Flight Student Testimonials

I traveled from Iowa for IA’s mountain flying course

October 10, 2020

I meant to do this sooner but even a few months after the fact I still reflect on the mountain flying course I took through IA as one of the most valuable experiences in my ten years of flying. Stephen Slade was an amazing professional to work with. The forecast VFR weather turned out to be IFR over the central Rockies that day but we completed a challenging day of mountain flying that involved actual instrument approaches into Telluride and Leadville (circle to land in actual conditions at Leadville!). I travelled all the way from Iowa to take this course and it was worth it and then some. Can’t say enough about Mr. Slade. A real class act and a consummate professional. The experience increased my confidence by leaps and bounds. I’m pretty much counting the days until I can do it again.

 

Sincerely,

Jason Dierking

Discovery flight with Angel Andres Rosado

August 30, 2020

After a short consultation at Independent Aviation and a quick tour of the facility, I was hooked to take the next step. My girlfriend and I decided to take a discovery flight to experience what a full training session would look like.

 

After being greeted at the door, our instructor Angel took us upstairs to take a spin on the simulator. This was a great tool to get familiar with the flight controls and systems. Angel was very patient as we veered on and off the taxiway. Once we got a hold of the controls we were in the air, virtually.

 

After feeling more confident we made our way to the tarmac where a beautiful SR22 was awaiting us. As a person who’s always dreamt of getting up close to an aircraft, this was a great experience to watch and help the instructor as he went around the plane to explain all the surfaces and pre-flight checks. Angel spent more than enough time with us and answered all of our questions, he was just as enthusiastic as we were! I stepped into the pilot seat, buckled in and got familiar with the systems. The glass panels of the Garmin avionics are fantastic. Engine started, we made our way to the runway, before we knew it, we were flying! After an hour of sight seeing and maneuvering, a lot of which Angel let me do, we headed back for a smooth landing. Back on the ground, Angel once again spent more than enough time sitting with us during the debrief.

 

This was such a great experience that I’m enrolling myself into IA’s Flight Training program. Thanks to Angel and Annmarie for helping us complete our dream!”

 

Sincerely,

Brady Kelce, Denver

Mountain flying with instructor Stephen Slade

August 24, 2020

If you’re searching for mountain flying training, look no further!  I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Independence Aviation and Stephen Slade, CFI. Stephen created a learning plan focused on safe mountain flying and took my aviation skills to a new level. You’re guaranteed to have an experience like no other, in addition to meeting an all-around great pilot, instructor and one of our country’s best! Aim high!

 

Sincerely,

 

Marilyn Bush, St. Louis

Mountain flying instruction in my plane

August 11, 2020

I requested mountain flying training in my Cirrus SR22T and worked with Stephen Slade at Independence Aviation. Stephen provided ground school with all the critical terrain and weather basics. He then planned sessions (taking advantage of my planes capabilities) to various airports with progressive challenges. This was a fun and valuable experience for me and I now feel confident planning and flying to my favorite destinations in the mountains. Flights to Steamboat and Telluride were noteworthy.  Stephen was knowledgeable, friendly and has all the attributes of a good instructor.  He followed up with answers to a couple of outstanding questions in a professional manner. Stephen is my go-to instructor for any recurrent or additional mountain flying training.

 

Sincerely,

 Mike K, Indiana

Ground and flight training for insurance

June 24, 2020

Jeff and I would like to commend Bob Stedman, [Former] Pres. Independence Aviation (KAPA), for our required insurance ground and flight training.  But let me add a little background.

 

 

Jeff began flying in 1985. He has 24 year of airline flying and is a B777 FO and CFI-ASMEL-INST. I began flying in 1965. I retired with 37 years with my company as a MD11 Captain. I am a Part 135 Beechjet Capt and CFI-ASMEL-INST.  We are well versed in recurrent training.

 

 

Bob conducted ground school, simulator training and flight training (in our C340).  We found all aspects of the syllabus he wrote and directed appropriate, educational and safety oriented. He did a great job.

 

If you get a chance to have Bob involved in your flight training rest assured you are with a professional. 

 

 

Best regards,

Jeff Clark and Mike Healy

Complete proficiency approach program

January 4, 2019

The CPA program has changed the way I stay proficient. It instills confidence, knowing that my proficiency program is modeled after the ones used by the airlines and top corporate flight departments. In the CPA program, I know that I am working on the right skills and knowledge at the right intervals, using state-of-the art learning methods, with some of the best instructors I have ever flown with.  It is exactly the program I had been waiting for. 

 

 

Sincerely,

Martin K. Denver, CO

Cirrus pilots proficiency program pilot

March 13, 2018

I’d like to express my profound thanks to you for investing your time and heart in training us simians flying around up there in Cirrus’s, and for training me specifically. I learned more in 6 hours than I have in a decade. I was inspired by your wisdom and perspective. And then, you were kind enough to follow up with these emails with helpful manuals or checklists.

 

Sincerely,

Tom D. Raleigh, NC