In 2015 I was selected as the Vickie Cruse Memorial Scholarship winner for CP Aviation’s full EMT/Acro course developed by Rich Stowell. I received the news with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. CP Aviation’s reputation is well known, reaching all the way out to New York State where I live and work as a flight instructor. I knew I was being offered an a superb opportunity, but I worried whether I’d be up for the challenges presented by Emergency Maneuvers Training and Aerobatics, especially given some powerfully negative experiences I’d had in the past.
I’ve been flying for more than 25 years, and and have made my living in aviation for decades. Over the years, I developed some cynicism about flight instruction, especially when somebody claims to have all the answers. I am delighted to report that CP Aviation exceeded all my expectations. Judy Phelps and her team presented a challenging course that required me to fly at my best, but always gave me the tools I needed to understand the material and succeed. The aircraft were clean and well maintained, ready for dispatch and flew beautifully. With a waivered aerobatic box just a few miles off the end of the runway, we didn’t waste any time shuttling back and forth to the practice area. Most importantly, the teaching was highly professional. The material was presented in a way that provided ample time for discussion, and I always knew exactly what was going to happen before we strapped into the airplane.
Judy and Mark (King) stayed focused on making sure I was learning as much as possible, and didn’t waste any time trying to impress me, show off or polish their own egos. They challenged me to think about being “in control” in new ways, and I flew both harder and better than I ever have before. I came away from the experience with a tremendous sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. I know that I am a better pilot and a safer flight instructor thanks to the training I received there.
