March 3–4 event brings together flight instructors, educators, and industry leaders shaping the future of pilot training
Sporty’s is proud to serve as a Presenting Sponsor of Migration 2026, the leading conference for aviation educators, taking place March 3–4, 2026, at the Aerospace Center for Excellence in Lakeland, Florida. Hosted by Redbird Flight, Migration brings together flight instructors, flight training organizations, and K–12 aviation educators for two days of practical, forward-looking discussions focused on strengthening the pilot training pipeline.
Migration 2026 will feature keynote presentations from industry leaders, hands-on breakout sessions, and collaborative networking opportunities designed to address the real-world challenges facing today’s aviation educators. A dedicated K–12 Aeronautics Track highlights Migration’s unique role in connecting educators from primary school through advanced flight training, helping schools and instructors develop programs that inspire the next generation of pilots.
Sporty’s long-time course development partner, Patty Wagstaff, will be a featured speaker on the Migration main stage. A National Aviation Hall of Fame inductee and three-time U.S. National Aerobatic Champion, Wagstaff continues to influence aviation education through her work as an instructor, mentor, and course creator. She has collaborated with Sporty’s on multiple training programs, including its aerobatics and newly-released seaplane courses.
In addition to its presenting sponsorship, Sporty’s will host breakout sessions during the conference. Brady Kannady, a flight instructor and aviation education sales manager at Sporty’s, will lead a session on effectively implementing home-study programs within a flight school environment. The discussion will draw on Sporty’s experience supporting thousands of students and instructors through its continuously updated online flight training courses, which now feature immersive 4K maneuver videos, AI-powered study tools, and enhanced instructor-focused resources for 2026. Don Wykoff, a flight instructor and member of Sporty’s flight training team, will also lead a breakout session focused on navigating the Part 141 certification process and common challenges faced by growing flight schools.
On Tuesday of the conference, PilotWorkshops will take the main stage at Migration with a live VFR Mastery session, bringing its popular scenario-based learning format to an in-person audience. The interactive discussion will challenge attendees to think through real-world VFR decision-making scenarios alongside an expert panel of instructors, demonstrating how active, scenario-driven training can sharpen judgment and improve safety.
To encourage collaboration among flight schools, instructors, and aviation educators, and to support continued growth of the pilot training pipeline, registration for Migration 2026 is complimentary, thanks to the collaborative sponsorship of Sporty’s and Redbird Flight. More information about Migration 2026, including registration details and the full agenda, is available at migration.redbirdflight.com.
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