More Right Rudder

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“Zero to hero.” Airline career promises. Guaranteed timelines. Exact training costs.

How much of what prospective pilots hear in flight training advertising actually reflects reality?

Beth Stanton, NAFI’s director of publications and editor, talks with flight instructor and flight school owner Dustin Kurath about ethical flight training marketing and the responsibility aviation professionals have to set realistic expectations for students.

Kurath discusses the warning signs he sees in today's market, including aggressive marketing, large upfront deposits, expensive training loans, and promises that may not account for the realities of learning to fly. He also explains why he believes a good flight instructor should sometimes tell a student to pause training, reconsider their goals, or even pursue a different path.

Kurath’s philosophy is straightforward: success isn't necessarily about getting every student through flight training. It's about helping people make good decisions and succeed, whatever path they ultimately choose.

NAFI members have exclusive access to Kurath’s article “Ethical Flight Training Marketing” in the September-October issue of Mentor magazine.

Thank you to Sporty's for sponsoring this episode. 

Not yet a NAFI member? Join today at https://www.nafimentor.org/become-a-member

In this episode of More Right Rudder, host Sarah Staudt welcomes back Bill Snodgrass to discuss the full implementation of the MOSAIC final rule. The conversation centers on the regulatory shift from rigid Part 1.1 definitions to the new Part 22 Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) category, a change designed to allow airworthiness and consensus standards to evolve rapidly without waiting on cumbersome FAA rulemaking processes. Snodgrass breaks down the inner workings of the ASTM F37 committee, explaining how more than 400 international members—including manufacturers, legal experts, pilots, and civil aviation authorities—vote and build consensus on the safety and manufacturing guidelines that govern these aircraft.

The discussion highlights how Part 22 dramatically expands aircraft capabilities, allowing for higher speeds up to 250 knots, maximum gross weights up to 3,000 pounds, four-seat designs, retractable landing gear, constant-speed propellers, multi-engine configurations, electric propulsion, and turbine engines. Snodgrass and Staudt clarify that while Part 22 fundamentally reshapes aircraft airworthiness, sport pilot privileges are now tied to specific performance thresholds. For flight schools and instructors, modern Part 22 LSA aircraft can offer significant operational advantages, including ultra-low fuel burns between 2.8 and 5 gallons per hour, simplified maintenance under light-sport repairman certificates, and access to cutting-edge glass cockpit and safety technologies.

Thank you to Gleim Aviation for sponsoring this episode. 

Join NAFI today to gain access to exclusive content, mentoring opportunities, and a community of dedicated CFIs. Join here: https://nafimentor.org/become-a-member/ Flight school marketing is about much more than having a website. In this episode of More Right Rudder, Sarah Staudt talks with Tim Jedrek, founder of Right Rudder Marketing, about the strategies that help flight schools and independent CFIs attract, convert, and retain students. Tim shares his journey from manufacturing to aviation entrepreneur before breaking down his five-part Flight School Marketing System, covering website design, SEO, online reputation, paid advertising, CRM systems, and the business metrics that drive sustainable growth. Whether you're managing a growing flight school or building your own instruction business, this episode offers practical marketing insights you can start applying today.

In This Episode:

This episode is sponsored by Sporty's:

Join NAFI today to gain access to exclusive content, mentoring opportunities, and a community of dedicated CFIs. Join here: https://nafimentor.org/become-a-member/

What do flight instruction, medical education, and professional music have in common? More than you might think.

In this episode of More Right Rudder, Beth Stanton sits down with Ed Stefan, Gold Seal CFI, accomplished musician, and principal timpanist with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, to explore the surprising parallels between mastering music and mastering aviation.

The conversation expands on Ed's Mentor magazine article, Instrument Approach: Comparing Flight Training and Musical Mastery, and complements the July/August 2026 Mentor feature, Teaching for Judgment: Shared Lessons from Medical Education and Flight Training, by Erin Dabney and the late Dr. Victor Vogel.

Together, they discuss:

- Why great instructors do far more than teach technical skills

- How deliberate practice builds lasting expertise

- The importance of finding the right instructor and developing a productive student-teacher relationship

- What aviation can learn from music and medical education about judgment, feedback, and continuous improvement

- The concept of "mastering mastery" and why learning how to learn is one of the most valuable skills any pilot can develop

- How experienced professionals transfer lessons between seemingly unrelated disciplines

Whether you're a flight instructor, student pilot, aviation mentor, or lifelong learner, this conversation offers practical insights into becoming a better teacher, a better learner, and ultimately a better aviator.

#FlightTraining #FlightInstructor #CFI #Aviation #LearnToFly #ProfessionalDevelopment #NAFI #MoreRightRudder 

Join NAFI today to gain access to exclusive content, mentoring opportunities, and a community of dedicated CFIs. Join here: https://nafimentor.org/become-a-member/

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of everyday life, and many student pilots are already using tools like ChatGPT to study, ask aviation questions, and even help plan flights. The question isn't whether they're using AI. It's whether they're using it safely.

In this episode of the More Right Rudder Podcast, host Sarah Staudt sits down with Kauai Mansur, a private pilot, cybersecurity professional, and AI developer specializing in high-risk industries, to explore the growing role of AI in flight training.

Together they discuss:

AI isn't going away, and neither are the students using it. This conversation offers practical guidance for flight instructors, student pilots, and aviation educators who want to understand both the opportunities and the limitations of today's AI tools.

AI Study Guide & Handout from Kauai Mansur:

Interested in another perspective on AI in flight training?

Watch our previous episode on how flight instructors can use AI to create lesson plans, training scenarios, and educational materials while understanding the technology's limitations:

The aviation hiring market has shifted, and for many newly certificated flight instructors, finding that first instructional position can feel more challenging than ever. In this episode of More Right Rudder, NAFI’s program development manager and host Sarah Staudt sits down with Rick Miller, Chief Flight Instructor at Lunken Flight Training Center, to discuss what flight schools are really looking for when evaluating instructor candidates.

Drawing on years of hiring experience, Miller shares practical advice for every stage of the application process, from building a strong resume and cover letter to navigating phone screenings and in-person interviews. He highlights common mistakes that cause applications to be overlooked, discusses ways candidates can differentiate themselves in a competitive market, and explains why networking remains one of the most valuable career-building tools available to aspiring instructors.

Whether you're a newly certificated CFI searching for your first position or an experienced instructor looking for your next opportunity, this episode offers actionable strategies to help you present yourself professionally, communicate your value, and improve your chances of landing the job.

If you aren't already a NAFI member, join us today at https://nafimentor.org.

Thank you to Sporty's for sponsoring this episode. 

What happens when a curious flight instructor candidate decides to “call TOPGUN?” 

In this episode of More to the Story, host Beth Stanton, NAFI’s director of publications and editor, talks with Mentor author Xavier Piar about the story behind his two-part article series: “So I Called TOPGUN,” which appeared in the March/April issue, and “So I Called TOPGUN Back,” which appeared in the May/June issue. 

What started as a few emails to The Fighter Pilot Podcast led Piar to conversations with four former TOPGUN aviators: Vincent “Jell-O” Aiello, Craig “Crunch” Snyder, Greg “Hoser” Hansen, and Dave “Bio” Baranek.

Together, Stanton and Piar explore:

From CFII struggles to Tomcat stories, this episode is packed with insight for instructors, students, and aviation enthusiasts alike.

If you aren't already a NAFI member, join us for access to more great content and a network of professional flight instructors. It's quick and easy online at https://nafimentor.org.

Thank you to Sporty's for sponsoring this episode.

On this episode of More Right Rudder, Sarah Staudt, NAFI’s program development manager,  talks with Dr. Tony Reed, aviation medical examiner, healthcare executive, aircraft owner, and NAFI board member, about the latest developments in aeromedical certification and pilot mental health initiatives.

They discuss recent FAA efforts to modernize the medical certification process, including expanded guidance for AMEs, updated medication policies, and changes that make it easier for pilots to seek help for common mental health concerns without automatically jeopardizing their medical certificate.

The conversation also explores ADHD certification challenges, how safety management systems concepts can play a role in the future of pilot wellness, ways flight instructors can better support students, and why early communication with an AME can be beneficial for aspiring pilots.

Whether you’re a student pilot, instructor, or professional aviator, this episode offers practical insight into the evolving intersection of aviation safety, medical certification, and mental health.

Find the AME Guide here: https://www.faa.gov/ame_guide

If you aren't already a NAFI member, join us today at https://nafimentor.org. Use code PODSAVE5 to save $5 on your new NAFI membership.

In this episode of More Right Rudder, NAFI program development manager Sarah Staudt talks with retired U.S. Air Force instructor navigator and CFI Mark Pierce about how aviation acronyms can be used as more than just memory aids. From PAVE and the 3P model to real-world aeronautical decision-making (ADM), this conversation focuses on helping pilots move beyond rote memorization and into true understanding.

Pierce shares his journey from military instruction in the F-15E Strike Eagle and T-39 Sabreliner to teaching in general aviation, and how those experiences shaped his approach to instruction. They also discuss how instructors can better prepare students for checkrides, scenario-based training, and real-world flying decisions.

Guest Bio

Mark Pierce is a retired U.S. Air Force navigator and former instructor in the F-15E Strike Eagle and T-39 Sabreliner. He now instructs in general aviation and is the author of Eleven Acronyms Every Pilot Should Know, a guide to understanding the “why” behind common aviation acronyms. You can find Pierce’s book online here: https://www.amazon.com/Eleven-Acronyms-Every-Pilot-Should-ebook/dp/B0GKW39J5Y

Thank you to Pilot Institute for sponsoring this episode!

If you aren't already a NAFI member, join us today at https://nafimentor.org. Use code PODSAVE5 to save $5 on your new NAFI membership.

CFI and non-owners insurance is an endless source of questions in the CFI community. In this episode, Sarah Staudt, NAFI’s program development manager, sits down with Avemco Insurance Company’s Underwriting Manager Kim Skipper to break down the essentials of flight instructor insurance. From liability limits to common misconceptions, they unpack real-world scenarios and answer questions pulled straight from the NAFI community.

If you’re a CFI, this episode will help you better understand what your policy actually covers—and where the gaps might be.

What you’ll learn: 

Don’t miss Skipper’s entertaining and informative episode from last year: https://youtu.be/faqbtn-ooTc

If you aren't already a NAFI member, join us today! Use code PODSAVE5 to save $5 on your new NAFI membership at https://nafimentor.org.