Debrief

These days you can’t become a pilot without hearing about Sporty’s Pilot Shop and its wide range of products. Sporty’s founder Hal Shevers still has his pulse on the business, although he has retired as the day–to–day chief. Shevers recently celebrated his fiftieth anniversary of being a flight instructor, during which time he oversaw the growth of his small weekend ground school business into one the country’s most respected names in flight training.

Started in aviation… It’s in my blood. I can remember as a 4-year-old standing in my backyard when a dirigible flew right by our yard. I can remember looking up and waving. But I was always told "too bad you can’t be a pilot." I have an eye that’s 20/400. I had a summer job at Sikorsky Aircraft at 22 years old. That summer at the Sikorsky Flying Club they said I could get a waiver. So by the next fall, I was a certificated pilot.

Handling stress in cockpit… There should be no stress in the cockpit. The most boring time in your life should be between the outer marker and touchdown. If you have things set up right, you should be bored to death.

What being a CFI has taught you about pilots… Teaching has sharpened up my skills. When I would do lots of instruction, man I was sharp. You find out different people learn differently.

Best aviation experience… I bought a beautiful Cessna 170 with a friend. I was a 170-hour pilot, and he was about a 50-hour pilot. We said, we just got this cross-country airplane, we need to go somewhere. And so we went to Acapulco.

Favorite airplane… My Piper Aztec. The times I’ve had in that Aztec were fabulous. That Aztec was flown out of the factory by one of my instrument students in 1963. He lost his medical in 1972, and said "I want to keep flying, but I don’t have a medical, so you need to fly with me. What we need to do for insurance purposes is put it in your name." That’s the way it’s stayed to this day. It’s been a magic carpet.

Advice for students… Don’t pay in advance! There are an awful lot of flaky people in this business. Find yourself an instructor you like and make it fun.