McGill1

SAFE#: 0030

Hometown: San Diego, CA & Sunriver, OR

Home Airport: KMYF & S21

Occupation: Aviation Educator – Master CFI

Website: SafeFlight

Education: B.S. Business Management, MBA (Finance & Marketing)

Pilot Certificates: Commercial SEL, SES, MEL, Master CFI, CFII, MEI

Airplanes Flying/Flown: I have flown 85 different makes and models of aircraft and own three different airplanes. My teaching is specialized in Single Engine Turbo-charged aircraft such as P210, T210, Mooney Acclaim, etc, although I do teach in other aircraft as well. Most aircraft in which I teach are owner flown aircraft. I own a Champ and love to fly tailwheel aircraft.

Educational Specialty: Advanced ratings (Instrument and Commercial) and Insurance Checkouts in specific make and model aircraft – approved by most insurance underwriters for Cessna P and T210 and Mooney aircraft for initial and recurrent training, advanced avionics in TAA aircraft. Garmin G1000, Garmin 530, STEC autopilots, etc.

Q & A

What drew you to aviation? The freedom of flight.

How long have you been involved in aviation education? I have been a flight instructor for almost 30 years.

What’s your favorite part of what you do in aviation education? Teaching young people to fly and giving Young Eagle flights.

What’s your least favorite part of what you do in aviation education? Remedial training on pilots who have violated FARs sufficiently that they are forced to take additional training or they will lose their pilots license.

Do you have a memorable aviation experience you’d like to share? I reenacted Lindbergh’s crossing of the Atlantic in 1987 (60th anniversary of the event) and delivered the Key to the City of San Diego to all the mayors of the cities I visited and to the Prime Ministers of Iceland and France.

Why did you join SAFE? To enhance my professional relationships and share knowledge and experience with my peers.

Any accomplishments in, or noteworthy contributions to aviation and/or aviation education, you’d like to mention? I was selected as the 2009 FAA Flight Instructor of the Year, Western Pacific Region. I have written and published numerous articles on flying in national and local publications. I serve as a member of the City of San Diego Airports Advisory Committee. I am a Member and past Chair of the Miramar Technical Advisory Committee, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Community Airfields Association of San Diego.

Anything else you’d like to add? I am a retired Lieutenant Colonel, United States Marine Corps. We need to develop a program that will raise the standards of performance in the flight instructor community. Also, we need to figure out a way for young flight instructors to be paid better.

McGill2