Event Details and Registration

Despite an encouraging downward trend in fatal accident rates, loss-of-control in flight remains general aviation's leading causal factor in fatal accidents. Current stall and spin prevention training emphasizes procedural rules like "step on the ball" and "maintain airspeed in the pattern" without building the aerodynamic literacy that makes those rules meaningful. When the airplane behaves unexpectedly, pilots who understand procedures but not principles freeze or respond incorrectly. This session reframes LOC-I prevention as a language problem. The airplane communicates continuously and unambiguously through its behavior but only to pilots who have been taught to listen. Drawing on aerodynamic first principles and recent accident data, this session gives flight instructors a structured framework for teaching pilots to develop an intuitive understanding of what the airplane is doing and why at every phase of flight.

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

Derek Lawless has been a pilot for nearly 30 years, holds CFI, CFI-I, AGI, IGI, and A&P certificates, and is a Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot (CSIP). He has given over 1,800 hours of dual instruction across more than 30 aircraft makes and models. Derek is the owner of Stick and Rudder Aviation at Indianapolis Regional Airport, where he and his team of experienced instructors provide tailwheel, spin, and introductory aerobatic training in a Citabria and Super Decathlon. That spin training work has given him a front-row seat to a persistent gap in flight instructor candidates' fundamental stick-and-rudder skills and a deep commitment to raising the standard of instruction as a direct path to fewer loss-of-control accidents.

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