July 2025 Instructor Updates

While the skies have been lighting up with fireworks, we’re working behind the scenes to make Skyfarer even better. Here’s a quick round-up of what’s new and what’s coming next.

July 5, 2025

1. Platform Updates — Thanks to Your Feedback ✨

• Smarter Map Search: We've updated the map search experience to expand beyond the default Google Map bounds — now offering a larger search radius so students can discover more instructors and training options nearby.

• Custom User Types (Students & Instructors): We’ve rolled out a more advanced setup behind the scenes that tailors the platform experience based on whether you’re a student or an instructor. This lays the foundation for new features coming next — including distinct transaction flows for each side.

2. Coming Soon & Next 🔧

Training Price Inquiries & Custom Requests

While hourly bookings and preset programs work well for many, we know there are times when a more personalized approach is needed. That’s why we’ll be introducing two new ways to better match students and instructors based on specific training needs:

• i) Flexible Price Agreements: In many cases, instructors determine pricing based on the type of service, aircraft availability, and other variables. Soon, students will be able to submit an inquiry, connect with the instructor, and once both parties agree on the details, finalize the booking with a custom payment.
• ii) Student Training Request Listings: We’re also going to add the ability for students to post a "training request" as a listing — describing the type of instruction they’re seeking. Instructors and schools can then browse these requests and submit offers or proposals on Skyfarer directly.

These updates are designed to give both students and instructors more flexibility and control. We’ll share more details once the features are live — stay tuned!

Search Result Page Upgrade

After student interviews in June, we heard loud and clear that the search results can be smoother to navigate. We’re redesigning parts of the page to help students find the right match for their training goals faster.

Social Proof & Trust Features

The pilot community is a web of trust — and we’ll be building features to strengthen that. We’ve been exploring ways to support qualified reviews that provide feedback from Skyfarer students. Instructors who have even one or two initial reviews often see a higher chance of receiving student inquiries. Students are also eager to learn more about the instructors themselves — what you’re teaching, and how others like them have benefited from your guidance. That’s why we also plan to introduce ratings and session/hour stats directly on the search results page, giving students a clearer picture before they even click through.

3. We’re Now a NAFI Corporate Partner 🤝

We’re proud to share that Skyfarer is now an official corporate partner of the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) — one of the most respected organizations dedicated to advancing flight instruction and professional development for aviation educators.

This partnership marks a meaningful milestone for us. It reflects our commitment to quality and continuous improvement in the flight training world.

As we build a modern training platform for students, instructors, and flight schools, we’re honored to work alongside NAFI and its members — many of whom set the gold standard in instructional excellence.

Through this collaboration, we aim to:

• Strengthen connections with experienced CFIs and aviation mentors
• Support instructors in growing their impact and visibility
• Help elevate training standards across the industry
• We believe flight instructors are at the heart of aviation — and together with NAFI, we’re here to amplify their role in shaping the next generation of pilots.

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As part of our ongoing efforts to improve and grow the platform, we’re excited to share that many of our key metrics are trending upward — including new user signups, student engagement on the site, and increased visibility across Google search.

We’re encouraged by this momentum and look forward to seeing Skyfarer continue to grow in ways that benefit students, instructors and schools alike.

Onward and upward,
The Skyfarer Academy Team

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