoys flying a 1959 M35 Beechcraft Bonanza, staying active through running and fitness, and spending time with her three-year-old daughter.

NAFI is the National Association of Flight Instructors and is the largest association dedicated exclusively to flight instruction. NAFI’s vision is ‘Safer pilots through flight instruction excellence.’ NAFI’s mission throughout its 59-year history is to promote flight instruction excellence with education, mentorship, and advocacy. This is accomplished by providing instructors with tools and resources that help them deliver the best professional training and service possible. Anyone may join NAFI to take advantage of the many educational and flight tools, products, and discounts available. www.nafimentor.org. Contact nafi@nafimentor.org 866-806-6156.

PRESENTED DURING THE EAA AIRVENTURE FLY-IN.  NO FEE FOR THE NAFI PRESENTATIONS, BUT AN ENTRANCE FEE IS REQUIRED BY EAA AIRVENTURE TO ENTER THE GROUNDS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON EAA AIRVENTURE ADMISSIONS, VISIT  https://www.eaa.org/airventure