I just wanted say thank you to American Flyers for the FIRC. The program was well executed, informative and in appropriate length. Additionally, I was pleased on how quickly I had received my temporary certificate from American Flyers. Lastly, I had submitted my paperwork for renewal back on July 20th and today (August 7th) I received my hard copy certificate in the mail from the FAA.
Much thanks to you and your school.
I am currently a corporate pilot with a Fortune 500 where I serve as a Captain and Safety Officer. I still do occasional bi-annual signoffs as a CFI in my local area. Additionally, I am a Major in the Air Force Reserves and serve as a Liaison Officer to the Civil Air Patrol where I use many skills learned as a CFI. I am now type rated in the DA50, DA10, and Learjet, and am a Gold Seal Certified Flight Instructor. I have my B.S. in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and am currently finishing my Masters in Aeronautical Science. I am a FAASTeam representative.
My Judith Resnik Memorial Scholarship was used at the Santa Monica, California facility. The school gave me the comprehensive training to be well prepared to teach not only in flight, but also in ground school, which I find equally important. The training helped me to pass my CFI and CFII checkride the first time around. I later went on to earn my MEI. The scholarship helped me to later attain my FAA Gold Seal Flight Instructor after my first ten successful checkride signoffs.
Additionally, without the scholarship assistance I would not have obtained my CFI and CFII until much later on and therefore would have missed many opportunities the last fifteen years. I still have my manuals and lesson plans and consider them to be valuable resources. I hope to go back to full time instructing of some sort after retirement.
Thank you so much for your assistance in being a part of attaining my dreams!
Very Sincerely,
Ava (Sumpter) Shubat
As a retired senior executive for a global Chemical Company I understand full well the importance of having skilled, knowledgeable and experienced professionals in an organization. This is particularly critical for an organization dedicated to pilot training. Indeed, I would expect to find these attributes at any reputable flight training facility and American Flyers has them in full measure. But I believe what sets American Flyers apart is the attitude and pride they bring to flying instruction – a “flying culture” that creates a safe, positive learning environment, breeding success not only for it graduates but also for the school itself. Such a culture does not develop by accident – it must be lead and nurtured by the leadership at the facility.
Thank you for providing such an enjoyable and rewarding training experience. I am proud to wear the wings of American Flyer.
I was a lucky recipient of the Judith Resnik Memorial Scholarship in 2001 and completed my CFI and CFI-I at American Flyers in Addison, TX in September of that year. It was a tumultuous time in aviation, and I wasn’t sure where I would end up, but after getting my ratings, I returned to my home just outside of Boston, MA, to teach at the flight school where I had learned to fly. Shortly thereafter, I was offered a job in the right seat of a King Air.
After a year, during which I continued to teach as well as fly corporate, I suffered my first aviation lay-off, but I was not deterred. I applied for a job as a contract First Officer at Alpha Flying, Inc., an operator of Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. I got that job, and shortly was offered a full time position, then upgrade to Captain in the Spring of 2004.
All along I felt like I was destined to contribute more, so I offered my services to the company and they hired me as Assistant Director of Training, where I helped develop the training program that was approved by the FAA under 91 subpart K for fractional operations in early 2005. I took the reins as Director of Training 1 year later and have been doing that ever since. In that time I have been responsible for initial, upgrade, transition, and recurrent ground and flight training for all of our First Officers and Captains. I love that I have the opportunity to fly, teach, and be home with my family every night. I credit the Judith Resnik scholarship with helping me to achieve that goal.
Best Regards,
Lara
I just wanted to take a minute and thank you and your staff for a really great time and a wonderful learning experience. I’ve never been in the military but I feel like I now know what it’s like to complete basic training! The 10-day instrument rating was a tough assignment, but also one of the most rewarding goals I’ve ever accomplished. My whole American Flyers experience was first-rate from the beginning. Everyone I encountered there was professional and easy to work with. In particular, my Instructor, David Edgar, was not only a first-rate pilot and teacher, but also a joy to fly with.
While I would caution anyone on how much work it is to try and get an instrument rating in 10 days I would have no trouble at all in recommending American Flyers as the place to go to get it done. Thanks again for a great experience and a lot of fun!
I was very pleased to earn The Judith Resnik Scholarship. I then used the My CFI and CFII and took my first flying job at March Air Force Base/CFI/CFII. I enjoyed instructing so much I ended up teaching for 8 years. I also flew night freight for UPS in The Embarer 110, C402 and Cessna Caravan. I currently fly for Cape Air , Hyannis, MA. I fly in all regions-Caribbean, Florida, Maryland, Missouri and in the North East.
I am very grateful for the Judith Resnik Scholarship and hope other female Pilots will use it to their advantage.
Respectfully,
Sherry Murdock
Sincere and heartfelt thanks to your staff. When I first started looking at facilities to get my instrument rating, the choices were as numerous as the prices. From checking with fellow pilots, the reputation of American Flyers is second to none and I can see why.
From the first contact with you to finishing my instrument rating your staff has always been top notch. Today I can honestly say I not only have an instrument rating, but I have the knowledge and confidence to know in the unfortunate case that I do encounter a problem, I already have seen, heard or know how to handle it. As one of your other instructors told me, “We don’t want to graduate people with an instrument ticket, we want to graduate instrument rated pilots”. This says a lot for your team.
Once again thank you, and should anyone wonder where to get flight training, American Flyers will be the first name I mention.
American Flyers and the Judith Resnik Scholarship have played a pivotal role in my life as an aviator. I joined Flyers as an intern so long ago I can’t even remember, but I worked my way up to Chief Pilot of the Santa Monica school. When I left American Flyers in 1998 to fly cargo, I had an ATP along with my CFIAI Single and Multiengine Instructor ratings. Six months later I was hired by a great regional carrier SkyWest Airlines and received my type in the EMB 120, CRJ 600 and CRJ 700. I was a Captain on the CRJ 700 when I left in 2006.
I am currently the Founder and Executive Director of a non-profit organization called A Different Point of View, whose mission is to Engage, Inspire and Transform youth who are at-risk of losing their way. Using flying lessons as a launching pad we hope to show them, most who have never been farther than their neighborhood, that the world is bigger and has more to offer than they could ever imagine. We give them several hours in an airplane and teach them that they are the captains of their destiny. They literally learn to see their world from a different point of view. ADifferentPointofView.org
Thanks to American Flyers and the Judith Resnik Scholarship my life in aviation has been and still is extremely rewarding.
Never forget, all things are possible.
Lynn Houston
It is hard to believe that only 8 weeks ago I sat in your office talking about the American Flyers training program for the Instrument Rating, 6 weeks ago was my first lesson, and today I received the temporary airman certificate with instrument privileges. The American Flyers textbook, training methodology, instructional staff, support staff, facilities, and management are all top-notch. I would wholeheartedly recommend American Flyers without reservation. I look forward to training with your organization in the future.
Thanks, American Flyers.
I am Kelly McDermott Davies and received the 1991 Judith Resnik Scholarship from American Flyers. The scholarship provided me with my Flight Engineer and Airline Transport Pilot Written Ground Schools.
In 1991, I graduated from Northwestern State University of Louisiana with my BS in Aviation Studies. I was a CFI/CFII working on my MEI and felt I needed help taking the last few written exams in a formal setting. I had a dream to become an airline pilot since I was 5 years old.
At the end of 1991, I was at the right place at the right time which is key in aviation. I was giving ME Instruction and ferrying light twins around the Caribbean and noticed a little airline named Sunaire Express. I had 800 TT and 100 Multi Engine. (most of the 100 hours ME I flew around on one engine teaching so it’s funny it counts as multi-engine). I was offered a position as a First Officer on a Twin Otter DHC-6. I had just turned 22 and was living my dream flying 1200 hours a year, landing on the sand and doing up to 18 segments a day. I was fortunate to make Captain a couple years later.
In March 1994, I was hired by Atlantic Southeast Airlines and flew the Bandarante E-110 and E-120 Brasilia. My dream came true when United Airlines called me for an interview in March 1995. I have been with United Airlines for nearly 18 years now having flown the 727, 737, 757, 767 and A-320/319. While my 21 years as a member of the Airline Pilots Association has been tough at times, I can not imagine a more rewarding career. I have seen the most amazing things and worked with great people I respect. I have received world class training and every once in awhile I look outside on pushback and am so excited still I’m about to go fly.
I still think about receiving the Judith Resnik scholarship after all I have accomplished. Being chosen and honored by American Flyers gave me confidence. It told me that people believed in me and were behind me supporting me! At this stage of my career, I think this was just as important as receiving the ground school. Receiving a scholarship in the name of such an accomplished woman is an honor to this day. I have an idea how hard Judith had to work to become an electrical engineer and space shuttle mission specialist. I skipped school to see both of her shuttle missions being an avid fan of the space shuttle and still remember it’s first mission when I was in the 6th grade. Women like Judith told me it was possible for girls like me to aim high and that dreams come true.
Thank you, Judith, for the example you set and many thanks to American Flyers and the committee that makes these scholarships possible for young women helping them financially and telling them their dreams can come true.
Sincerely,
Paige “Kelly” McDermott Davies
Thanks for the great job processing my CFI renewal. I was amazed that you were able to process my temporary certificate yesterday on a Federal Holiday. I look forward to working with you on my next renewal and will highly recommend this course to my fellow CFIs.
I compliment the program. I just renewed my CFI using the FIRC for the third time since joining in 2010. I appreciate the value and the lifetime membership, but more importantly the friendly and efficient service that American Flyers has provided. Ashley took the time to answer a few questions I had last week and even provided a critical tip which ensured that I finished prior to my expiration date. Thanks again for the assistance, I look forward to using American Flyers for other services as well in the future.
The course was excellent. The paperless process was very well explained and easy to follow. I finished the course Friday, and I have my temporary certificate today, Saturday. Outstanding!
This letter is written to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to you and the Staff of American Flyers of Morristown for the outstanding and most effective delivery of the Instrument Airplane Course. From the test preparation seminar to the program’s unique balance of computer and aircraft training, you and your staff brought to my experience not only a mastery of subject matter and superior pedagogical techniques, but also a confident professionalism and good humor that was at once encouraging and demanding.
In retrospect it is not difficult to understand that American Flyers has been at the business of instrument instruction for a very long time. It is reflected at every turn. I would have no qualms at all in recommending to anyone interested in learning to fly informed and well, whether for a private pilot certificate or for an instrument or additional rating, that they enroll with you at American Flyers of Morristown. You run an excellent program with an outstanding staff. I wish you every success in the future.
I really liked having the topics and quizzes broken into smaller categories. Also, having the self pacing was good.