Q. You have some great looking airplanes on your website. Which ones do you have available for rent?
A. None of them. I do not own, operate, rent, or lease any airplanes. I deal directly with owner-operators, Flying Clubs, and Air Carriers and offer my instructional abilities and pilot services. My clients pay for my experience, my teaching, and my proven history in producing safe and competent pilots. I did take the time to only choose airplane models that I have flown before - except the B52.
Q. You sound like you're a good match for me and your references sing your praises. I don't own an airplane and don't belong to a flying club. Can you still instruct me for a new certificate or rating?
A. Sure, I can train you, but I would recommend you to find a flying club in your area. There are so many underutilized airplanes in clubs that are reasonably priced and often the schedules are very flexible. I know of several clubs in the Connecticut area that are actively looking for members and would be happy to put you in touch with those who run them.
Q. I have an airplane that needs to be flown for pre-purchase inspection tomorrow at an airport 1000 miles away. Can you get it there?
A. That depends. What kind of airplane is it? Is it legally airworthy to fly and can you prove that it's current on inspections? Where is it located now? What are the pilot qualifications for your insurance policy? The odds are, for the vast majority of general aviation airplanes, I can help you, just like I've helped people in the past.
Q. Will you guarantee me a pass on the practical test?
A. No. I do not have 'examiners on staff' or sweetheart kickback deals with 'preferred examiners.' I have presented clients to 7 different pilot examiners and inspectors and have an overwhelming first-time pass rate for the oral and flight portions of the practical test. I have a Gold Seal Flight Instructor's certificate and because I only train a small number of clients at a time, I am able to focus my energy on making them safe and proficient beyond the Practical Test Standards. I'm not waiting for an airline to call me in for an interview, and with over 9000 total time, certainly not teaching to 'build time.' I teach because I enjoy it and it gives me an enormous amount of satisfaction seeing an owner or club member confident in their airplane.
Q. I want to fly to Canada, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, or another challenging destination. Can you fly with me to help me through the process, spend the day there while I'm in my meeting and then fly home with me later that night?
A. Sure. I've flown into all of the east coast Class B or other 'challenging destinations' before and would be happy to fly with you there and back. All normal rates apply.
Q. Why do you think you're better than other instructors?
A. Because I love to instruct and see a competent and safe general aviation pilot. I've trained over 300 pilots for their license, their written test, operating privilege, Flight Review, Instrument Proficiency Check, etc. For those who have taken a formal pass-fail exam, I maintain over a 90% first-time pass rate with a 100% second-time pass rate. I don't work with a flight school that has to push certain programs or fly certain airplanes more than others to satisfy owners. I tailor programs specifically for your flying, your airplane, and your training goals.
Q. Do you teach under Part 61 or 141?
A. Part 61 only. I am not a Part 141 Pilot Training Center.
Q. Well, Part 141 training is better, right?
A. It's not a matter of being better or worse, it's just different. Your certificate doesn't say Part 141 Pilot or Part 61 Pilot and all rules apply equally to all pilots. There's a difference in your instructor, your training airplane, your training syllabus, your flight school, maintenance, management, etc. in that all must pass Part 141 approvals in order to train under 14 CFR 141. So a flight school applies to the FAA to get a program approved so their customers get their license in a handful of fewer hours for the Private, fly less cross-country for their Instrument, and even less for their Commercial, depending on whether or not they are approved for all courses. As a former Part 141 Assistant Chief Pilot for a multi-base flight school, I have not seen the benefit of getting a Part 141 Pilot School approval for my clients and have found that owners and flying club members see the benefit of having more instructional time in their airplane.
Q. Do you offer financing? Flight schools will extend credit to me?
A. No. I accept payment by check. There are two large pilot training credit providers that I know of. I have watched people throw away their training dollars or move away from the training syllabus simply because 'the money was there.' For them, when the money was gone they still didn't have their license or rating. When your real money is leaving your account in the here and now, you will take greater care in how you spend it and expect value in what you receive in return.
Q. I rent an airplane at a local FBO. Will you instruct me in it?
A. This is a thorny issue. Generally, the managers and owners don't want 'outsiders' teaching in their airplanes. On one hand, you're taking money out of their pocket by not using one of their instructors while on the other, you're still renting their airplane. I would recommend you to speak directly with the managers of the FBO and I require that I meet with them personally and get a written letter allowing me to instruct in their airplane with a copy of their insurance binder. Some managers are more open to it than others; I would ask you to check with them. As I said above, I would still look into a Flying Club if you're an active pilot.
Q. Where do we perform ground school?
A. Anywhere that's convenient for us. As I do not maintain an on-airport office, I have taught ground school lessons in libraries, in FBO conference rooms, in school classrooms, and a variety of other places. For pre- and post-flight discussion, as we're already located on an airport, in the past I've used conference rooms to review the flight and plan the next lessons. If it's a matter of reviewing cross country procedures, instrument procedures, or a theoretical concept that precedes a flight, we can meet at any place convenient to both of us.
Q. Why isn't there a schedule on your site?
A. Because I am at your service 24/7/365, you don't have to wonder if I'm available. Yes, there are times that I am flying with other clients, running, hiking, in training, etc., but all you have to do is call (cell 973-477-7813 local 860-436-3380) or and I will let you know of my availability. Generally, flights I book are not the immediate-need variety, so you should have the piece of mind that I have excellent availability.
Q. What if we don't get along?
A. If we don't mesh well with each other, I'm sure we'll both realize it, discuss it, and come up with an appropriate decision. Many of my clients are referrals from previously-trained pilots and I can't think of someone that I couldn't get along with to the extent that it impacted training. I've heard stories about instructors beating down a customer to the point that frustration becomes overwhelming and no learning can possibly take place; I'm not that kind of instructor.
Q. How often do you want to fly?
A. As often as you're able to. Once we're able to figure out exactly what you're looking for, we can fly daily, a few times a week, once a week, or anything in between. It really depends on what your goals are.
Q. Why don't you have any type ratings?
A. I've always flown airplanes that didn't require them for the seat position I was flying. I enjoyed my time with my previous employers, believed in the service we were providing the customers, and wasn't going to be a gypsy-pilot chasing after the next better flying position every six months. As well, I never bought one because a rating without experience in type is useless to me. I will say that my MU2 SFAR requalification and recurrency was as demanding as any type rating course. Not only that, but if I were typed in the Lear - the last jet I flew - do you think it would make me a better instructor in your airplane?
