Flying with Purpose: Darren Pleasance on AOPA, What’s Next, and Finding True North

Teaching Pilots, Fighting Bureaucracy, and Flying for a Cause: Meet Master CFI Ken Wittekiend

Join host Cayla McLeod for the latest episode of the Plane + Pilot podcast featuring longtime pilot, Master CFI, and FAAST Team representative Ken Wittekiend. From learning to fly in a 65-horsepower J-3 Cub to administering nearly 2,500 check rides across the country, Ken’s aviation journey is defined by humility and an enduring passion for flight. In This Episode, We Cover: * Ken's Aviation Journey: Ken shares how a discovery flight from a small grass airport in Texas hooked him on a lifelong career in aviation. * Mastering Flight Instruction: Listeners get practical advice on finding the right flight instructor and why it is important to find educators who possess a true desire to teach, rather than those who are just trying to build flight hours for the airlines. * The DPE System and FAA Challenges: The conversation takes a candid look at the systemic issues within the FAA's Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) program. Ken opens up about his sudden termination as a DPE in October 2020. He also discusses the ongoing class-action lawsuit advocating for due process for terminated examiners. * Disaster Relief Flying: Ken shares his inspiring accounts of using general aviation for disaster relief. He specifically highlights his volunteer flying efforts following the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti. To learn more about Ken please visit https://www.promarkaviation.net/bio [https://www.promarkaviation.net/bio]

Flying the Alaskan Bush with STOL Champion Denny Serie

Welcome to the latest episode of the Plane + Pilot podcast! This week, Cayla McLeod comes to you straight from the ramp at the Valdez Pioneer Field (KVDZ) in Valdez, Alaska. McLeod sits down with veteran Alaskan bush pilot Denny Serie to discuss the realities, challenges, and thrills of flying in the Last Frontier. Whether you're a seasoned aviator or an enthusiast dreaming of the escaping to the Alaskan backcountry, this episode offers a practical, inside look at what it actually takes to survive and thrive as a pilot in Alaska. In this episode, we cover: * The Utility: Unlike most general aviation aircraft flying in the Lower 48, airplanes in Alaska are essential for accessing remote communities and wilderness areas, as fewer than 20% of the state’s communities are connected by road. * Backcountry Survival Gear: Denny breaks down the essential emergency and maintenance equipment he carries, including satellite communication devices like an inReach and sat phone, as well as duckbill anchors, gill nets, and a 12-volt tire inflator. * The Ultimate Super Cub: A look under the cowling of Denny’s 1951 Piper PA-18 Super Cub, featuring an upgraded 160-horsepower engine, 3-inch extended gear, and 31-inch bush tires. * STOL Competition Secrets: The precise techniques and mechanics behind the famous Valdez Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) competition, including the physics of ultra-short takeoffs and landings. * Advice for Visiting Pilots: Essential guidance for Lower 48 pilots planning to fly in Alaska, with an emphasis on mastering slow flight, understanding rapidly changing weather, and having the flexibility to leave the airplane behind and come back for more fun-filled flying. Tune in to hear Denny's aviation journey and get ready to catch the Alaskan flying bug!

Flying with Purpose: Darren Pleasance on AOPA, What’s Next, and Finding True North

Join host Cayla McLeod for a chilly episode of the Plane + Pilot podcast, recorded right on flight line in Valdez, Alaska! In this episode, Cayla sits down with general aviation enthusiast, accomplished business leader, and author Darren Pleasance. Darren shares his journey from a 13-year-old kid fascinated by model airplanes to a corporate jet pilot, a leader at tech giants like Google and Cisco, and eventually the head of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). He discusses his accidental entry into the business world and how a deep passion for aviation has remained the central theme of his life. In this episode, we cover: * Aviation Roots: How Darren traded bike rides and airplane washing for his first flights, eventually flying multi-engine jets by his early twenties. * The Importance of AOPA: The critical role the organization plays in advocacy, navigating the transition to unleaded fuel, and protecting the freedom to fly for general aviation pilots. * Advice for Aspiring Aviators: Why getting tailwheel experience, showing initiative, and maintaining a positive attitude can open unexpected doors in your flying career. * Finding Your "True North": Insights from Darren's book, True North, which serves as a handbook for building an inspired and fulfilling life. * Alaskan Adventures: The unmatched thrill of flying over glaciers and the Prince William Sound, and experiencing the magic of the Valdez STOL competition. To order a copy of Darren's book visit: https://www.amazon.com/True-North-Handbook-Inspired-Living/dp/B0CQ74BHNN [https://www.amazon.com/True-North-Handbook-Inspired-Living/dp/B0CQ74BHNN]

Get to know the Aviat A-1C Husky with VP Matt Hofeldt

In the latest episode of the Plane + Pilot podcast, Cayla sits down with Aviat Aircraft Vice President of Brand, Matt Hofeldt, for a candid conversation recorded during Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo. Together, they discuss all things Aviat, the iconic Husky, and how backcountry flying can open the door to a more adventurous aviation lifestyle. To learn more about Aviat Aircraft and the A-1C Husky, visit aviataircraft.com

Surviving the Backcountry: Aviation Medicine, Helmets, & The 6 C's with Dr. Jon Miller

Welcome back to the Plane & Pilot Podcast! In this episode, Cayla sits down with Dr. Jon Miller, an Idaho-based backcountry pilot and emergency medicine physician, to bridge the critical gap between general aviation and survival medicine. Dr. Miller shares his unique journey from ski bum and raft guide to ER doctor and flight doc for the Air National Guard's 190th Fighter Squadron. Recognizing a severe lack of survival training in general aviation, he and his colleagues founded Adventure Medicine Experts, a non-profit dedicated to teaching life-saving skills specifically tailored for backcountry pilots. We dive deep into the sobering statistics of off-airport accidents and discuss the practical, everyday steps you can take to become your own first responder when things go wrong in the wild. In this episode, we cover: * The Root Ranch Clinic: An inside look at the immersive backcountry survival course hosted in the remote Idaho wilderness. * The 6 C's of Survival: The essential components every pilot must understand: Compression (stopping life-threatening bleeding), Communications, Combustion, Cold (hypothermia prevention), Cutting tools, and Comfort (maintaining a positive mental attitude). * Wearable Survival Gear: Why your emergency kit is completely useless if it's thrown in the back of the airplane during a crash. * The Helmet Debate: A candid, data-driven discussion on why wearing a helmet might be the single most important decision you make before flying into the backcountry.