Project Pilot Success Story #1,000: The Business Pilot
Most AOPA Project Pilot nominees take up flying for pleasure.
So did Tim Stansfield, but as owner of IET, Inc., an industrial engineering company in Toledo, Ohio, his pleasure includes being home at nights after far-flung business trips. His is a classic case of the value of general aviation in business.
Stansfield credits his Project Pilot mentor Bill Swonger, also of Toledo and a 17-year AOPA member, not only with guiding him over the rough spots of flight training but also in avoiding missteps in successful business use of an airplane.
The 38-year-old Stansfield had already started flight lessons at Toledo Express Airport when Swonger took up his role as mentor. "Bill helped me realize that earning a private pilot certificate really was something I could do," said Stansfield. "And his years of flight experience were invaluable to me, even in explaining simple things like the difference between VFR and IFR."
Stansfield pursued a six-month, straight line course for his private pilot certificate with instructor Scott Koehler of Toledo Aero. He eschewed a formal ground school in favor of self-study with books suggested by his mentor.
Although neither man realized it at the time, Stansfield's passing his December 1995 checkride made him the 1,000th AOPA Project Pilot success story. "Tim's just one of those phenomenal success stories anyway," said Swonger, "and being a milestone in Project Pilot is just icing on the cake."
Swonger continued to help his nominee, encouraging him to continue with an instrument rating (earned one year later), then offering advice on buying an airplane for business travel by Stansfield and his business partner Ronda Massey. "He gave us wonderful guidance," Stansfield said of Swonger. "He advised us on features we ought to have for regular business travel, like GPS and a wing-leveler autopilot, that nobody else had mentioned."
The partners settled on a well-equipped Piper Cherokee Six 300, used once a week or more for business trips to North Carolina, Indiana, Missouri, and other locations. One regular trip is the easy two-hour trek from home base at Toledo Metcalf airport to Evansville, Indiana — an all-day trip by airlines and too far to drive conveniently.
AOPA Project Pilot, launched in April 1994, helps AOPA members like Swonger to identify and mentor prospective pilots and provides a wealth of support for those potential new pilots. To do your part, fill out the coupon below or call 800/USA-AOPA (800/872-2672) and contribute to the rebirth of general aviation.
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