Hometown Airport: KSMO

Occupation: 2010 National CFI of the Year

Website: www.flyinglikethepros.com

Education: Arizona State University

Pilot Certificates: ATP MCFI MEI CFII CFI AGI IGI

Airplanes Flying/Flown: Citation Mustang, Citation CJ Series, Phenom 100/300, Hawker-Beechcraft Premier IA, Eclipse 500

Education Specialty: Transitioning piston pilots into single pilot jets for the first time, single pilot IFR

What drew you to aviation? When I was 7 I flew on a Pan Am 747 from Miami to Los Angeles (PAA440) “Clipper Flying Cloud”.  I’ve been in love with the Boeing 747 and aviation ever since !

How long have you been involved in aviation education? I’ve been teaching friends to fly instruments for 10 years, Certificated for 8 years

What’s your favorite part of what you do in aviation education? I love the chance to get an aviator who has never flown a jet before and I get to be their Flight Instructor who takes them up to fly a jet for the first time. That is no question a very special day and I get to be a part of that.  Too cool !

What’s your least favorite part of what you do in aviation education? The paperwork is my least favorite part.  But as the FAA allows us to do more of it via computer its not so bad.

Do you have a memorable aviation experience you’d like to share? My friend Laurie and I started dating and on our second date I swooped into Scottsdale, Arizona (KSDL) and took her to dinner in the Citation Mustang.  I brought the flowers with me and strapped them into the co-pilot seat since I was the jet single pilot.  Great day out !

Why did you join SAFE? I was one of the first people to join SAFE. As the saying says “We’re all about our members” well — SAFE is all about the members!  There are some amazingly talented aviation educators active in SAFE and I for one am VERY proud to be a member of this fine organization. For me, it’s everything I always thought a Society of Instructors, Teachers, Airline Training Captains, Simulator Instructors should be.

What would you like to see change in aviation? We have got to get that rate of 70% of students pilots not succeeding in getting the private pilot’s license up.

Any suggestions on how the above might be accomplished? Better Instruction!

Any accomplishments in, or noteworthy contributions to aviation and/or aviation education you’d like to mention? I’m very proud to be the 2010 National Flight Instructor of the Year as well as a 3-time Master CFI, as well as Gold Seal Certificated Flight Instructor.

Who are your role models in aviation? Many of my Boeing 747-400, B777 training captain friends.

Anything else you’d like to add? I’m as friendly as they come and tend to talk too much!!  But love teaching flying especially JETS!