My Flying Life

Jean Michel Maguin, Aspiring Airline Pilot

     "I came in the USA in spring 2011 for my hours building. Being a private pilot in France, I needed to fly 50 hours as a prerequisite to the CPL training. My time and my budget was limited.

     "I contacted Patti before my departure and her answer was beyond my expectation. She gave me full guidance to prepare my trip, tips to get familiar with the English ATC and the FAA regulation. I then knew I was in good hands!

     "Nevertheless, I was still quite anxious with the idea of flying in the USA. A lot of things was different from what I was used to in France. The charts, the procedures, the regulations, the ATC. But I have to say that most of my apprehensions disappeared after my first flight with Patti. I was very amazed by Patti’s capacity to adapt to me and my needs. She also possess this ability to balance fun and rigor. I took pleasure to learn with her and I enjoyed each flight.

     "It took me one week to obtain my BFR and be allowed to fly solo. After Patti’s instruction, I was confident to fly safely in California. I succeed in my objective to fly 50 hours. And I also have to thank Patti for that! She was always ready to help in the preparation of my navigations and gave me advice on the spots where I should go."



Hakan Kjellman, Project Manager

     “I had the fortune of having Patti as my flight instructor while upgrading my private pilot license with an instrument rating during 8 weeks in the summer of 2011. Being from Sweden originally, I had decided to come over to the US for the upgrade since I only had a limited amount of time available and wouldn’t have been able to complete the job in time at home.
 
     "On my way back to Sweden with my mission completed I can say that I am very glad that I chose Patti. And for many reasons. Besides having a thorough knowledge base, what is really unique about Patti is that she is a great pedagogue with a very good sense of what her students need and an ability to build up her students’ confidence as a pilot. And that she is so dedicated to her students’ success and always willing to go the extra mile when needed. And in my case that was crucial for me coming home with my instrument rating rather than without.
 
     "8 weeks isn’t a long time for an instrument rating (+ bridging the differences between Swedish and US flight rules and procedures etc) but when the schedule got tight towards the end, Patti always found extra time so that we could complete the necessary work before my check ride. Once I even had Patti come out on a Sunday evening for several hours of ground school – talk about dedication.
 
     "But despite the fact that there were some long days with a lot of hard work, it was always fun to work with Patti and we also had a lot laughs along the way as well. So thanks again Patti for all the hard work you put in to getting me my instrument rating and thanks for making my stay in the valley very enjoyable as well."

Herb Patten, Principal Business Manager

     "One could comment on Patti’s skill as an instructor noting that she has a rock solid understanding of every aspect of flying from the principals of aerodynamics to complex aircraft systems to the ability to deftly teach students flight maneuvers providing the right mix of challenge with a good dose of positive feedback. It is also clear that Patti has a strong background in education and teaching through her work as a professor at Norte dame de Namur. You can also check out Patti’s credentials by the number of students that she has soloed and successfully passed the private pilot check ride by checking the WVFC past newsletter where she is consistently listed as a proud CFI of yet another student that has gotten their wings… even as many as three times in a month. Those credentials alone would distinguish Patti as an outstanding instructor.  But there is much more.

     "Patti is a one of a kind instructor and that comes out with her ability to personalize your training as if it were her only goal in life and your success is all that matters. For me, there were a number of unique things that she did to tailor my training program. Patti knew I had a desire to fly with my dog, Sierra, a small Sheltie. She put together a special seminar on flying with your canine companion and organized a fly out for those interested in flying with their dogs. Patti is also very giving of her time. She made time in her schedule so I could demonstrate my flying skills to my boss, also a CFI, when he dropped into town right before her vacation.

     "To say Patti is special is not doing justice to all the things she does. Just beware that once you try Patti you will never want to fly with another instructor, believe me, she is that extraordinaire."

Joseph R. Van Valen, 2Lt US Air Force

      "Patti Andrews is an outstanding instructor who is also a mentor and inspiration to me. As my first (and only) flight instructor prior to joining to the military, she helped me realize my dream of becoming an Air Force pilot. With Patti’s instruction, I earned my private pilot license in 2006. This was instrumental in my selection to become an Air Force pilot and served as a foundation for the two years of intensive military and flight training that followed.

     "Patti’s instructional techniques are SOLID – her teaching background combined with over a decade of aviation experience make for a very thorough and effective flight instructor. She tailors her program to each student – I would self-study a lot of the material, and Patti’s ground evaluations and teaching sessions helped reinforce the material and prepare me for the checkride. Patti’s in-flight teaching techniques are some of the best I’ve seen in my entire aviation career, and I still use many of her techniques while flying large jet aircraft for the Air Force.

     "Having been Patti’s first student and knowing many of her students since then, I can see that she is very committed to her students and their training. She is the best flight instructor, mentor, and friend that you can have, and she will absolutely set you up for success!"

Robert Klein, Biologist

     "Patti is a great instructor! I had wanted to learn to fly for about fifteen years and had tried a couple of instructors before finding Patti. We clicked right away and I was off on my flying adventure. She combines fantastic knowledge with a real ability to teach. Some of the concepts are pretty complicated and having someone that can pass along this knowledge in a concise, efficient way really inspires confidence and makes the learning process so much easier.
     "Another thing I liked; she is very, very serious about safety. While I know that all instructors take safety very seriously, there are different ways to get certain safety concepts across and Patti does a great job with this.
     "I ended up getting completely hooked on flying and did my entire rating in ten weeks. This meant a lot of early morning flying and long days. Patti was very accommodating and willing to work hard to make sure I completed my rating in this short time.
     "But most importantly, she is just a fun person that makes the rating really enjoyable."

Albert Kim, Tecchie

     "I always had this idea of getting my private pilot license. For many reasons (time, money, etc) I wasn't able to realize that dream - until 2006, when I finally decided to give it a go. I asked around among my circles and quickly found a friend of a friend who was/is a highly decorated flight instructor. He was too busy at the time to take on new students but highly recommended Patti as an instructor. I met with her and decided to go flying with her on the spot. Aside from being extremely knowledgeable about anything flight related and especially about the Cessna 152/172s which she prefers to instruct in, I think that she has the perfect personality for a flight instructor. She is very friendly, kind, open-minded and calm - all necessary to create a relaxed atmosphere in the cockpit which at times can be quite stressful. At the same time she is firm enough (yet in a friendly manner) to make sure you don't forget certain important things (e.g. carburetor heat :) ); and sometimes a firm reminder is necessary as you go through flight training - it is good for you own safety. I have been exposed to quite a few flight instructors since I started flying, and, if I had to do it over again I would go back to Patti in an instant. I can't recommend Patti highly enough for anyone who wants to get his/her PPL."

Trish Bruegger, High School Teacher

     "Finding the right instructor made all the difference in the world. For me, it was important to find an instructor I was comfortable with and communicated with well. I found both in Patti Andrews. She is amazingly patient and kind, which put me at ease right away. She was always prepared for her lessons, reviewed my strengths and areas of improvement after the lesson... and I left each lesson feeling a sense of accomplishment.
Patti is also very safety oriented and pays attention to detail. She points out tips above and beyond that have proven to be very beneficial. She is also very conscientious of my time and money. I would highly recommend Patti to any of my friends and family."

Heejay Chung, Dentist

     "I am truly fortunate to have had Patti as my CFI. I was not only able to finish my rating thanks to her help but was able to experience a very unique training style that not many CFIs could offer.  She took me on a training boot camp!
     "Due to my work, moving, and personal hardship, I was having difficulty flying consistently and completing my private rating. I was also feeling anxious to get away from everything and isolate myself from the outside world to finish off my rating. One day in August 2006, Patti said, 'why don't we go away to Columbia (o22) for a camping trip and fly every day until you finish your rating?' I couldn't believe it. I get to go away and have her all for myself until I finish?
     "I am still planning on writing an essay with all the details on the trip that I eventually want to publish in a flying journal, but to make a long story short, it was once in a life time experience. The best thing was, I passed the checkride!  Only such unconventional and intuitive a CFI as Patti would suggest such a training method, which was well received by an equally unconventional student. Her training method is well-organized and efficient as she is also a faculty at a university. Patti is very safety-conscious and would not take any chances. I really appreciate her dedication and  her continued mentorship even after I finished my rating as one never stops learning.  I tell other people she IS my flight instructor not WAS my instructor. She really cares about her students."

Julia Singleton, College Student

      "Learning something new is always a delicate situation; if you learn it in a rushed, stressful atmosphere you'll never grow to love it, and if you learn it in a relaxed calm atmosphere you may not retain all the information that is needed for safety.  Patti did an amazing job of balancing out my learning experience so I did it at a nice fun pace and still got in all the information I needed.  Every day I learned something new and I always had 'fun trips' to look forward to after a stretch of hard work.  When I wanted to fly every day, Patti gladly came and when I needed more help on ground work, she made little classes for her students to participate in.  I don't think there is any way I could have gotten a better experience for getting my private license, and I will definitely be coming back to her again."

Jenna Glasa, College Student, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

     "Flying with Patti Andrews was one of the best decisions I could have made. She put me at ease behind the controls, never overloading me with more than I could handle. Her teaching style allowed for me to focus on what was at hand rather than unnecessary outside stimuli. She has great control and ease inside the cockpit, making it an incredibly enjoyable process. Her history as a professor has shown through in so much as if I ever had trouble with a topic, Patti would spend extra time on it to make sure I understood.

     "Not only was Patti an incredible CFI, but she became a life mentor to me and almost like a second mother. I looked for an instructor that wasn't all about the grades, but the experience, and I found the perfect one.

     "I got my private pilot license during my senior year of high school and I'm currently studying at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Many people said I would be in a bit of trouble due to how hard the curriculum and training would be, but I don't feel that at all. Patti prepared me for everything I would need. My instructor here has commented how surprised he is whenever I know the details, not just the fundamentals about flying. Patti ensures that you get not only the necessary information, but also the training, experience, and knowledge to be and present yourself as a professional and intelligent pilot."