1. What first drew you to teaching ATP CTP, and how has your own aviation career shaped the way you teach it today?
When the ATP-CTP requirement was first introduced, I’ll admit I had my doubts—until I saw the curriculum and how it was being delivered, especially here at BMA. Commercial aviation has evolved tremendously over the decades. Having lived through those shifts, I quickly realized that today’s up-and-coming pilots simply haven’t had the exposure to some of the critical knowledge and skill sets that earlier generations had been exposed to through their training. Once I saw how the course bridged that gap, I was all in.
My career spans general aviation, military flying, line operations at major U.S. and international carriers, senior airline management, and work with foreign civil aviation authorities. That varied background completely shapes how I teach. I’m not just reading off slides or passing along industry rumors; I can give students first-hand, operational context on how things actually work in the real world, from the flight deck to the front office.
2. Can you share a specific moment when mentoring an ATP CTP student made a meaningful difference—such as helping them overcome a challenge, gain confidence, or advance their career?
Nothing beats working with a pilot who is genuinely hungry to learn. I had a student recently who took full advantage of every moment—asking deep questions during breaks, putting in extra work, and using the simulator sessions to refine his technique and skills. Watching his dedication, I had zero hesitation writing a recommendation letter for him.
A couple of months later, he reached out to tell me he’d been called for an interview and landed the job offer. He specifically mentioned that the technical scenarios and behavioral scenarios we discussed in class gave him the exact confidence he needed to ace the interview. Seeing a sharp, hard-working aviator get their big break—and knowing you played a small part in setting them up for success—is about as good as it gets in this job.
3. What aviation experience or expertise do you bring into the ATP CTP classroom that students seem to value most?
Students really benefit from the variety of perspective I can offer. Having flown for a U.S. major carrier, instructed in the military, and managed flight operations overseas across multiple aircraft types, I can bridge the gap for almost anyone in the room—whether they’re transitioning from military cockpits or moving up from general aviation.
Because I’ve sat on both sides of the desk—as a line pilot and as an operations manager hiring pilots—I can give students rare insight into what airline interview boards and chief pilots are actually evaluating. It allows me to cross-compare aircraft systems, operational environments, and career paths in a way that helps them prepare for whatever fleet or company they head to next.
4. Which aircraft fleet do you enjoy teaching the most, and what makes it especially rewarding for you?
While I’ve enjoyed flying and teaching on several different platforms, the Boeing 737NG is the absolute sweet spot for the ATP-CTP environment. It offers the perfect bridge into modern, high-level glass-cockpit automation while still demanding sound, hands-on manual flying skills.
That balance is what makes it so rewarding to teach. Automation is a fantastic tool, but basic stick-and-rudder proficiency is an ABSOLUTE prerequisite for any professional pilot, regardless of what they fly. The 737 keeps those core flying skills front and center while introducing complex system management.
5. What is the most rewarding part of teaching ATP CTP for you personally?
The most rewarding part is taking decades of hard-earned experience—the wins, the mistakes, and the lessons learned the hard way—and using them to protect and help the next generation. Maintaining our industry’s incredible safety record requires more than just knowing how to hand-fly an approach. It takes robust “soft skills” like Threat and Error Management (TEM), Crew Resource Management (CRM), Situational Awareness, Workload Management, and decisive Command Leadership.
When you bring the technical flying together with those human factors, and you see that lightbulb switch on in a student’s eyes—that’s the real payoff. Knowing a lesson I learned hard might save a student from making the same mistake down the road gives me immense personal satisfaction.