2026 AOPA Award-Winning Flight School
AWARD WINNING
Experience Award-Winning Flight Training at High Tide Aviation
When you choose a flight school, you are investing in your future, your safety, and your aviation community. We are incredibly proud to share that High Tide Aviation at KSUT has been recognized in the 2026 Flight Training Experience Awards by the AOPA Foundation. We proudly serve aspiring pilots from across the Carolina coast and coastal Georgia, including communities like Wilmington, Southport, and Brunswick, GA.
Based on 17 rigorous student evaluations, High Tide Aviation ranks in the 96th percentile of eligible flight schools both nationally and regionally. From our rigorous Part 141 curriculum to our dedicated in-house maintenance team, our "High Tide family" is committed to producing safe, conscientious, and highly informed aircraft operators from Oak Island to St. Marys, GA.
EXCELLENCE
The Proof Is
In the Percentiles
Our students scored our flight training programs across four key categories, and the results speak to our core values of safety, professionalism, and personal attention:
Educational Quality
100/100
Customer Focus
100/100
Net Promoter Score (NPS)
100
Community Focus
99/100
RESULTS
Unrivaled
Performance
National Excellence by the Numbers. Our commitment to elite aviation standards is reflected in our 95th national percentile ranking among all nominees. High Tide Aviation outperformed the national average score of 87 with an impressive overall aggregate score of 89. When judged against the most rigorous competition, eligible schools with 10 or more unique evaluations, our standing climbed even higher to the 96th percentile. These metrics are derived from 17 comprehensive evaluations submitted by students from places like Wrightsville Beach, Leland, and Jekyll Island, proving that our dedication to professionalism and safety is a statistically verified fact.
In the specific category of Educational Quality, we achieved a perfect 100/100 score, placing us in the 99th percentile of all eligible flight schools in the country. This score is bolstered by the fact that 100% of surveyed students strongly agree that we promote a culture of safety and effectively match them with instructors who tailor lessons to their personal strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, our Information Sharing score of 97 significantly outpaced the national average of 76, ensuring that pilots from Carolina Beach to Kingsland, GA are always empowered with the resources and FAA checkride success data they need to thrive.
TESTIMONIALS
What Our Pilots Are Saying
The true measure of our success is the confidence and skill of the pilots we train. Here is what real students shared in their 2026 AOPA award evaluations:
"No school that I've come across has more dedicated instructors, mechanics, and support staff than High Tide, and more importantly, no schools I would argue in the nation have more experience and safety conscious efforts than Hightide. Safety is the atmosphere, and is shown by safety being top priority of all the pilots produced from Hightide. Secondly, the structure of learning and quality of pilots produced has always and will continue to impress me. High Tide Aviation stands out with its team of highly certified instructors, including CFIs, CFIIs, and MEIs, many of whom are dual-rated in both helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft, bringing diverse experience to tailor training to individual needs."
Rating Score
88/100
"They have an excellent Training/Student Support Specialist, ensuring a customized journey from private pilot to advanced ratings like commercial and multi-engine. Having completed all my training here, I can personally attest to the exceptional guidance and support that promote confidence and skill development. Their commitment to safety and professionalism creates an inclusive environment to everyone."
Rating Score
90/100
"As a fixed wing commercial pilot adding a commercial helicopter rating to my license with High tide aviation, I found that the school is well ran and have top notch instructors. I've been flying for a long time and have flown with many different organizations but high tide is hands down the best."
Rating Score
90/100
"The staff and flight school continue to go above and beyond for their students and their success."
Rating Score
90/100
COMMITMENT
Transparency You Can Trust
We believe in complete transparency when it comes to your flight training investment. We invite you to view our official 2026 AOPA Flight Training Experience Award report card to see exactly how we measure up. Whether you are coming from Shallotte, Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, or St. Marys, you deserve to know exactly what you are investing in before you commit.
Ready to start your journey with a top-rated flight school?