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Most AOPA Project Pilot nominees take up flying for pleasure.
So did Tim Stansfield, but as owner of IET, Inc., an industrial
engineering company in Toledo, Ohio, his pleasure includes
being home at nights after far-flying business trips. His
is a classic case of the value of general aviation in business.
Stansfield credits his Project Pilot mentor Bill Swonger,
also of Toledo and a 17-year AOPA member, not only with guiding
him over the rough spots of flight training but also in avoiding
missteps in successful business use of an airplane.
The 38-year-old Stansfield had already started flight lessons
at Toledo Express Airport when Swonger took up his role as
mentor. "Bill helped me realize that earning a private pilot
certificate really was something I could do," said Stansfield.
"And his years of flight experience were invaluable to me,
even in explaining simple things like the difference between
VFR and IFR."
Stansfield pursued a six-month, straight line course for his
private pilot certificate with instructor Scott Koehler of
Toledo Aero. He eschewed a formal ground school in favor of
self-study with books suggested by his mentor.
Although neither man realized it at the time, Stansfield's
passing his December 1995 checkride made him the 1,000th AOPA
Project Pilot success story. "Tim's just one of those phenomenal
success stories anyway," said Swonger, "and being a milestone
in Project Pilot is just icing on the cake."
Swonger continued to help his nominee, encouraging him to
continue with an instrument rating (earned one year later),
then offering advice on buying an airplane for business travel
by Stansfield and his business partner Ronda Massey. "He gave
us wonderful guidance," Stansfield said of Swonger. "He advised
us on features we ought to have for regular business travel,
like GPS and a wing-leveler autopilot, that nobody else had
mentioned."
The partners settled on a well-equipped Piper Cherokee Six
300, used once a week or more for business trips to North
Carolina, Indiana, Missouri, and other locations. One regular
trip is the easy two-hour trek from home base at Toledo Metcalf
airport to Evansville, Indiana - an all-day trip by airlines
and too far to drive conveniently.
AOPA Project Pilot, launched in April 1994, helps AOPA members
like Swonger to identify and mentor prospective pilots and
provides a wealth of support for those potential new pilots.
To do your part, call 800/USA-AOPA (800/872-2672) and contribute
to the rebirth of general aviation.
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