Gold Seal Flight Instructor - Private through CFI/CFII

Richard B.

I have spent more than twenty-five years as an educator, helping students build confidence through understanding rather than memorization. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Physical Science from the University of Nevada, Reno before beginning a twenty-year career teaching middle and high school science. I taught Physical Science, Earth Science, Life Science, Chemistry, Technology of Science, and aviation ground courses at the community college level. I earned my Private Pilot Certificate in 2006, beginning the aviation journey that became the second half of my teaching career.

I later earned a Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a 3.833 GPA, concentrating in Educational Technology and researching safety in technically advanced aircraft. I became an Advanced Ground Instructor in 2016 and a Certified Flight Instructor in 2020. I currently hold Commercial Pilot, CFI, and CFII certificates, am an FAA Gold Seal Flight Instructor, and serve as an FAA Safety Team Representative.

Since becoming a flight instructor, I have provided approximately 1,800 hours of dual instruction and thousands of hours of ground instruction. As the primary instructor for 31 students, I have guided them through Private, Instrument, Commercial, CFI, and CFII certificates with an 87% first-time practical test pass rate. As Director of Aviation Education and later Chief Instructor, I developed curriculum, mentored instructors, and evaluated training quality.

I have taught students from teenagers earning their first pilot certificate to pilots in their eighties. My experience includes one-on-one instruction, small-group seminars, and classroom teaching. My teaching philosophy is simple: people learn best when they understand why. I tailor every lesson to the student's goals and learning style, helping them become safe, confident, and capable pilots.