Meet Our Instructors
Nick Ahlen
Nick Ahlen is based in Atlanta, Georgia, where he is active in a local flying club and an active independent flight instructor. Nick is an FAA Airline Transport Pilot, Flight Instructor (CFI, CFII, MEI) in multiple categories including helicopters; holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval Academy; and is a National Association of Flight Instructors Master Instructor.
Nick has been a professional aviation educator for over a decade, with over 2,300 hours of instruction given. Nick remains active in general aviation through AOPA, the Experimental Aircraft Association, the National Association of Flight Instructors, the Commemorative Air Force, and the International Aerobatics Club.
Steve Bateman
Steve is the owner of Chocks Away Aviation, LLC, based in Prineville, OR (S39), which provides professional flight and ground instruction. Steve is an active FAASTeam Lead Safety Representative with the Portland FSDO, and presents AOPA Rusty Pilot and Air Safety Institute seminars and webinars. He is Vice President of the Oregon Pilots Association and an active member of EAA Chapter 617 (Prineville). He also enjoys teaching part of the Professional Pilot Program, at the Central Oregon Community College.
Steve recently retired from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association as Director of the Flying Clubs Initiative, but still writes the Question of the Month and Safety articles for the Club Connector newsletter.
Prior to AOPA, Steve enjoyed a successful career in high tech product development. He holds pilot and instructor certificates from the USA and Canada, and is a certificated Light Sport Repairman. He earnt a Ph.D. in Electronic Engineering from Loughborough University, England.
Steve and his wife, Louise, live in Redmond, Oregon.
Mark Boguski
Mark Boguski was once a rusty pilot, however after a 22-year absence from the sky he got current again in 2002 with help from AOPA. Since then he’s earned his Instrument rating, Commercial Pilot certificate, Flight Instructor and Instrument Instructor certificates, and Advanced Ground and Instrument Instructor certificates.
Mark has a passion for teaching and is now a full-time independent Flight Instructor in Olathe, KS as well as an Aviation Instructor at the local Community College. Mark also writes for Air Traffic Management magazine and other publications. With Rusty Pilots, he loves using his experience to help the current generation of pilots to be safer and more active in flying.
Mark is a partner in a 1977 Piper Archer, a member of AOPA, EAA, Civil Air Patrol, the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI), the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) and a FAAST team representative. He is also an active volunteer pilot with Young Eagles and Angel Flight. Outside of aviation, Mark has an obsession for climbing mountains and long-distance backpacking.
Pat Brown
Pat was bitten by the flying bug early and began taking lessons at age 16, earning his Private Pilot license shortly after his 17th birthday. Today, 11,000+ hours later, he holds a Commercial Pilot certificate for Gliders, Single-Engine Land/Seaplane, and Multi-Engine Land aircraft and is a Gold Seal Flight Instructor for gliders, single and multi-engine aircraft, with nearly 6000 hours of instruction given. He is also a Designated Pilot Examiner and recipient of the FAA’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. Pat is the co-developer of AOPA’s Rusty Pilot and Back To Your Roots seminars and presents them regularly, both as online live webinars and in-person to enthusiastic audiences. He currently serves as AOPA’s “mentor” to the organization’s 140 flight training scholarship recipients.
William Dubois
William E. Dubois is a widely published aviation writer and columnist. He is a frequent contributor to AOPA’s Flight Training magazine, General Aviation News, and FAA Safety Briefing. Dubois, who started flying at age 17, has a degree in aviation technology, holds a Commercial Pilot certificate with Instrument rating, an NAA Sporting License. He is a rare “double” Master Ground Instructor, accredited by both NAFI and MICEP. Dubois was recognized as a Distinguished Flight Instructor in the 2021-22 AOPA Flight Training Experience Awards. He is a FAASTeam Rep and the Airport Support Network Volunteer for KSXU. Dubois has been an AOPA member since 1983. He is a national champion air racer, taking home the silver season trophies for production airplanes from the Sport Air Racing League in 2006 and 2007, and he’s the holder of a world speed record from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.
Dubois has been involved in adult education most of his life, and believes that humor and analogy are key teaching techniques, along with a relaxed and inclusive style that makes learning fun. He’s especially excited to be working with the Rusty Pilots Program because he himself was a rusty pilot, and he understands the challenges and rewards of returning to the cockpit.
Meg Godlewski
Meg Godlewski was born into an aviation family. Her father was an engineer at Lockheed and her mother spent time at a P-38 base during World War II where she also took flying lessons in an Aeronca Champ. Meg is also a journalist and spent the better part of 10 years working any media job she could find to pay for flying lessons. Meg spent 15 years as the staff reporter for General Aviation News and currently writes the ground school videos for MzeroA.com and the Ask the Instructor column for Aviation for Women Magazine. Meg holds the Advanced and Instrument Ground Instructor (AGI, IGI) certificates as well as the CFI, CFII and MEI certificates with the FAA Gold Seal. Meg is an eight-time Master Flight Instructor and has logged in excess of 5,000 hours dual given.
Norm Isler
Norm Isler brings over 30 years of general aviation experience, both as a pilot and instructor, to AOPA’s training experiences.
He logged his first flight time while in high school and has since added ratings as Private Pilot single engine land and sea, Advanced Ground Instructor and Part 107 Drone Pilot.
Before shifting his professional focus to aviation, Norm served as a corporate instructor in another industry for over 20 years. He has instructed at the local level, at many New York State Community Colleges and numerous special events throughout the northeast.
Norm served as AOPA’s You Can Fly Ambassador, Northeast for four years prior to retiring from “full time” work. He is now busy full time restoring and flying a 1958 Cessna 175, building an experimental kit plane and teaching part time.
Originally from the New York City area, Norm now calls Brockport, NY just west of Rochester home.
Philip Mandel
Philip Mandel had no idea flying could be affordable for someone with an average income, or possible for someone with an IQ under 200 – until he met a pilot, just a “regular guy” with an average job, who flew for fun and owned a beautiful Mooney. The very next day, Phil drove to his local flight school and signed up for lessons. The bug bit so deeply that sometimes he went for two or even three flight lessons per day! That was back in 1981. He earned his Private Pilot certificate, followed by an Instrument rating, Commercial Pilot certificate, CFI, CFI-I, and MEI certificates. Through the years he has owned several airplanes and is now the proud owner of his tenth flying machine, a Thorp T-18 (Experimental). Now a “recovering engineer,” Phil is an independent flight instructor based in the Portland, Oregon area.
John McGonagill
John ‘Bart’ McGonagill graduated from the University of Arizona and immediately entered the United States Air Force and undergraduate pilot training. Twenty years and four-corners of the world later, he concluded his USAF career as a combat rescue pilot and continued his passion for general aviation. An active CFI throughout his military life and his post-USAF career. He has worked as an airport manager, authored aviation legislation, and kept on doing what he loves to do most, flight instructing. An aviation enthusiast his whole life, he built and flies an RV-10, is building an RV-14, and is an airpark community dweller (0TX1) in Granbury, Texas.
He is married to his wife of 35 years, Teresa, who is a criminal defense attorney in Granbury. They have a daughter, Naomi, a 2014 graduate of West Point and currently attending the Texas A&M George Bush Graduate School for International Affairs.
A very personable instructor pilot with exemplary experience in worldwide search and rescue operations. He has been a guest lecturer for professional and community organizations throughout his career. He served as a USAF formal school academic instructor, simulator instructor, courseware designer, and flight examiner. Additionally, he served in flight test, airfield management, training management, and aircrew scheduling. John has been involved in general aviation for over 35 years and teaches in both fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
Chris Moser
Chris Moser is the Sr. Director, Flight Training Education at AOPA. As part of the You Can Fly team, he manages and supports AOPA’s programs, events, and initiatives related to growing and strengthening the pilot population. He redesigned the Rusty Pilots program, leads the Flight Training Experience Survey & Awards, and is the educational designer of AOPA's adaptive flight training program. Chris holds a master’s degree in Aviation/Aerospace Education from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and has been a professional educator for over 25 years including being a high school teacher, flight instructor, musician, and freight pilot.
Yasmina Platt
Yasmina Platt knew she wanted to become a pilot since flying, as a child, in airliners between the
beautiful Canary Islands and mainland Spain. She moved to the United States 20 years ago to achieve
her dream.
Obtaining her private pilot certificate while in High School, Ms. Platt is an active pilot and flight
instructor, rated in single and multi-engine airplanes, seaplanes, and helicopters. Yasmina also holds a
B.S. in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) and a M.S. in
Transportation Planning and Management from Texas Southern University (TSU).
In addition to teaching Rusty Pilot seminars, Yasmina develops aviation infrastructure for Joby Aviation,
a California-based company developing an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft which
it intends to operate as an aerial ridesharing company starting in 2024, and writes a bi-monthly column
for the Midwest Flyer Magazine.
She is based in Houston, Texas with her husband Jared, an airline pilot and GA supporter.
Dale Robinson
Dale Robinson is a Certified Flight Instructor, aviation trainer and speaker who is deeply committed to giving back to the community by mentoring future pilots. He has taught at flight schools in Delaware including Boeing Aero Club and Delaware Aviation—and at New Garden Airport in Pennsylvania and flown as a commercial pilot.
As Program Director for Young Eagles at New Garden Airport, he manages a team of more than 25 volunteers delivering more than 200 free airplane rides to local youth each year. As a guest speaker and mentor, Dale participates in youth programs for Future Aviators summer camp. He also flies occasional Angel Flights and PilotsNPaws rescue missions.
Dale has more than 1,500 hours of pilot in command time and his ratings and certificates include CFI and Advanced Ground Instructor, Commercial Instrument Multi-Engine Land and Single Engine Land and Sea.
Dale holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Delaware and has a background as an enterprise technology and sales executive with companies including Dell, Apple, Lenovo, Teradata, and currently Computer Sciences Corporation. He currently serves on several boards including Ramessys, a startup digital security company, and the University of Delaware’s Parent Leadership Council.
Dale resides in Delaware with his wife Liz and their three children. While not flying or working, he always maintains a very positive “Life is Good” attitude in everything he does!
Brian Schiff
Brian Schiff is a captain for a major U.S. airline and is type-rated on the Airbus A320; Boeing 727, 757, and 767; DC-9 (MD-80); CL-65; LR-JET; and Gulfstream V. Schiff’s roots are deeply planted in general aviation where he has flown a wide variety of aircraft—including his own Citabria. He holds several flight instructor ratings, loves teaching and is recognized for his enthusiasm and ability to teach in a fun way that simplifies complex procedures and concepts. He has been actively instructing since earning his flight and ground instructor certificates in 1985. Schiff also has been an FAA-designated examiner. He attended San Jose State University and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and his Master of Science degree in Aviation Safety from the University of Central Missouri. He regularly teaches and conducts seminars about aviation safety and techniques to student and professional pilots alike.
Ted Spitzmiller
Ted Spitzmiller has unique qualifications that include an extensive background in teaching everything from flight operations to full semester ground schools. He enjoys interacting with people and lighting a fire of enthusiasm for all things aerospace.
He has given more than 4,000 hours of dual instruction in and endorsed pilots for Private, Commercial, Instrument, Multi-engine, CFI, and CFII ratings in Part 61 and 141 schools. He taught ground school for the University of New Mexico for 12 years, and is a former board member of the Southwest Aeronautics, Mathematics and Science Academy (SAMS), a unique aviation-oriented charter school in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Ted has logged flight time in 88 different aircraft types, has received extensive aerobatic training, and is tailwheel qualified. He is a Civil Air Patrol Command Pilot and the former editor of IFR Refresher magazine.
Ron Timmermans
Ron Timmermans credits his older brother and his wife for his success in aviation—his brother for taking him for a flight while he was still in elementary school and his wife for encouraging him to become a flight instructor. Ron has 6,000-plus hours of flight time, including more than 3,000 hours as a flight instructor. Now retired from his career as an architect and project management professional, including 35 years as a civilian employee of the U.S. Army, Ron lives in Orlando, Florida, where he is an independent flight instructor.
Jeanné Willerth
Jeanné Willerth is a Master CFI who provides single and multi-engine training in the Kansas City area. She was named the 2015 “CFI of the Year” for both the Kansas City Flight Standards District and the FAA’s Central Region. Jeanné was the 2012 National FAASTeam Rep of the Year. She is an ATP and holds CFI-A, CFI-I, MEI, IGI, and AGI certificates. Jeanné is active in the Ninety-Nines, SAFE, and the Missouri Pilots Association. She volunteers using her Cessna 182 for Angel Flight Central, Challenge Air, and Young Eagles.
Jeanné holds both undergraduate and master’s degrees in mathematics. Jeanné was a Rusty Pilot herself. When she was young, her mother taught her to fly. She took a 15-year break from flying and has earned all her ratings but her private certificate since that time.
Bill Wilson
Bill Wilson has combined careers in the news media, business and the military with his life-long passion for aviation. After three years in the U.S. Navy as an Air Controlman followed by earning a BA from Indiana University and a MA from Ball State University in Indiana, he spent 20 years as a TV newsman with his last assignment as news director of KDFW in Dallas. In1985, Bill started Communique, an Indianapolis-based interactive multi-media production group that he ran for 24 years. Re-entering the Navy as a reserve public affairs officer in 1974, he retired as a Captain in 1995 with a total of 26 years of active duty and reserve experience.
Now semi-retired in the Melbourne, Florida area, Bill actively instructs pilots seeking to return to flying. You will also read his articles periodically in popular aviation publications. As a Certified Flight Instructor and Advanced Ground Instructor, Bill concentrates on conducting effective flight reviews, instrument instruction and simulator training.
Bill’s home field is Valkaria Airport (x59) in Florida, where he hangars his Citabria and is a member of the Orlando FSDO FAAST team.