 SAFE #: 0251 Hometown: Taunton, Massachusetts Occupation: Flight School Owner Website: www.atlanticaviationandflightcenter.com Education: BS Education and some graduate school Pilot Certificates: Commercial CFII MEI Airplanes Flying/Flown: C150, C152,C172, C172RG, C182RG, C210, Cherokee 140, Archer III, Warrior, Arrow, Cherokee Six, Seminole, Decathlon, CT Design, Jabaru, Twin Commander, Bonanza, Mooney. Educational Specialty: Primary Instruction and students who have “stalled” |
Q & A
| What drew you to aviation? At 5 years old, I used to wake up early during the summer months to the sound of J-3s flying over my house from the local airfield. I haven’t stopped looking up.
How long have you been involved in aviation education? About 6 years. What’s your favorite part of what you do in aviation education? Developing safe and responsible pilots. I still get a thrill when a student solos and passes the check ride. It never gets old. Never. What’s your least favorite part of what you do in aviation education? Paperwork and reading the FARs. Do you have a memorable aviation experience you’d like to share? We belong to the Animal Rescue Flights (ARF) volunteer organization that flies abused and neglected animals from shelters to new homes. My instrument student and I rescued two Pit Bulls from certain death by flying them from Bridgeport CT to their new “forever home” in Wiscasset ME. One was in a puppy mill, the other on death row in the shelter. We were in solid IFR from KBDL (Bradley) to KPWM (Portland) for about 2.3 hours. The dogs fared fine; we were a little spent but happy for the actual IFR, but nothing – and I mean nothing – compared to the look on the faces of the new family when they saw their new pets – priceless. Why did you join SAFE? I share the vision and want to do what I can to promote professionalism in the flight educator industry. What would you like to see change in aviation? I would like to see our profession be treated as a profession with commensurate salary and benefits. I would also like to see a better lifestyle and pay for those who fly corporate and regional airlines. Any suggestions on how the above might be accomplished? Where does one begin??? Any accomplishments in, or noteworthy contributions to aviation and/or aviation education you’d like to mention? I did a presentation at the 2007 WAI conference in Orlando FL on Strategic Marketing for the Professional Flight Instructor. I thought it went pretty well. Little did I know that Wally Funk was sitting in the back of the room. No pressure. Who are your role models in aviation? The WASP (all of them); Amelia Earhart; my students, who keep trying and who show amazing resilience and dedication.
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