MEMBER UPDATE: Vlad Prostakov

By Nick Poucher

Former Lakeland Aero Club member Vlad Prostakov who currently has a Commercial Single and Multi Engine Land, Commercial Single Sea, Glider and Instrument certificates, Gold Seal Flight and Ground instructor instrument certificates and more than 1000 dual given hours in different types of aircraft and numerous successful students who have had a chance to get their pilot certificate. As a member the Aero Club Vlad participated trip from Florida to Oshkosh when he was only a student pilot and then many other trips as an instructor of the Aeroclub’s members. He is now committed to ensuring new students have the same opportunities and quality training that he did. He helps the students to get real-life experience and create the environment to learn proper decision-making models.

Vlad created a training program to ensure new pilots have access to comprehensive training through his company Advanced Aviators, LLC in Lakeland, FL. His flight school provides not only the regular basic training for all of types of pilot certificates, but it has the unique training syllabus which allows the fresh pilots and flight instructors to gain a huge amount of real-world experience in a short period of time.

Many commercial pilots earn their certifications around 250-300 hours and do not have experience outside of basic training aircraft. Furthermore, most flight training programs simply check the minimum requirements and do not adequately prepare new pilots for real world scenarios. Vlad’s training program is designed for those pilots and instructors to get a wider range of training before entering the world of professional aviation. Upon completion of Vlad’s training program, new pilots will have the opportunity to gain experience in a wide range of aircraft including tailwheel, aerobatic, seaplanes, and gliders. The course is one to two weeks in duration and it allows pilots and flight instructors to get training in the critical stages of flight. The students will be more prepared for their first aviation jobs and employers will be happy to get high skill professionals who can provide high-quality service and ensure safe operations.

The statistic shows that most accidents happen with low time pilots and due to Loss of Control Inflight. Ensuring that pilots are not simply meeting minimum requirements but rather becoming prepared for flying outside of a training environment will ensure a higher level of safety for new pilots and flight instructors. This approach to the training will help to improve overall safety in the US aerospace system, help the pilots find jobs, and provide the employers with highly skilled aviators.