National Flight Academy - Florida

National Flight Academy - Florida is hosted by Florida Wing.

National Flight Academy (NFA) is an introductory flight training activity. Cadets will receive 10-15 hours of introductory flight instruction from a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). Flight topics covered will include but not be limited to:

• Fundamental Maneuvers (Straight and Level, Turns, Climbs, Descents)
• Landings
• Slow Flight
• Approach/Landing Stalls
• Takeoff/Departure Stalls
• Emergency Procedures
• Ground Reference Maneuvers
• Forward Slips

Important notes:

• NFAs are intended for cadets with 10 hours or less of logged flight time in the last 12 months.
• Cadets who apply with more than 10 hours will not receive the full benefits of this introductory training activity.
• If you arrive at the NFA, and have already earned your solo endorsement, you are ineligible to participate in this introductory flight training activity and will be sent home at your own expense.

Additionally, cadets get the opportunity to work with aviation professionals, civilian and military, who share their expertise on how to prepare for a career as an aviator.

For those interested in a career as a pilot, this is your first step towards a private pilot certificate and could help you achieve items on the Cadet Wings "ideal candidate" list 

Contact for Activity:  Maj Gen Vazquez - Activity Director

NOTE: Those who have attended a powered flight academy or have soloed a powered aircraft are not eligible for powered academy.

NOTE: Those who are enrolled in Cadet Wings are ineligible to attend a national activity until they have completed the program or are disenrolled.

Participants:

1) Completed encampment and recorded in eServices at time of application

2) Hold a valid Third Class Medical Certificate and submit to the activity staff no later than Nov 15, 2026 (for a list of Aviation Medical Examiners--AMEs--in your area, go to www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/medical_certification). 

3) Age 16 by activity start date

4) Hold a valid Student Pilot Certificate and submit to the activity staff no later than Nov 15, 2026. A signed, temporary student pilot certificate is a valid certificate while you are waiting on the official plastic certificate, and will meet the requirement for application. Receiving the plastic Student Pilot Certificate typically takes 6-8 weeks. There is no charge to create an account and begin the certificate application process.

Go to https://iacra.faa.gov/IACRA/Default.aspx to create an account and begin application. Go to https://iacra.faa.gov/IACRA/HelpandInfo.aspx?id=5 for help on creating account and applying for a student pilot certificate. 

If slotted for the activity, you will have to provide copy of your student pilot certificate and FAA 3rd class medical to activity staff by the 15 November payment deadline.

5) Hold a government issued photo identification card (driver's license or photo identification card issued by your state or federal government - not a school ID card)

6) If you are slotted for the activity, you will need to provide proof of citizenship. A list of acceptable documents is listed in Code of Federal Regulations: Title 49:Subtitle B: Chapter XII: Subchapter C; § 1552.3(h). Please follow this link for information regarding why you must bring ORIGINAL  and/or UNEXPIRED identification to the academy. http://www.aopa.org/tsa_rule/uscitizen.html. If you are not a US citizen, please contact the activity director when you are slotted for steps required before you can participate.

7) If you have one, bring your Pilot Logbook (a new logbook will be provided to those students not having one).

8) Cadets may be allowed to solo if they meet the requirements in CFR 61.87 and CAPR 70-1

Staff:

Cadets: N/A

Senior Members: Opportunities for those with cadet supervision, primary flight instruction, mission administration, and/or mission operations experience

Must have a current membership card and be a member in good standing

Must have completed all requirements for initial membership in the Civil Air Patrol (i.e. CPPT)

Must have updated CAP Health within past 30 days from the time of application

Flight Instructors - At a minimum, must be a current CAP Instructor Pilot (Check Pilot status Preferred)

Ground Instructors - Must be an appropriately rated FAA Ground of Flight Instructor

CAP Van Driver - Must hold a valid CAP Drivers Permit for a 12pax van

Participants:

Apply in Registration Zone. 

Staff: 

Staff positions are by invitation only. Those invited must use the link provided to connect you to Registration Zone (Reg Zone). All staff must apply via Registration Zone, or they will not receive credit for the activity in their records. 

Lift/Top is a needs-based financial assistance program. These programs are designed to offset costs associated with participating in NCSAs. If selected as a Lift/Top recipient, your activity tuition will be paid by NHQ and you have the option to receive up to a $400 travel reimbursement towards transportation to and from the activity. Lift/Top recipients must accept their slot in writing in order to receive this financial support.

How to apply:

• Applications for Winter 27 Lift/Top is located in Registration Zone.

Important:

• Applying for these financial support programs does not guarantee financial assistance will be offered.

• Applying for financial assistance does not guarantee acceptance into an activity.

• You must compete for and receive a slot at an activity.

• You will be notified if you are a recipient of Lift/Top before you are required to accept or decline a slot at an activity.

The deadline to apply for Winter Lift/Top programs is 6 October at 12pm Central. No late applications will be accepted. 

• Actively participate in 80% of the contact hours and not dismissed early for behavior

• Activity Director determines course objectives met

• Activity Staff will provide transportation between Southwest Florida International Airport and the activity location.

• Required Staff Training TBD.