Karen Kalishek
DPE
Karen Kalishek is a Designated Pilot Examiner, NAFI Master Instructor, CFI, CFII, MEI, CFI-G, AGI, IGI, FAA Gold Seal Instructor and FAASTeam Lead Representative. She holds an ATP certificate and has ASES and Glider Commercial privileges. In 2019, Karen was honored to receive the National FAASTeam Representative of the Year award. She chairs NAFI’s Board of Directors, has held officer positions in and is actively involved with several aviation organizations. She is also a Major in the Civil Air Patrol, serving as a CAP flight instructor, check pilot, examiner, mission pilot, cadet orientation pilot and Safety Officer.
Karen is an independent flight instructor, has a particular fondness for antique aircraft and enjoys spending quality time with her RV-6. Before becoming a full-time flight instructor, she was an executive in the banking industry, taught graduate school, and as president of her own corporation, spent over 20 years providing international consulting services in 37 countries.
She is a member of the General Aviation Joint Safety Committee, FAA Surface Safety Group, Runway Safety Council, WINGS Industry Network Committee, and represents NAFI on several collaborative industry groups.
Doug Stewart
DPE
Doug Stewart, the 2004 National Instructor of the Year, is a full-time flight instructor focusing on real world IFR training conducted on multi-day training trips. To date he has provided more than 13,500 hours of flight instruction. He has been a Master Instructor for 24 years and Designated Pilot Examiner for more than 20 years The Executive Director Emeritus of SAFE, Doug has served on the General Aviation Joint Safety Committee (GAJSC) for more than 10 years. He is also a subject matter expert for Pilot Workshops and Community Aviation. He has presented seminars to thousands of pilots from coast to coast and border to border and authored the monthly Vintage Instructor column for EAA’s Vintage Airplane magazine for many years. When not flying he is often found riding his bicycle.
Mary Schu
DPE
A 45 year veteran of general aviation, Mary has over 22,000 hours of flight time including over 14,000 hours of training provided to students at all levels in aviation. She has been a corporate piston, turbo prop and jet pilot for companies around the U.S., flying as a crew member and as a single pilot for the past 40 years. She was one of the first women to earn a jet type-rating in the late 1970s. She has been an FAA DPE for 20 years in two FSDOs giving all fixed-wing practical tests from Sport Pilot through ATP and all CFI ratings including initial CFI. She is qualified to give exams in 13 light twin airplanes including DA42 and twin Tecnam. She travels nationwide giving practical tests at FAA flight schools and offering assistance whenever possible.
For the past several years she has become an active pilot and great supporter of the Warbird community and has volunteered with several groups flying the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, and B-25 Mitchell, touring the U.S. and crewing airshows. The time spent with the Veterans she meets is some of the most amazing she has experienced in aviation. A new goal is to become a DPE for Warbird bombers.
Paul Preidecker
Moderator
Paul J. Preidecker has been a flight instructor for almost 30 years. He recently retired from Air Wisconsin Airlines, where he held the positions of Chief Flight Instructor and captain. In those roles, he served as an Aircrew Program Designee, Line Check Airman, and was qualified as a simulator and ground school instructor.
Paul has served as a member of an FAA Aviation Rulemaking Committee, was an invited speaker at the NTSB Symposium on Professionalism, and moderated the regional airline program at the World Aviation Training Summit for several years. He was co-host of FAA Safety Briefing Live and has made several presentation for NAFI MentorLIVE. In addition to serving on the NAFI Board, Paul is a member of NAFI’s Professional Development Committee.
Paul is president of his own company, FlightDeck Insights, where he develops and promotes best practices and SOPs for the general aviation pilot.
