Flight instructors selected for K-State at Salina's aviation department

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Sources: Bill Gross, 785-826-2970, bgross@k-state.edu;
and Marlon Johnston, 785-826-2972, johnston@salina.k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Katie Mayes, 785-826-2642, kmayes@salina.k-state.edu

Monday, February 19, 2007

FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS SELECTED FOR K-STATE AT SALINA'S AVIATION DEPARTMENT

SALINA -- Kansas State University at Salina has selected 10 students to serve as flight instructors for the spring semester. The new instructors, along with current staff and faculty, are responsible for training incoming flight students in both ground and flight instruction.

K-State employees around 40 student instructors at any given time.

Marlon Johnston, head of the aviation department at K-State at Salina, says that faculty know they can rely on student instructors because they've been trained here.

"We have observed them through their early years of flight training and have a good picture of their professionalism, as well as their knowledge and skills," he said. "Certified flight instructors also often fulfill the role of mentor to new students. Through that relationship, the instructors directly contribute to solidifying these individuals' relationships with K-State and its professional pilot program."

The new flight instructors were selected from a pool of student applicants. To be considered for the job, applicants must be Federal Aviation Administration certified flight instructors and must have previously earned their certified flight instructor certificate. Applicants also were required to attend standardization training, during which personal interviews were conducted. All flight instructors are majoring in professional pilot.

New instructors, all professional pilot majors, include:

Niki Mondek, senior, Abilene; Michael Middleton, junior, Goodland; Ryan Luft, senior, Paola; Yuki Narita, junior, Salina; Brandon Hempler, senior, Wamego; Lindsey Boeckman, senior, Wetmore.

From Wichita: Robin Mikols, Brian Weber and Bryan Whitehill, all seniors.

From out-of-state: Janelle Baron, senior, Monument, Colo.