Cirrus instructor and author: Max Trescott

His secret to making a good living as a flight instructor—a job long considered a necessary evil on the road to bigger and better things—is to focus on one area or type of aircraft. “I’m a strong believer in specialization,” said Trescott, the author of two books on the operation of Garmin avionics, with a third on the way. He also hosts the popular Aviation News Talk podcast. But his primary job is flight instruction in the Cirrus SR22 and SF50 Vision Jet.

By focusing first on Garmin avionics, and then specifically the Cirrus line, Trescott limited his client base—but the demand for his services increased. He was able to raise his rates and maintain more control over his schedule. When one of his clients took delivery of an SF50, Trescott footed the bill for his own type rating—an expense that quickly paid off.

After a career that required extensive travel in sales and marketing for a tech company, Trescott wasn’t interested in the lifestyle that professional flying offered. And he couldn’t be happier with his choice. “I love helping other people achieve their goals,” he said. “Years ago, I thought I enjoyed flying for the sake of flying, and now I know I enjoy flying more with other people. It’s better to share it with others.”

Trescott’s first book focused on flying with GPS and WAAS on a variety of platforms, and his second was on operating the Garmin G1000. His forthcoming third book is about flying the Garmin G3000: “I have a lot of admiration for the designers of the G3000.” Trescott calls it an order of magnitude better than the G1000. The books have proven a way to softly market his instructional skills, although he primarily writes them because he’s interested in the subject and believes he has something to offer.

It’s the same reason he spends around two days a week producing each episode of Aviation News Talk, one of the most popular aviation podcasts on Apple. It’s Trescott’s way of giving back to a community that has given him so much joy. He said other careers may pay better, but “I’m down low watching the world go by. To me, it’s all enjoyable.”

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