ABOUT
Our vision is to help keep the Southwest Washington Regional Airport located in Kelso, WA a community and gathering place for aviation enthusiasts while providing premier service for pilots and their aircraft. We are a family-owned business where our staff and their expertise is our most valuable asset. Each member of our team was handpicked and encompasses a variety of industry professionals. We have a love for aviation and a passion for being able to share that with others.
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Our mission is to promote professionalism and safety in the aviation community while inspiring the next generation of pilots. Give us a call, send us a message, or stop by to meet our team and discuss how we can support you and your goals.
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TEAM
David Statham
CO-OWNER
David has an extensive background in business and engineering, but aviation is where his passion lies. He flies both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. David is heavily involved in the community and operates a nonprofit vintage aircraft collection for Vietnam service members in his free time.
Dan Evans
CFII/MEI
Dan is our most experienced flight instructor. He has an impressive Army career flying a wide range of fixed-wing and rotor-wing aircraft. Dan then went on to have a 36 year career as an airline captain and has accrued over 42,000 hrs of total flight time. He enjoys volunteering for the Civil Air Patrol and instructing in his retirement.
Ben Bergonzine
Hudson Frost
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS/ CFII/ CO-OWNER
Hudson has a degree from the University of Alaska in Air Traffic Control and has been flying since the ripe old age of 16 years. Spending his past 16 years in the aviation industry, operating a Flight School/FBO has always been one of his life goals, and that passion shines through with every interaction.
Chris Cooley
CFII/MEI
Chris Cooley is a US Marine Corps Veteran and a Pacific NW native. He began his journey in aviation in 2019. He has since developed a passion for helping others achieve their aviation goals. He enjoys everything sports and loves hanging out with his family.
Daniel Patel
Jess Statham-Frost
ADMINISTRATOR/CO-OWNER​
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Jess has been involved in aviation since she was young and ended up getting her PPL when she was 17. She is a graduate of WSU and Pacific University. Jess loves working with people and is happy to help out with customer needs.
Nolan Autrey
CFI
Nolan has always had the dream of flying, but like most, only thought about it as a dream. After meeting great people in the aviation community, he worked hard to make flying a part of his life. Nolan notes that seeing people experience this first hand makes this job the best in the world.
Ben Mencke
Corey Winters
IA MECHANIC
Corey comes from an aviation background and has years of industry experience. He enjoys mentoring new mechanics and in his spare time is busy adventuring with his family and preparing to sail the great loop via sailboat.
Drake Dryden
CFI
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Drake is excited to share his lifelong love of airplanes and flying with students. He has nearly 20 years experience in the cockpit. Drake also has seven years experience in wildfire fighting as a certified helicopter manager with the Oregon Department of Forestry. In addition, he volunteers as an Aerospace Education Officer for cadets in the Civil Air Patrol.
Emalie Snyder
CFII
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Ben stumbled upon aviation after college. After his first flight, he went all in and discovered he had a great passion for flying. Born and raised in Kelso, he enjoys sharing aviation with others as a flight instructor.
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CFII/MEI
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Daniel Patel comes from a long line of pilots and knew he wanted to pursue aviation straight out of high school. He brings the same passion that he has for aviation to his pursuits of fishing, the great outdoors and the perfect smoked brisket.
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CFI/AGI
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Ben retired from the United States Marine Corps in 2020 and moved back to his PNW hometown. He developed a lifelong passion for aviation during childhood and is a graduate of the University of Oregon. Ben also volunteers as a pilot for the Civil Air Patrol. When not flying he enjoys spending time with his family and pets on his small farm near Vancouver.
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CFI/MEI
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Kelley Flint
CFI/MEI
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