2019 Conference Speakers

1:00 PM SAT & SUN, FEB 23– 24 THE SPEED OF LIFE – PERSEVERANCE AND TRIUMPH OVER TRAGEDY

Brian Shul’s compelling story of living fearlessly and embracing the opportunities each day brings, resonates with audiences of all ages. Shul uses his aviation images and stories to tell an inspiring story of hope (despite awesome obstacles) and the bravery to dream. From lying near death in the jungles of Southeast Asia to flying the world’s fastest jet, Shul’s unforgettable presentation both inspires and educates.

Flying air support missions in Viet Nam in the AT-28D aircraft, Shul flew 212 missions before his aircraft was shot down. Severely injured in the crash he was given little chance of survival. He endured 15 reconstructive surgeries and after countless hours of physical therapy, Shul surprised his doctors and returned to flying jets.

Shul flew the A-7D, and was in the very first A-10 squadron, becoming an airshow demonstration pilot. Brian also taught at the Air Force’s TOPGUN School and culminated his Air Force career with selection to fly the world’s premier spy plane, the SR-71.

This was a remarkable accomplishment considering that it required an astronaut physical to qualify for the plane that routinely flew above 95% of the earth’s atmosphere. Only 93 Air Force pilots in history ever flew the SR-71, still the fastest plane ever built.

Brian retired from the Air Force in 1990, and pursued his writing interests. After 20 years as an Air Force fighter pilot, Brian Shul today is an accomplished author, speaker, and photographer. His book, Sled Driver, earned him the Aviation Book of the Year honors from the Smithsonian. He has written four other aviation books, for which he did all the flying, writing, and photography.

Shul is a recipient of the National Spirit of Freedom Award, the prestigious Silver Eagle Award, and recently was inducted into the Air Force Legends Hall of Fame. He finished his flying career with 5000 hours, having flown the T-28A/B/C, AT-28D, A-7D, A-10, F-5B, F-100, F-15, and SR-71.

Mr. Shul will be speaking Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 PM in the Keynote area. He will also be available all weekend at booth #703 with copies of his books for purchase and signing.

MIKE ADAMS, Senior Vice President of Underwriting, is an instrument-rated pilot, a Northwest native and the former President of the Oregon Pilots Association. Mike holds a property/casualty insurance license in all 50 states. His more than 35 years of combined experience of general aviation and the aviation insurance industry helps pilots to understand why many of Avemco’s coverages and underwriting decisions are designed to help keep you safe.

AMY HOOVER has been flying commercially and teaching backcountry flying for more than 25 years. She has over 7,000 hours of flight time, more than 2/3 of it in the Idaho backcountry, and is an original co-founder of the Mountain/Canyon Flying School in McCall, Idaho. Hoover is the primary author of the new book Mountain, Canyon, and Backcountry Flying, and has given more than 100 presentations in various forums throughout the U.S. She holds a Ph.D. in Education and is a Professor of Aviation at Central Washington University.

STEVE MCCAUGHEY has been the Executive Director of the Seaplane Pilots Association since 2011. His aviation experiences have taken him from Alaska to Australia – and everywhere in between.

He served with the US Air Force Special Operations Command working the AC-130 Gunship, and has spent the majority of his flying time in tailwheel, seaplanes, aerobatic aircraft, and warbirds. Steve was instrumental in creating a Seaplane Rating Scholarship program, working with organizations to save seaplane access and has created an app for SPA members listing seaplane landing areas, flight schools, and destinations.

Steve speaks Saturday and Sunday on seaplane topics as well as serves as a mentor speaker and moderator at the NW Aviation Career Forum, Friday, February 22.

WAYNE MCGHEE is the Northwest Regional Sales Manager for Garmin Int’l. An instrument rated private pilot, he has 28 years of experience working for avionics manufacturers like

IIMorrow Inc, UPS Aviation Technologies, and Garmin. Wayne was also involved in the first widespread test of ADSB technology in Alaska known as the Capstone project. While working with Garmin, Wayne has conduct ADSB themed seminars educating fellow pilots on how the system works.

PHILIP MANDEL had no idea flying could be affordable for someone with an average income, or possible for someone with an IQ under 200 – until he met a pilot, just a “regular guy” with an average job, who flew for fun and owned a beautiful Mooney. The very next day, Phil drove to his local flight school and signed up for lessons. The bug bit so deeply that sometimes he went for two or even three flight lessons per day! That was back in 1981. He earned his Private Pilot certificate, followed by an Instrument rating, Commercial Pilot certificate, CFI, CFI-I,

and MEI certificates. Through the years he has owned nine different airplanes. Now a “recovering engineer,” Phil is an independent flight instructor based in the Portland, Oregon area.

JASON MILLER is a Certified Flight Instrument Instructor with more than 18 years of aviation experience and thousands of hours of instruction given. Jason is a member of the FAA safety team, an instructor for AOPA’s Air Safety Institute and was nominated by the FAA for the 2009 Flight Instructor of the Year Award. Using his background as a performer and experience on the flight line, Jason created The Finer Points – Aviation Podcast, one of the most recognized and well respected aviation podcasts in the world. The critically acclaimed podcast has delivered

PAUL F. DYE more than 3m flight training files to pilots all over the world.

JOHNNY SUMMERS’ aviation career began as a US Army helicopter pilot. He transferred to the US Air Force and flew KC-135s. He piloted the Air Force Blue parachute team. In 1997 Summers was recognized as the FAA National Aviation Safety Counselor of the Year. He is a FAA Designated Pilot Examiner with the Seattle FSDO, aviation consultant and holds a PhD in Professional Aeronautics. Currently he is a captain with Alaska Airlines. Summers is a valued supporter of the Northwest Aviation Conference ad Trade Show, not only as a popular and knowledgable keynote speaker at the Conference and Career Forum; but also as an integral part of the annual planning. It is dedicated aviators like Johnny that contribute to the success of this event.

GARY REEVES is a well known national speaker and expert in Single Pilot IFR and GPS use. He teaches individuals and trains whole airline staffs how to use the new Avidyne and Garmin Units. He has over 6,900 hours, a Master CFI, is the only Avidyne National Training provider and was the 2016 FAA Instructor of the Year, WP region. Learn more at PilotSafety.org. Gary resides in CA.

BRUCE WILLIAMS is the owner of BruceAir, LLC, an aviation consulting, training, and pilot-services company based in Seattle, WA. A pilot since the early 1970s, he is a certified flight instructor and FAASTeam representative in the Seattle area. Today, he focuses on training for technically advanced aircraft (TAA), the Beechcraft Bonanza series, and stall/spin/upset courses in an Extra 300L aerobatic aircraft. He also instructs at Galvin Flying Services at Boeing Field. During his career at Microsoft, he worked on six versions of Microsoft Flight Simulator. In the 1980s, he edited the Western Flyer (now the General Aviation News). He has authored two books on using PC-based simulation to complement flight training, plus many features on a variety of topics for aviation-focused periodicals.

R. K. “DICK” WILLIAMS has been a licensed pilot since 1972. He holds all fixed wing and instructor certificates, several turboprop and jet type ratings, and has flown over 18,300 hours as an instructor, charter, government, and corporate pilot. He was a FAA Designated Pilot Examiner for 10 years. Williams started one of the first mountain flying schools in Idaho in 1985 and has over 8,000 hours flying and instructing in mountain and canyon terrain. He is also the author of Notes From The Cockpit.

HOWARD WOLVINGTON, is a CFI and Designated Pilot Examiner in the Seattle area. He administers FAA Practical Tests for the Sport Pilot thru CFI Certificates in Single Engine Land and Sea aircraft and Multiengine Land aircraft. Holding the ATP certificate with more than 15,000 flight hours and 12,000 hours of flight instruction, his clients as a CFI range from student pilots taking their first flights to captains that fly for major airlines. Multiple long cross trips in his personal Cessna P210 and a previous Piper Comanche 250 aircraft have served as teaching references for his instruction. He has been a FAASTeam Representative for more than 15 years, giving presentations at local and national forums. Howard was the 2014 Instructor of the Year.

FLYING COMPANION SEMINAR

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM | SAT, FEB 23 $49.50/person | register in advance Hosted off-site at Spencer Aircraft at Pierce County Airport

The FLYING COMPANION seminar helps non pilots understand what is happening when flying in a GA aircraft. Learn how the airplane flies, how to read an aviation chart, radio operation, basic navigation, emergency procedures, safety,and more. This will make flying enjoyable and fun for passengers.

Fees fund Greater Seattle 99s aviation scholarship. To register, email andrea40@juno.com, (253) 638-1679 or complete form online at seattle99s.org.