Please join us for a NATA Formation clinic in Modesto, CA from October 22-25, 2026. Fall in Central California brings milder temperatures and excellent flying weather.
All NATA members are invited to attend the clinic, but only Formation Members are permitted to fly as PIC. Training will be offered in
Supported Aircraft Types assuming sufficient resources for each type are available. Other aircraft types may participate in the clinic at the discretion of the Training Officer, but supported aircraft types have scheduling priority. Contact the organizers to confirm aircraft of your type are expected. NATA check rides and QPRs are only conducted in Supported Aircraft Types.
Trainees must review our
Formation Training Program before attending, paying particular attention to their specific aircraft requirements and the associated aircraft "Type Supplement." First-time clinic participants may find this
Clinic Newbie Checklist useful.
Arrival day is Thursday Oct 22, 2026. Trainees must attend the ground school at 1300 and should arrive by noon. There will be a ground school quiz afterwards. Training will begin with a mandatory safety/standardization briefing at 0800 on Friday.
The daily schedule will be:
- 0700 Shuttle from hotel to KMOD/CAF
- 0730 IP Meeting
- 0800 Flights brief / formation flying
- Noon Lunch available
- 1700 Flying secures / happy hour(s)
- 1800 Dinner
- 2000 Shuttle back to hotel
Please review ALL of the registration steps below before proceeding:
- REGISTER ONLINE. Begin by clicking on the Registration button, supply the requested information and pay the registration fee. If you intend to fly as PIC and have current FAST credentials, you may register as PIC - Proficiency flying. If your credentials have expired or you are working on a wingman or Lead qualification, choose PIC - Training requested. If you do not intend to fly as PIC at all (e.g., IP/CP, observer, photographer), register as Non-PIC. You may register friends and family as Guest. If you are not a Formation member, you will not see the PIC registration options. To acquire this ability you may upgrade your membership by writing to formation@flynata.org. Late registrants may not receive a T-shirt or name patch.
- TRAINING? NEW: Working on a wing or Lead qual? Credentials expired and need a requal checkride? You must register as "PIC - Training requested (Wing/Lead/requal)."
- INSURANCE. If intending to fly as PIC, you must upload a Certificate of Insurance (COI). You may do so by visiting My Formation Documents on the Formation+ menu. Full info available at: Clinic Insurance Requirements. Please do this NOW!
- HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT. Hold Harmless Agreements are now handled online (no need to sign and upload a form). To complete the registration process you will accept the terms of the Hold Harmless Agreement and provide an “online” signature. Guests attending the clinic will have the opportunity to sign this document in person.
- ALLOW TEXT MESSAGES. Clinic organizers may use text messages to relay information to participants during the clinic (e.g., weather-related updates). Please allow NATA to send you text messages by visiting the Contact Information tab in your profile, and checking the box under your mobile number in Other Contacts, towards the bottom of the screen. Review your Personal Contact Information here.
Other Information:
- TRAINEE PREPARATION. Pilots seeking training must comply with the aircraft readiness requirements in paragraph 5 of the Training Program. Please pay particular attention to the comms... we cannot conduct training in your aircraft if an IP cannot communicate with you and other aircraft in the flight. Also, note that an "Eval" flight is required for first-time clinic participants, and training materials must be reviewed prior to arrival.
- HOTEL. A block of rooms is reserved under "NATA Formation Clinic" at the Holiday Inn Express Modesto, 4300 Bangs Ave., 209-543-9009. Book online using the NATA Link. Single Bed: $139.00. Double Bed: $159.00
- MEALS. Your registration includes a meal plan. Snacks, water, soda, coffee, iced tea available all day. Lunch and dinner included. Breakfast included Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Open Bar open 5pm-9pm daily.
- FBO, FUEL & OIL. Discounted fuel from a truck. Contact in advance or upon arrival to set up fuel account. Eric at Modesto Jet Center: fbo@modestojet.com, 209-577-4654. They do not keep our oil in stock, so you must pre-order your oil (you must take all the oil you order and pay when you settle your fuel account).
- RENTAL CARS. Shuttle service included in registration, but Enterprise, Avis, Budget, Hertz rental cars available through Modesto Jet Center. Call 209-577-4654 and ask for Leo.
- OTHER. CAF Hangar ramp can accommodate a large number of warbirds. Gated and secure. Bring your own tie-down ropes.
Photographers who wish to attend this clinic should review our
Clinic Photographer Policy before registering.