Comments on: On the Record – Max Trescott … CFI, Entrepreneur

By: Flight Instructors: There’s Always More to Learn | RENT-A-PLANE

Flight Instructors: There’s Always More to Learn | RENT-A-PLANE — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:26:47 +0000

[...] Max Trescott, a guy we’ve talked to before, a man who embarasses the heck out of me because he runs such a successful independent flight instruction business, received the CFI of the Year award at AirVenture 2008. [...]

By: Flight Instructors: There’s Always More to Learn - Jetwhine: Aviation Buzz and Bold Opinion

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:31:00 +0000

By: jeff

jeff — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 23:37:18 +0000

What a great story. We need more instructors like Max to ensure the survival of accessible and affordable aviation in our country. I keep my CFI current, but haven’t instructed in almost 10 years. I have been pursuing an aviation career that included the usual steps – instructing, charter, regional airline, fractional, and now corporate aviation. I find myself more and more wanting to get back into instructing. I miss the shear joy of flying small aircraft and sharing that with others through teaching. It’s inspriring to see someone who is making a good living doing what they love.

By: Low CFI Birthrate & Graying Population Adding to Teacher Shortage - Jetwhine: Aviation Buzz and Bold Opinion

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:29:50 +0000

[...] instruction becomes a career, where making a living as a CFI is the rule, not the exception (like Max Trescott: CFI Entrepreneur), we need new, young CFIs to train the next generation of [...]

By: Ryan

Ryan — Tue, 13 May 2008 01:19:47 +0000

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and corresponding with Max on two or three occasions, and I would honestly rank him as tied for the top instructor I’ve come across during my time flying. His encyclopedic knowledge of aviation combined with his talent and passion for teaching are an inspirational combination.

By: Bo Henriksson

Bo Henriksson — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:34:27 +0000

Great and inspiring story!
However the whole dynamics of the flight instruction business is now changing since airlines (major and regional) abruptly stopped hiring in the last few weeks. Unless oil prices drastically retreat soon we may indeed see thousands of furloughed pilots looking for new employment.
Some of them as instructors.

http://www.bohenriksson.com

By: Arnie Quast

Arnie Quast — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:07:15 +0000

I just finished a trip with a captain that loves flying as much as I do. He has a small plane, and lives out in Poplar Grove on the airfield. When you work with someone like this,
it is amazing how the legs go by, and how the professionalism of our career really shines through in every way possible.

He too keeps his CFI and A&P licenses current. We talked of this very topic on our trip.
Where I fly out at Galt, they currently do not have any instructors available because they can’t hold anyone long enough before they move
on.

I offered my services on a limited basis if they were needed. They should hopefully have their C 172 up and running shortly.

I knew of
several people from various walks of life that started but did not finish their flight training because of the loss of the instructor at the FBO. These people were really good folks who in some cases were fairly affluent, and would seek and I’m sure pay well for a good
instructor to see them through.

If thought of properly, I’m sure this could be a neat fallback.

By: Bill Palmer

Bill Palmer — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:56:30 +0000

I’d like to share a similar story about my glider flight instructor, Bob Wander.

I came to Bob as a commercial airline pilot wanting to explore the world of motorless flight. Bob was a true inspiration to fly with, and worked to develop the insight and shear joy of soaring, concentrating both on fun (the whole point of soaring) and safety.

Like Max, Bob came from other industries and was bitten by the flying bug. He soon started his own commercial glider operation (flight school), which unlike an airplane operation also means having a tow plane and skilled tow pilot always available.

Bob didn’t just become a local glider instructor, there are lots of those, but is now probably thee top selling soaring book author in the world. He has written a series of books on soaring and contracted other soaring experts to pen another series of books which Bob edited. All are self published, available on his website (http://www.bobwander.com, Sporty’s, and through the SSA (Soaring Society of America).

Like Max, Bob is an avid promoter of general aviation, and soaring in particular being a top recruiter for several years. Bob wrote numerous chapters for the recently released FAA Glider Flying Handbook. He has served as an aviation consultant to the FAA, the NTSB, the Soaring Safety Foundation, the Soaring Society of America, Sporty’s Pilot Shop, and Jeppesen-Sanderson Publications.

In 1993 the Soaring Society of America presented Bob with the National Exceptional Achievement Award in recognition of his devotion to the sport and success in promoting it.

This all might look like a shameless plug, but it’s only because Bob is also another true hero of General Aviation.

By: Ron

Ron — Mon, 12 May 2008 09:23:51 +0000

I am much like Max, a professional instructor. My specialties are tailwheels, high performance competitive aerobatics, and IFR flying in the new composite glass panel ships like the aforementioned Cirrus and Columbia.

There is definitely money out there to be made, and if you’re good, word of mouth will drum up all the business you can handle. I could work 12 hours a day, 7 days a week if I wanted to.

–Ron

By: Robert Mark

Robert Mark — Mon, 12 May 2008 03:24:37 +0000

That’s why I thought this would be a great piece to show everyone. Thanks for your thought Jeffrey,

Too many CFIs don’t stay because they say there is no money in it for them. But many don’t understand what it takes to be a true professional teacher.

If they did, they might not be quite so ready to run for the right seat of a turbo-prop or RJ.

This is a start in that direction.

By: Jeffrey Sigmon

Jeffrey Sigmon — Mon, 12 May 2008 03:18:06 +0000

I’m glad to hear about professional flight instructors. I don’t see “too many” in this day and age, with Regionals hiring with as little as 300 hours. Great post!