Welcome 2023 SPEAKERS

We are very grateful to many speakers who volunteered to join us this year in supporting the annual Northwest Aviation Conference. Thank you – your educational spirit, aviation enthusiasm, and dedication to the safety and prosperity of the industry is engaging, appreciated, and integral to the success of this event!

As you view the following schedules, you will see we have focused on honoring the traditions of the event and creating changes that enhance tits impact. For example, it falls upon non-profit organizations like Washington Aviation Association to take the lead in providing opportunities to introduce the next generation of aircraft owners and pilots to aviation – know someone in high school, or changing careers, and who could benefit from straight talk on how to get from A to B? John Swedburg, Professor Emeritus at Big Bend Community College and long time supporter of NWAC, is pooling conference resources to present a dialogue-based career workshop Saturday and Sunday, augmented by a series of focused sessions Saturday afternoon. View details on page 21.

Steve Bateman

Steve is Director of the Flying Clubs Initiative, which helps start, grow, and sustain flying clubs nationwide. He started flying as a teenager in England and has flown in the UK, USA, Australia, and Canada. Prior to AOPA, Steve owned and operated a flight school and before that had a fun career in high tech, in Silicon Valley, California, and before that was a university professor in England. Steve is currently Treasurer and Safety and Maintenance Officer of The Westminster Aerobats Flying Club (KFDK).An active AOPA staff CFI and check pilot, Steve is also a Lead Representative for the FAASTeam, Baltimore FSDO.

Tom Rogers

Tom Rogers is a CFI CFII and CFIME. He teaches at Bremerton airport with company called Olde Thyme Aviation. Specialize in Tailwheel instruction, CFI candidate spin training, Upset Prevention and Recovery training and a basic aerobatic course. He is also a skilled Stearman Waco Bi-plane. and AT-6 pilot. He is a retired Alaska Airlines Captain and Retired AF F-15 Four-ship flight lead and instructor.

John Davis is Division 3 (Southwest Idaho) director for the Idaho Aviation Association and an obsessed aviation geek. John began flying in 1989, got his private pilots license in 1990 and in a couple thousand hours of flight time has progressed through his instrument, multi-engine and seaplane ratings as well as attending the Arthur Murray school of rudder dancing, obtaining a tailwheel endorsement. John has been flying the Idaho backcountry for over 16 years but really got started in backcountry ops almost 50 years ago tagging along with dad on mine supply and exploration trips into the mountains of central Idaho as a kid.

John’s wife Michelle is always looking for a good “airplane problem” counselor… they have a revolving hangar having previously owned a C-172, C-206, straight tail C-182, C-182 Turbo RG, Piper PA-39 Twin Comanche and a Diamond DA-40. At present their hangar houses a P-Ponk’d C-180C, a Piper PA-18-160 and soon will be home to a Cessna Turbo 337D. When not at home in Boise you will find John at the hangar at KMAN, exploring the Middle Fork country or at their cabin just off Twin Bridges Airstrip (U61) at 6,900 feet in the Pioneer Mountains of Central Idaho.

Dan Dusterberg

Dan Dusterberg is the Safety Manager for Aperture Aviation which completes single engine piston operations throughout the busiest airspaces in North America. Dan was instrumental in Aperture Aviation’s transition from IS-BAO Stage II to IS-BAO Stage III Safety accreditation. Dan actively works in the aviation community highlighting the complexities of resolving risk while sustaining the needs of all stakeholders. He prides himself on his ability to transition complex safety concepts into practical training for pilots with all ranges of experience. His previous experience includes Part 141 Check Airmen and Assistant Flight School Manager with Sporty’s Flight Academy and overseeing the In-Flight Department of Commuteair.

Curtis Edwards

Dr. Edwards is a FAA Aerospace Medicine NW Mountain Regional Flight Surgeon. He has been an active FAA Safety Team partner for many years and has conducted numerous outreach discussions in helping Airman understand the medical certification process.

Kurt Kleiner

Kurt Kleiner lives in the Bitterroot Valley near Missoula, Montana and has been a pilot since 1988. He became a CFI in 2005 and has given over 3,600 hours of dual instruction primarily in Wyoming, Oregon/Washington, and Montana. He recently retired from a 30-year career as an Aviation Manager with the Bureau of Land Management, and served as the National Airspace Program Manager for the USFS and BLM from 2017-2019. In the summer, he flies fire reconnaissance and detection missions for a Part 135 operator on a US Forest Service contract, and then commits several weeks to designing, modifying, and managing Fire TFRs as an Interagency Fire Airspace Coordinator in September-October each year. In addition to instructing in single engine airplanes, he also enjoys tailwheel and seaplane flying, soaring sailplanes, aerial photography, and skydiving.

Mike Klotch

Mike is the CEO and Chief Instructor Pilot for Specialized Aero Works, where he teaches UPRT, aerobatics, formations flying, and more. He is a Master CFI - Aerobatic (MCFI-A), a former Marine Corps F/A-18 pilot, combat veteran, and school trained Aviation Safety Officer (Naval Postgraduate School). Mike is also a contract test pilot and instructor for Epic Aircraft, a two-time NAFI Master CFI/CFII/MEI and an FAA Safety Team (FAAST) Representative. Mike has a Bachelors of Science degree from Oregon State University and 2 AAS Aviation degrees from Central Oregon Community College. He is also Commercial and Instrument rated in helicopters with Night Vision Goggles qualifications.

Jeffrey Lustick

Jeffrey Lustick, owner of Tomahawk Aero Services will speak on aircraft sales both days of the event. Lustick is a graduate of Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA, and has practiced aviation law for 20 years. Jeff’s seminar is designed to provide helpful information and pro-tips to first-time airplane buyers seeking to find their dream airplanes. He will cover what to look for when shopping for an airplane, from what airplane models are the most desirable to purchase and own, to how to evaluate engines, airframes, and avionics. He will also cover the best process for reaching a fair purchase price, and how to negotiate with brokers and private sellers. Finally, he will discuss the legal paperwork and cover the FAA forms needed to safely buy your new airplane. Visit him in his booth, #231 throughout the weekend.

Wayne Mcghee

Wayne is the Northwest Regional Sales Manager for Garmin International. An instrument rated private pilot, he has over three decades of experience working for avionics manufacturers like IIMorrow Inc, UPS Aviation Technologies, and Garmin. Wayne was also involved in the first wide-

SHAWN PRATT

Shawn Pratt grew up in Sitka, Alaska with his family routinely flying to explore SE Alaska in a rented seaplane, and it was there that he got his first taste of the freedom and excitement of general aviation! While stationed in Virginia with the US Navy, he decided to pursue flight training initially as a hobby, then as a profession. To date, Shawn has flown in and around the Appalachian, Rocky, Cascade, Olympic, and Sierra Mountain Ranges, and the rugged terrain of SE Alaska.

He has additionally flown a number of small GA aircraft across the country through challenging terrain and weather conditions. As you will see, Shawn has a passion and excitement for mountain flight and passing on his knowledge and experience to his fellow aviators. Shawn holds ATP, CFI Gold Seal, and AGI certificates, manages two flight schools and FBOs, while additionally working as a charter and corporate pilot. Shawn will present his “Pacific Northwest Mountain Flying Clinic” both days at the event. Visit him at SIM Flight Training in booths #117-118.