Speak with Precision. Fly with Confidence

As well as being an English teacher, David Reid is also a qualified pilot and flight instructor, with an extensive background in aviation education, standardization, and documentation.   

David’s qualifications:  

• FAA Airline Transport Pilot, Airplane Single and Multiengine Land, CE-560 type rating  
• FAA Flight Instructor, Airplane Single and Multiengine 
• FAA Ground Instructor, Advanced and Instrument 
• FAA Designated Pilot Examiner authority, 1997-2004 
• German UL Sport Pilot License, 2013-present 

David has more than 6,000 hours of flight time, including having conducted more than 1300 pilot examinations under regulations 14 CFR Part 91 and Part 135.  

David started flying in 1989, earning his Private and Commercial Pilot certificates (which is what licenses are called in the US), as well as his instrument and multiengine ratings. In 1992, David became a full-time professional flight instructor. Within 15 months he was hired as a full-time pilot at the largest charter airline in San Diego, Pacific Air Charter. In late 1994 David was promoted to Check Airman (which is a company flight examiner), then Chief Pilot (the supervisor of the pilot staff) and Director of Training. The job included overseeing around 60 pilots and trainees in seven different airplane types, responsible for the documentation for all pilot training, tests, and performing pilot line checks.   

In 1997, the FAA designated David as a pilot examiner for the general public, authorizing him to conduct exams for the issuance of Private, Commercial, ATP, and Flight Instructor certificates as well as multiengine ratings. In 1999, David founded his own company, called Alpen Jet Management, managing and piloting a CE-560 business jet for the wealthy individuals who shared ownership in it.  

During his time in the field of aviation David worked primarily in education and standardization. David spent much more time working in the classroom than the cockpit, so it was not such a big change as you might think for him to become a full-time English teacher! David is serious about risk management strategies, checklist procedures, training standardization, and thorough documentation — from the factory floor to the flight levels. If you’re looking for an English teacher with a background in aviation, you have found one!