Avionics News July 2013 - 71

How long have you been ﬂying?

I started ﬂying 19 years ago. My ﬁrst ﬂight was Sept. 1,
1994. I remember it well because it was my orientation
ﬂight during my ﬁrst semester at Kansas State UniversitySalina, and it was also my birthday. It was unbelievably
hot, and the Beechcraft Sundowner we were ﬂying smelled
like 30 years of bad luck. But I still enjoyed every minute of
that ﬂight and every minute ﬂying since.

staﬀ members if they have questions or need clariﬁcation
about an item for one of their customers. GlobalParts.aero
is a company dedicated to customer satisfaction and setting
ourselves apart from the competition by providing our
customers with the parts they need, along with the years of
experience and knowledge of the aviation industry that our
team members possess.
What are your current ratings?

What aircraft do you ﬂy?

I have been very lucky throughout my ﬂying career
to have logged most of my time in Beechcraft products.
Kansas State University, where I trained, utilizes F33A
Bonanzas and Barons for training. And while working
for FlightSafety International, I ﬂew A36, B36TC and G36
Bonanzas, BE58 and G58 Barons, as well as the C90A,
C90GTx, 200GT and 350 King Airs.
When did you know you wanted to become a pilot?

I have wanted to ﬂy as long as I can remember. My uncle
ﬂew A-4s and A-6s in the Navy, and being from the Wichita
area, my family worked in the aviation industry. The path to
becoming a pilot, I thought, was always through the military.
And the odds, I was told, were very low of actually getting to
ﬂy. It wasn’t until I returned to college as a pre-law student
that I discovered Kansas State University’s new professional
pilot program. I graduated in 1998, with a Bachelor of
Science degree in aeronautical technology.
How does being a pilot impact your job?

GlobalParts.aero stocks and sells thousands of parts as well
as our vast selection of avionics. My experience as a pilot is
valuable when helping assist a customer to ﬁnd the correct
part. The technical knowledge and experience gained as a
pilot and instructor also allows me to assist my fellow sales

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Commercial, Single Engine Land: Instrument, Airplane
Commercial, Multi Engine Land: Instrument, Airplane
Certiﬁed Flight Instructor
Certiﬁed Flight Instructor Instrument
BE-300 (King Air 200/350) Type Rating

As a pilot, what are your thoughts on new technology?

Technology has certainly changed in the short time I
have been ﬂying, but I feel in a good way. Cockpit displays
have become easier to interpret and use, while providing
more information making the pilot more aware. However,
as an instructor, I have seen the demise of piloting
proﬁciency due to automation dependency. Pilots are
learning from day one how to use an autopilot instead of
developing and maintaining proﬁciency. This is especially
true with instrument-rated pilots. In 1998, before glass
cockpits and extremely capable autopilots were standard
equipment for GA aircraft, I met Cecil Ewell, chief pilot
and vice president of ﬂight for American Airlines. He
passed along wisdom that I only now can truly appreciate
when he told me, “Son, you don’t ﬂy an airplane with
this (holding up his index ﬁnger), you ﬂy an airplane with
these (showing me both of his hands).”
Would you like to be featured in AEAviators? Contact Jenna
Kramer at jennak@aea.net or 816-347-8400 to discover how.
AVIONICS NEWS

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JULY

2013

http://www.GlobalParts.aero http://www.GlobalParts.aero

Avionics News July 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News July 2013