Knowledgeable and experienced instructor with a particular passion for training new pilots. I draw on my 15+ years and thousands of hours of Alaska piloting experience, as well as 10+ years of experience in air traffic control in towers, approach controls and flight service stations to help you develop both stick-and-rudder flying skills and an expert understanding of how our National Airspace System functions. [Overview of Pilot Training] Most students embark on the flight training journey eagerly anticipating the excitement of achieving a longtime goal, the ability to share that excitement with their friends and family and the exploration of destinations off the beaten path and it is my goal to help you achieve this. As an aspiring pilot, you have the choice of either a Sport Pilot or Private Pilot certificate. While Private Pilot is the traditional path to entry into aviation and essentially allows you to operate any small aircraft in a personal or private business setting, day or night, the Sport Pilot certificate has lesser training requirements (thus a lesser cost), but carries some additional limitations. For instance, you are more limited in the types of airplanes you may fly (although most common small aircraft fit within these criteria) and you may only carry one passenger, plus various other limitations. If you are unsure of which is the right certificate for you, we can discuss the particulars of what you hope to do and which would serve you best. Regardless, whatever you choose today does not limit you in the future should your mission change. [Time] Earning a pilot certificate should not be a years-long process. Drawing out the timeframe is the biggest danger to your success, whether it it is due to a lack of available time on your part or your instructor’s or because you lack the money to pay for regular and consistent lessons. This is a recipe for losing motivation, becoming dissatisfied with the experience and costing much more money in the end, if you ever do finish. In order to finish on-time and on-budget, I encourage you to commit to a minimum of 3 lessons per week with more being better. The more often you train, the quicker you will master the skills needed and momentum fosters motivation. I have worked with many clients who have completed their Private Pilot training in the 6-8 week range, with one in as few as 3. These clients set aside the time on their calendars for a month or two so that they could schedule lessons several days a week (or every day) before or after work. Developing the manual skill to operate the aircraft competently is not that monumental a task, but it is nonetheless a new skill that must be developed, along with good habits of flight planning, effective decision-making and much more. Focusing intently on these things for a period of time without unnecessary distractions is a very effective way to develop lasting skills and habits. I limit the number of clients that I work with at one time in order to ensure that I am able to focus intently on your training until it is completed and to avoid scheduling competition among clients. [Typical Training Progression] Before beginning training for either a Sport Pilot or Private Pilot certificate, you will first need to apply for a Student Pilot certificate. This simply requires you to fill out an application here and have your instructor endorse it. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) receives and reviews the application, issues a temporary certificate and sends you a permanent certificate in the mail. The Student Pilot certificate is all that you need for Sport Pilot training, but if you are pursuing a Private Pilot certificate you will also need a third-class FAA medical certificate or complete the steps for certification under BasicMed rules. The FAA medical certificate is the typical option and even if you intend to use BasicMed in the future, you will have to initially be issued an FAA medical certificate. If you have previously held an FAA medical certificate that has since expired, BasicMed may be a suitable alternative and it is certainly easier to obtain and maintain, although it has some limitations. Most notably, it is not recognized in Canada, so you would be unable to pilot an aircraft within Canadian airspace with BasicMed and not an FAA medical certificate. If you are unsure of which is the best option, we can discuss the particulars of your case and what you intend to do as a pilot. BasicMed requires you to complete an online course (found here), to keep the certificate of completion in your personal records and to visit any physician for an exam covering items typical of a routine office visit. Flight training can be a wonderfully rewarding experience opening the door to adventure and accomplishment. Thoughtful planning can remove common and predictable barriers to student success and will likely result in the outcome you desire.

Specific Aircraft Access

Cessna 150

Flying At/Near These Airport(s)

PASX – Soldotna Airport (SXQ), Soldotna, Alaska