Flight School Spotlight: Bush Air

These are only a few of the inquiries on the more than 40-question form presented to pilots interested in training with Milne “CC” Pocock. The survey is part of the rigorous intake his clients go through to ensure safe and beneficial training for both parties—a necessary precaution in his line of work.

Pocock is a flight instructor who specializes in advanced flight training—more specifically tailwheel training combined with backcountry and mountain flying.

Born in South Africa, Pocock’s interest in flight began as a child, but he didn’t have the funds or opportunity to pursue this interest under later in life. In his thirties he obtained his certification and spent a lot of time flying in and around the African bush, which is where he started his business, Bush Air, in 2002. In 2016 Pocock moved his business to the United States, in part because of the freedom of flight found here. “I didn’t see any future for general aviation in South Africa. I needed to continue what I do, my specialty, and the United States is the only country where I could achieve that.” Pocock was admitted to the United States on a green card approval based on being a “person of extraordinary ability”—a recognition that his general aviation safety knowledge is unique and invaluable.

Pocock chose to live and instruct in the western part of the United States. His flight school Bush Air is located in Cal-Nev-Ari, Nevada, a perfect location with mountains, canyons, and many off-airport landing areas nearby. “We have so much freedom here west of the Rockies,” Pocock said. “There is so much to explore, and with the right airplane—the right bushplane—properly configured and with good skill you can safely land in many off-airport places.”

The right airplanes for Pocock are a Cessna 172C and a Cessna 170B, though he recommends clients bring their own airplane if they own one, “as you want to become proficient with the aircraft you most frequently fly.” The advanced flight training at Bush Air is set up to maximize time (after all, the courses only last four to five days) and safety. The aforementioned survey helps Pocock evaluate his clients’ proficiency and skills and plan their training, including matching them with the other pilots they’ll be training with. His clients range from pilots who have recently received their private pilot certification (who have around 50 to 60 hours) to airline pilots, rusty pilots, Air Force pilots, and commercial pilots (some of whom have upwards of 10,000 hours).

Two different levels of backcountry courses are offered. Pocock says they are “structured in such a way to eliminate the risk of an accident. Whether it be just flying into a regular airport or flying into an off-airport in the bush or some mountain strip somewhere.” The first level is basic backcountry training. It includes all the basics to get you safe to operate in most environments with just about any aircraft. “It’s a general aviation safety course…you learn advanced techniques and procedures to make you much safer as a pilot, period,” Pocock said. The second course is for experienced pilots and is a step up from the first course, incorporating STOL operations and off-airport training (two skills that level-one pilots would not be ready to execute safely or proficiently). Outside of these two main courses, Pocock offers additional advanced training—including, but not limited to amphibious seaplane initial training and endorsement, CFI spin training and endorsement, and a spouse introductory course (designed for a nonpilot passenger in the event the pilot becomes incapacitated).

At the end of the day, a pilot needs to leave with four things, Pockock said. “When the pilot leaves here they have to be 100 percent sure, with no doubt, that they are much safer, they are a more confident pilot, they are a more skillful pilot, and a proficient pilot.” It’s the confidence in the increased safety and proficiency that measures a successfully completed course. The courses are also FAA Safety Team accredited, so by doing the course a client can receive credit for the FAA Wings program.

This type of specific instruction and attention to detail is hard to find. A self-described, “one man-show for 20 years,” Pocock offers unique training that people travel far to get, and they’re never disappointed. His students’ submissions to the AOPA Flight Training Experience Awards have resulted in recognition as a Distinguished Flight Instructor and Distinguished Flight School in 2018, 2019, and 2021. And among more than 500 testimonials on his website, one thing is clear—Pocock is willing to push his students to achieve their potential. One commercial pilot graduate said: “This course by far, has been the most eye-opening, confidence-building flying experience I have had. His theories and flying techniques have proven safe, effective, tried and true.”