A plethora of resources exist on navigating the terrain, weather phenomena, hazards of high density altitudes, aircraft performance, operating in confined areas, and takeoff and landing techniques. However, most pilots, regardless of previous experience, have the same challenges when first introduced to mountain, canyon, and backcountry flying, and much of it is a mental game.
With more than 30 years and 3,500 hours of backcountry instruction given, Amy Hoover will share her personal insights on the unique challenges pilots face with respect to judgement, decision making, and other human factors related to efficient and safe operations. She will share specific techniques she uses to help backcountry students appreciate the need for proper planning, maneuvers to practice before going into the backcountry, aircraft control, and setting personal limitations, as well as enhancing situational awareness.
After a short stint as a corporate pilot flying a Beech Duke and a Mitsubishi MU-2, Amy realized backcountry flying and flight instruction were her true passion, so she became a full-time instructor to teach backcountry flying for the FAA and on her own.
In 1997, she co-founded the McCall Mountain Canyon Flying Seminars with two other lady instructors.
As the director of the Aviation program at a community college in Oregon, she completed her Ph.D. in education that led to her current position. Hoover has been teaching in the Aviation Department at Central Washington University for 20 years, was Department Chair for 8 years, and has been a Full Professor since 2012.
Amy has published over 30 professional articles and manuals and given more than 200 public presentations on a variety of aviation topics nationwide. Hoover keeps her hand in giving backcountry instruction in summers through her business, Canyon Flying.
Karen is the NAFI Board Chair, a Designated Pilot Examiner, three-time NAFI Master Instructor, CFI, CFII, MEI, CFI-G, AGI, IGI, FAA Gold Seal Instructor and FAASTeam Lead Representative. She teaches in a range of aircraft and enjoys flying her own RV6.
Karen is a Major in the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), serves as a member of the WINGS Industry Network, contributes to the FAA Surface Safety Group, is an FAA Safety Team Lead Representative, and is active in several other aviation organizations. Karen is the 2019 National FAASTeam Representative of the year.
She became active in aviation after success as a senior VP in the banking sector, as a graduate school professor, and as President of her own international consulting business.
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