Educator

A large part of my time for the past five years has been devoted to laying the framework for the Searey Flight Instructors Association. The current version of the Searey is one of the most docile seaplanes and taildraggers on the market yet a quick look at the NTSB database shows that Seareys over all have an abysmal accident and fatality rate. This is in large part due to lack of pilot training. Last year we finally incorporated the SFIA. This association, comprised of accredited instructor, offers training and accreditation to new Searey owners across the country. This training is then recognized by several insurance companies who offer these pilot reasonable rates on their insurance.

I am now an active instructor in this program, as well as the vice president of the association.

Letter from Don Laughlin
MI-3: E1

This spring and fall I organized two weekend ground school series. The spring series was composed of a variety of topics geared towards bringing our existing customers back after a very hard winter. It was aimed towards students and renters. The fall series was geared towards bringing in rusty pilots but was also designed to be of interest to our existing customers and students.

Fall ground school flier
MI-3: E2

Youth Aviation Adventure, May 2014 - I organized our fifth Youth Aviation Adventure program. YAA is a national program designed to take Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts through their aviation badge/patch requirements. With the strong relationship I have helped cultivate between our school and the local EAA chapter 571 we were able to expand this program to include Young Eagle flights for all of the kids, and even a few very big kids who distinctly resembled parents and scout leaders.

MI-3: E3

At the EAA's request I sent much of Airventure 2014 manning the EAA 10th anniversary sport pilot education booth and answering questions about flight training.

Letter from EAA
MI-3: E4

I worked with a number of military instructors on my staff to establish a first-of-its-kind formation introductory flight lesson program. We often have requests for a friend to tag along on introductory flight lessons.  This is can be difficult in two-seat light sport planes. This program solves that problem in the most fun way possible.

MI-3: E5

Not only is a picture worth a thousand words but good photos are the key to getting newspaper and magazine articles published. As such, I organized three photo shoots in 2014 and 2015, one of our SLSA Searey, one of our Sky Arrows in formation, and one of our Eaglets and RV-12s.  Several magazine articles resulted from this including two front covers.

MI-3: E6

I helped organize another opportunity for STEM student from our local middle school to take introductory flight lessons. All kids with signed permission slips got to fly. We did ground school for kids waiting on the ground.

MI-3: E7

The Aviation Council of Pennsylvania asked me to give a presentation at their annual conference about business opportunities available through the light sport industry. I asked my colleague Art Terrola who is a light sport DPE and LSRM in Pennsylvania to join me and together we presented to the council.

MI-3: E8Letter from Art