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Doug Vetter, CFIMEIA
Professional Flight Instruction

(Image: Me in front of a 1999 Seneca V)

Personalized instruction for New Jersey-based aircraft owners
without the scheduling pressure of a traditional FBO.

About This Service

Services

Flight Review Course - Proficient pilots can complete my Flight Review Course in the required minimum time (1.0 hour ground, 1.0 hour flight), but most pilots require a bit more time. Plan for an average 2.0 ground / 2.0 flight. If you fly with me a minimum of 10 hours a year at normal instructional rates or complete a contract program of instruction for a new certificate or rating within the preceding 2 years, I will waive my fees for the first hour of flight and ground instruction during the review.

Instrument Proficiency Course - If you've let your instrument currency lapse beyond a year, you need an Instrument Proficiency Check to fly as PIC under IFR. My Instrument Proficiency Course typically involves 2.0 hours of instrument procedures review on the ground, followed by 2.0 hours in flight. We'll perform a minimum of three approaches, with emphasis on abnormal and emergency procedures and I'll provide you with the endorsement required to get you back in the clouds.

Aircraft Transitions Course - If you're planning to step up to a more complex aircraft, your insurance company may mandate ground and flight instruction, as well as an instructor in the right seat for a certain number of hours. My Aircraft Transitions Course is tailored to the specific requirements of the pilot and aircraft. Programs over 10 hours qualify for block time discounts off my regular instructional fees.

Instrument Currency - Even when you're flying regularly in bad weather, conditions rarely require an approach to minimums. That's why safe instrument pilots recognize the need for regular recurrent training. I can serve as the required safety-pilot while you shoot approaches to maintain proficiency. At the end of the flight, you'll receive a constructive evaluation of your flying and a logbook signature indicating my capacity as "Safety Pilot". In effect, you'll get instruction at reduced cost.

Garmin IFR Systems Training - Don't have the time or money to take a full weekend course to learn how your Garmin equipment functions? With my skills as a proficient instrument pilot, an embedded systems software engineer, and a long-time owner / operator of panel mount Garmin avionics, I can quickly convey the knowledge you'll need to operate your equipment safely during those first critical hours when uncertainty and doubt can get you into trouble.

Contract Program Instruction - Thinking of going for your Commercial license or an additional rating? I can provide you with block-time discounts on my instructional services.

I provide professional flight and specialized systems instruction to private aircraft owners based at selected airports in central New Jersey who possess at least a Private Pilot Certificate.

My aircraft type experience includes the Mooney 201/MSE, Beechcraft A36 Bonanza, Mudry Aviation CAP10B aerobatic taildragger, GROB G-109B tailwheel motorglider, Commander 114, Piper Cherokee Six/300, Arrow II/IV, Seminole, and many aircraft in the single-engine Cessna line.

Email me to set up your next flight or ground instruction session.

Rate:

Note: These rates may be discounted under contract.

Flight Instruction: $40/hr

Safety Pilot: $25/hr

Ground Instruction: $25/hr

Billing Notes:

Preferred Local Airports

The following airports are within what I have defined as "local" driving distance.

Other Airports

The following airports are within a reasonable driving range from my home or business. Add $10/hour to each hour of instruction that originates at the following airports to cover additional travel time.

*As I am based at Old Bridge and live less than 15 minutes from the airport, I recommend my clients bring their aircraft to Old Bridge for the start of the instructional session whenever possible. When my professional schedule limits the time I may allocate to aviation, I may limit instructional sessions to Old Bridge.

** Trenton is a preferred airport for multi-engine instruction and when weather is forecast to be IFR with ceilings below 600.

Legal Information

Note that I do not perform instruction in aircraft owned by flight schools and I am not affiliated with any flight school. The instructional services I provide are for owners of privately held aircraft (or those corporately-held aircraft where the owner is an officer of the corporation) ONLY.

If I have not flown with you and/or the airplane before, you must provide all documentation necessary to prove that we can legally conduct an instructional session in the airplane. This essentially amounts to everything you would submit to an examiner for a practical test, plus proof of insurance and (if you do not own the aircraft) written authorization from the owner to conduct instructional sessions in the aircraft.

If I deem the aircraft unairworthy prior to the first takeoff of the session and/or you cancel the flight for any reason after I have started travel for the airport, minimum billing as indicated applies. If the instructional session was scheduled at Old Bridge, I MAY waive such billing if I determine the circumstances are reasonable.

If I determine that the aircraft becomes unairworthy during the flight and we must leave the aircraft somewhere other than the airport from which we started the instructional session, I may charge $20 per hour of travel time to reach that airport, not to exceed $200 per diem, plus all other expenses (such as food and lodging) I determine necessary.

I prefer to have a waiver of subrogation from your insurance company to indemnify me from any legal action on their part in the event of an incident or accident. If we establish a regular program of instruction, defined as three (3) or more hours per calendar month OR the start of any instruction toward a certificate or rating, I will require that I be listed as a named pilot on the aircraft's insurance policy. Most insurance companies will not charge for this, but this does depend on the specific type of aircraft. Any additional cost for this will be borne by the aircraft owner.

Other legal requirements will be provided upon request.

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