14DAYPILOT Breaks Through at the 2026 AOPA Awards, Gema Goeyardi Attends Redbird Migration

LAKELAND Capt. Dr. Gema Goeyardi, ATP, an FAA Gold Seal and NAFI Master CFI holder who also serves as CEO and Chief Flight Instructor of 14DAYPILOT Flight Academy, attended the AOPA Flight Training Experience Awards Ceremony held at the Aerospace Center for Excellence in Lakeland, Florida, United States. The ceremony was part of the Redbird Migration 2026 event series.

The ceremony marked the official recognition of flight schools honored in the 2026 AOPA Flight Training Experience Awards, where 14DAYPILOT Flight Academy was named a Distinguished Flight School by the AOPA Foundation, one of the most prestigious and respected recognitions in flight training in the United States.

By attending the awards ceremony, Capt. Gema represented not only 14DAYPILOT Flight Academy, but also the growing presence of aviation educators from Asia within the global pilot training community.

“This recognition is not only about our school, but about the people behind it—our instructors, the systems we have built, and every student who entrusted us with their training journey,” Gema said in a statement on Thursday (March 12, 2026).

He explained that the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is the world’s largest general aviation organization, representing hundreds of thousands of pilots and aircraft owners. Through the AOPA Foundation, the organization supports aviation safety, education, and initiatives aimed at improving pilot training standards.

The Redbird Migration Conference itself is regarded as one of the most influential gatherings in the aviation industry for flight training professionals. Each year, the event brings together flight school owners, instructors, and aviation innovators to discuss the future of pilot training while celebrating achievements within the training community.

Leadership Behind the Achievement

Behind this achievement is Gema Goeyardi, whose career combines experience as a professional airline pilot, aviation educator, and entrepreneurial leader in the aviation sector.

He has built a strong international reputation as both a professional pilot and an aviation educator. 

Gema also holds two of the most prestigious flight instructor credentials in the world, the FAA Gold Seal Flight Instructor and the NAFI Master Certified Flight Instructor (MCFI).

He is the first aviation professional from Indonesia to hold both distinctions, placing him among a very limited group of elite instructors worldwide. His leadership has played a significant role in shaping the training philosophy and operational systems at 14DAYPILOT, enabling the academy to maintain high standards in safety, instructional consistency, and student support.

Recognition Based on Real Student Experience

The AOPA Flight Training Experience Awards, organized by the AOPA Foundation, recognize flight schools and instructors that deliver exceptional training experiences. The award is unique because it is based on verified feedback collected directly from students, instructors, and examiners.

Participating schools gather structured reviews from individuals who have experienced their training programs within the past 12 months. These evaluations measure several key aspects, including quality of instruction, communication and student support, learning environment and safety culture, and the overall training experience.

The results are analyzed statistically, and top-scoring candidates are further reviewed by an independent panel of aviation training experts to ensure a fair and credible evaluation process.

Recognition as a Distinguished Flight School places 14DAYPILOT among a select group of flight training organizations acknowledged for their consistent excellence in pilot training. (*)