CP Aviation - Instructor Bios

Berkeley Brandt

Berkeley Brandt, CFII, comes from a family of pilots (mother, father, uncles) and began flying in 1963. After another career as a cardiac surgeon, he has become obsessed with flying after retirement in 2004 and began teaching at CP Aviation in 2010. It turns out that there are many similarities between teaching heart surgery and flying.

His main focus has been primary flight training, but he enjoys instrument training as well. He is a member of the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE).

Mark R King

Mark King, Master Certified Flight Instructor-Aerobatic, CFI- Instrument, Advanced and Instrument ground instructor, is a southern California native who was born into an aviation family and began flying in 1974. Mark has extensive experience flying in Alaska in a turboprop Quest Kodiak, has over 1000 hours flying the Beechcraft Bonanza and is G1000 qualified.

He is a member of the Society of Aviation Flight Educators (SAFE) and the North American T6 formation group called the Condor Squadron. He teaches Private Pilots, Instrument, Commercial, Tailwheel, Emergency Maneuver Training, and Aerobatics.

Rochelle Oslick

Rochelle Oslick, CFI, began flying in 1984, at the Edwards AFB Flying Club, while she was stationed there as a USAF Flight Test Engineer. Shortly after earning her private pilot license, Rochelle started flying tailwheel/aerobatic airplanes at Santa Paula Airport, which quickly became her favorite airport. As an aerospace engineer, several job changes, from the USAF, to Lockheed in Burbank, to Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, and finally to The Boeing Company in Seattle, led her to base her flying from other airports in southern California and in western Washington. Along the way, Rochelle earned her Instrument and Commercial ratings, and then CFI, and started flight instructing part-time, mostly in tailwheel and aerobatic airplanes, in the Seattle area. After retiring from Boeing, Rochelle moved back south, to Ventura County, and is flight instructing at CP Aviation, at her favorite airport, teaching Private Pilots, Tailwheel, Spins, Emergency Maneuver Training, and Aerobatics. She also participates in aerobatic competitions, flying her Christen Eagle II in Intermediate category. She is a member of SAFE, IAC, Ninety-nines International Organization of Women Pilots, Women in Aviation International, and AOPA.

Bryan Hudson

Bryan Hudson - ATP, CFII, MEII, Tailwheel - is a lifelong aviation enthusiast.  He started flying in hang gliders as a teenager then moved up to the “heavy” Cessna 152 when he earned his private pilot certificate in 1987.  Bryan began flying professionally in 1990, primarily working in scheduled air cargo operations all across the country where he accumulated many hours of night, multiengine, turboprop, and instrument experience, and his Airline Transport Pilot certificate.  In 2004 he began working in the emerging unmanned aircraft industry as evaluation pilot, instructor, and systems engineer.  Bryan has been a CFI with single and multiengine instrument instructor ratings since 1991 and is a member of the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE).  Bryan is available mainly on weekends and some evenings when the days are long.

Mike Bowers

CFII-MEI, Glider and SES

Mike has been flying at SZP since 1981. His first Cessna 172 landing was remarkable for its use of the entire length of Runway 22. Once the proper power and airspeed parameters were mastered, Mike followed with all his ratings and began flight instructing to keep his learning curve steep. Flying tailwheels and aerobatics have always been a favorite as Mike does it in a large range of machines from his classic J-3 Piper Cub, to Citabrias, Decathlons and Pitts Specials. His aviation achievements include an accident free flying record and a couple of FAI US National city to city speed records.

Remember that SZP is an aviation treasure and is world renowned for it’s place in history. Fly safely and learn from the best instructors at CP Aviation!

Jimmy Stegner

CFI/CFII/MEI Advanced and Instrument ground instructor.

He grew up around general and corporate aviation. His father flew for a living and owned a Piper Cherokee. In college he decided he didn’t want to become a pilot and pursued a degree in Advanced Finance. After college and becoming a successful business person he felt something was missing from his life so he started taking flying lessons at CP Aviation and found his passion. One and a half years later he was a Certified Flight Instructor! He owns a Cessna 172 and enjoys flying all over the country. Other hobbies include traveling the world to exotic destinations surfing and kite surfing.

Nicholas Mitchell

CFI, CFII, MEI

Nick had an interest in aviation from a young age. He remembers being inspired from his first ever airplane ride on a Boeing 727 at 15 years old. He began flying and working towards his Private Pilot Certificate shortly thereafter. Nick attended and graduated Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a BS in Aeronautical Science

He has been a Certified Flight Instructor since 2003 and currently teaches part-time. While not flight instructing, Nick has been serving his community as a full-time Police Officer for over 10 years. Nick has flown and taught in a variety of single and multi-engine aircraft.

Peter Carlson

CFI, Tailwheel

Peter is a Ventura County native and third-generation pilot, who has been coming to SZP since before he could walk. He learned to fly at CP, earning his private in 40 hours while in high school. He graduated with a degree in history from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is available almost all days to teach private, commercial, complex, and flight reviews.

When he isn’t flying in Santa Paula, he is flying out of OXR in a 172 or his father’s Baron.

Andrew Carlson

CFI

Andrew fell in love with airplanes and flying at a very young age, having been exposed to it through his father and uncles. He had been teaching fire and disaster safety for almost 20 years when he decided he’d much rather teach flying. With that goal in mind, he took his first lesson in 2015 and is now living his dream!

Andrew is a CFI and instrument-rated commercial pilot. He holds tail wheel, complex, and high performance endorsements. He is a member of the Commemorative Air Force, Angel Flight West, and Society of Aviation and Flight Educators. He enjoys flying his Mooney to visit family, friends, and airshows around the country.

Connor Philpott

CFI

Connor Philpott, CFII is a fourth generation pilot; who has been around Santa Paula airport and airplanes since he was born. He received his private pilot’s Certificate at CP Aviation and is excited to be teaching with us. Every day in the air is a good day in his eyes! He also earned a commercial multi-engine rating over at Camarillo and can be found there flying his families RV-7.