May 2025
Congratulations to Angela Clark Achieving Her CFI Rating.
The Santa Rosa 99s sends congratulations to Angela Clark for receiving her CFI Rating.
Angela work tirelessly for the past year towards her CFI Rating. She perfected her lesson plans and used her ground schools students to test them out. She is a teacher at heart and this rating will only reinforce that passion.
Updating the chapter along the way, she researched and selected a flight school in Minnesota that has an accelerated course. She used Venture North Aviation at KCOQ in Cloquet, MN. The course include the DPE and check ride.
Here’s her story in her own words…
Hi everyone! Oh wow I’m so grateful to you! You would be so proud of all the work I put into this cert. I took it very seriously. In January, I lost my job, and didn’t bat an eye; I completely pivoted and went to work full time on this cert, every day, at least 8-5 if not more and on weekends. I charted out all 74 lesson plans. I created binders, read all the right books, listened to audible books on the way to and from driving to the airport to practice flying in the type of aircraft that would be used for the checkride (I’m a high wing pilot and the checkride was to be in a low wing). I created electronic binders and studied, studied, studied. I listened to specific technical subject areas that would be part of the oral. Thank you to 99 Mary Wich, for her support in this process. Mary graciouly let me borrow her Piper for 3 weeks at a low cost, so I could get familiar with a low wing aircraft. That’s 99s supporting each other!
I got on a waiting list, and booked a one way ticket for finishing school in Minnesota in May (waiting list) that included the all-important DPE on site. Getting there May 12, I showed up early every day, prepared, and stayed late, flying when I could. The DPE had a special interest in endorsements so I made that my second favorite topic (I’m such a fanatic on weather!). On my endorsement flight (which was the green light for my practical), I taught him just as if he were a new student the green light. The day of the practical, the oral started at 6:30, and I was dressed like a professional instructor. I had my computer ready, my iPad ready, and taught through the subjects. When it came time for endorsements, I told a story of a new person walking in the door, and all the endorsements they would need from day 1, through PPL, to Commercial, and then Instructor Certifications. He was blown away, saying he had never had anyone who had them memorized like that. He called me teacher. He gave me a lot of compliments and we then looked at weather, seeing it was blowing 18 gusting 36. Yes, you read that right, 36. But, it was right down the runway, so I was good with that.
My checkride flight was not perfect, but I used my flaws as teaching points for common errors, and he gave me grace. I will share with you, have you ever looked up in the sky to see a bird that looks like it is simply hovering in the air and not moving? Ha-ha, that was me on final in that little Piper. The headwind was so strong, and some updraft, that I had to really make adjustments to get that plane down to the runway, which I did, but inside I was surely noticing a difference between Minnesota and California winds. My soft field landing was not perfect. But, I taught safety throughout and ensured my new student was looking outside 80% of the time getting that site picture and noticing the control inputs and responses. It was a good day, Tuesday, May 20, 2025, after so many months of serious work. I got my cert, paid my bill, said thank you and then found flights home. And guess what? I got home very late Wednesday, and a student on Thursday asked for a lesson for Friday in his Cessna. And, after that lesson, he asked for another one for Monday, which charmed my heart as it told me he liked my teaching!
I’m in the process now of getting insurance and applying to the local flight schools in the area, but may work with the FBO in Corning as he tries to get a plane there, as the airport operator really wants me to be their CFI. So, more to come on that front. My next semester of ground school begins June 21, which is a natural creator of flight students.
Thank you for believing in me! I may send you a photo or two from my phone. This life is AMAZING and now I get to share it more thanks to YOU!!!!
Warmly and gratefully,
Angela
