About Plaid Aviation

In February of 2018, I began my flight training journey with an older gentleman by the name of Ernie Swallie. Having flown exactly one time on a discovery flight, I didn't know what to expect from flight training in general. Ernie loved flying and he loved sharing aviation with others, and while he never tolerated sloppy flying, he always made it fun. Most importantly, he always made it clear through the way he ran his school that people came first. 

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It's increasingly rare to find an instructor that not only enjoys teaching, but isn't on a fast track to build hours for the airlines. Ground instruction doesn't count towards a flight instructor's hours, so there's often a lack of enthusiasm when it comes to this vital part of pilot training. Some large Part 141 schools incorporate a comprehensive ground school into their programs, but many of us are juggling families and full time jobs while we learn to fly and are at the mercy of instructors who don't hide the fact that they hate teaching on the ground. 

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This is why I started Plaid Aviation.

 

I'm an FAA certificated Advanced Ground Instructor, who's been flying for 6 years, and I believe ground instruction should be fun. Aside from finances, ground school keeps more people from flying than anything else. And when you look at the breadth of knowledge required and pair that with unenthusiastic instruction many receive, its hardly surprising. The key is keeping it fun and showing a clear path between what we learn on the ground and becoming a safer, more competent pilot. 

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Ernie has since flown west, but at Plaid Aviation, his principles live on. People first, safety always, and always keep it fun. So whether you are just thinking about getting into aviation, or you're preparing for your checkride, let's take the next step together!