MentorLIVE #47: Integrating a Home Study Course

Eric Radtke

Presenter

Eric Radtke President & Chief Operating Officer – Sporty’s Academy, Inc. Chief Instructor of Aviation – University of Cincinnati Eric Radtke is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati (UC) Lindner College of Business and UC Clermont College.  He earned his pilot certifications at Sporty’s and UC and has been flying and teaching for nearly 25 years.  After several years as a professional airline pilot, Eric returned to Sporty’s in 2002 to lead its flight school, Sporty’s Academy, and to direct the University of Cincinnati’s Professional Pilot Program. Currently, Eric is President and Chief Operating Officer of Sporty’s Academy, which offers recreational to career pilot training and produces a complete line of award-winning aviation educational products.  In addition, he serves as Chief Instructor of Aviation at UC Clermont College and is Vice President of Sporty’s Pilot Shop. Eric’s flying responsibilities include Senior Captain–Turbine Operations for Sporty’s.  He is an Airline Transport Pilot, Master Flight Instructor, Advanced Ground Instructor, member of the AOPA Flight Training Advisory Board and former member of the National Association of Flight Instructors Board.  He serves as editor of a flight training blog at StudentPilotNews.com and regularly contributes articles to industry publications.

ERIC RADTKE - PRESENTER

Eric Radtke is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati (UC) Lindner College of Business and UC Clermont College. He earned his pilot certifications at Sporty’s and UC and has been flying and teaching for nearly 25 years. After several years as a professional airline pilot, Eric returned to Sporty’s in 2002 to lead its flight school, Sporty’s Academy, and to direct the University of Cincinnati’s Professional Pilot Program. Currently, Eric is President and Chief Operating Officer of Sporty’s Academy, which offers recreational to career pilot training and produces a complete line of award-winning aviation educational products. In addition, he serves as Chief Instructor of Aviation at UC Clermont College and is Vice President of Sporty’s Pilot Shop.

Paul Preidecker

Presenter

Paul J. Preidecker has been a flight instructor for more than 30 years and has logged more than 7,800 hours of flying time. He retired from Air Wisconsin Airlines, where he was Chief Flight Instructor and captain, served as an Aircrew Program Designee and Line Check Airman, and was qualified as a simulator and ground school instructor; he holds an ATP certificate with type ratings in the CL-65 and Do-328. Paul has served on an FAA Aviation Rulemaking Committee, spoke at the NTSB Symposium on Professionalism, and moderated the regional airline program at the World Aviation Training Summit. He co-hosts FAA Safety Briefing Live, is a regular presenter and host on NAFI MentorLIVE, is a member of NAFI’s Professional Development Committee, and has served on the NAFI Board and as President of NAFI. He is president of FlightDeck Insights, where he develops and promotes best practices and SOPs for general aviation pilots.

Aaron Dabney

Host

Aaron Dabney earned his Flight Instructor certificate in 2009, and has been an active instructor ever since. He has provided more than 5,000 hours of instruction in more than 30 models of aircraft, mentoring pilots from their first hour through becoming accomplished instructors themselves, and all points in between.

Dabney grew up in an aviation family. His maternal grandfather Joe was a World War II fighter pilot, and much of his childhood was spent in the family J-3 Cub with his grandfather or his uncle Mark. Aaron completed his first solo in that Cub in 1999 and is now its caretaker

Aaron is a 6-time NAFI Master Flight Instructor, owns a small flight school, and has served as an adjunct lecturer for Baylor University's Aviation Sciences program since 2010. He serves on NAFI's Board of Directors and serves in several volunteer roles including coordinating MentorLIVE.

Aaron lives in Waco, Texas with his wife of 20 years Alisa.