We asked our flight instructor Regis Garcia, CFI, CFII, about his experience and why he loves flying. Read more below!
Q: How did you get into flying?
A: I mainly got into flying because of my Grand-father and Uncle in Miami. At a young age they exposed me to RC planes. They would build from them scratch and allow me to fly them at a young age. They encouraged me to dream big and it ignited my passion for flying.
Q: When did you know you wanted to be a pilot?
A: I knew I wanted to be a pilot at the age of 7-8 as my family and I regularly travelled from KFLL to KORD on Southwest airlines. I was fortunate enough to be allowed to sit in the cockpit of a 737, and at the controls this sparked my continued passion for flying. The thrill and excitement I had on each flight and experiences I had watching planes takeoff and land at the airport, instilled on me at a young age that I always wanted to be a pilot.
Q: What do you think is important when choosing a flight school?
A: I believe the most important aspect in choosing a flight school is the culture. In my 2 months at Sterling, it is apparent that instructors and staff truly care about our students success. Unfortunately, at other larger flight schools you are just another ID number at times.
Q: What do you like most about being an instructor?
A: What I thoroughly enjoy about being a Flight Instructor is not only sharing my knowledge about flying, but also creating a lasting bond with my students.
Q: What is your most memorable flying experience?
A: My most memorable flying experience was probably getting the opportunity to fly the Cirrus Vision Jet, which a family friend who is a Cirrus employee, allowed to fly as we repositioned it from KSGJ to KCRG.
Q: What advice would you give students?
A: My greatest piece of advice to students is to show up prepared, and most importantly arrive on time to each and every lesson.
Q: What advice would you give individuals interested in instructing?
A: Advice to future Flight Instructors- be able to adapt to each and everyone of your students, as they all have a different way of learning and different ways in which they comprehend information.
Q: What’s next for you?
A: Hopefully next for me is a FedEx feeder company, as I have always wanted to work in cargo operations, especially FedEx
Q: If you could fly anywhere, where would it be?
A: If I could fly anywhere it would be in the Caribbean, allowing me to see beautiful crystal clear waters, and especially scouting potential fishing areas as that is my main hobby outside of flying.
