For More Information:
Jean's Flight Training 1950 Joe Crosson Dr. El Cajon, Ca. 92020 (619) 449-9234 www.jftaviation.com
and National Association of Flight Instructors: http://www.nafinet.org/
Jean's Flight Training 1950 Joe Crosson Dr. El Cajon, Ca. 92020 (619) 449-9234 www.jftaviation.com
and National Association of Flight Instructors: http://www.nafinet.org/
Jean
Instructor Pilot
Hello, my name is Jean Runner and I am a pilot. I founded
“Jean’s Flight Training” at Gillespie Field in El Cajon, California.
My husband and I live in Lakeside, California with our cat
“Cherokee”. She is four years old and was named for our
airplane – a Piper Cherokee.
I first started thinking about airplanes and flying when I was
about 12. We lived next door to an airline pilot and I thought
that his job was really cool. My sister became a pilot first and
she convinced me that I should also learn to fly. After she
became an instructor she helped me earn my instrument rating
and eventually I too became an instructor. I now hold Single
and Multi-engine, Instrument, Advanced Ground Instructor,
and Master Instructor ratings.
At first I was instructing at the flight school at Gillespie where I
learned to fly. I have always loved to teach and I really love
flying so it was natural for me to combine the two. After
several years working for someone else, a friend of mine – my
first flight student – convinced me that I could start my own
flight school. So, I did. It was scary at first because I was not
sure that I would have enough clients to keep busy. I should
not have worried because a number of my clients followed me
to Jean’s Flight Training and kept flying with me. I was busy 6
days a week and if I would have allowed it, I could have been
busy on Sunday as well. But it is important to allow family-
time and to get away once in a while to keep everything in
perspective. My husband, Bill has always been 100%
supportive of my flying and is very, very, helpful at the flight
school. He is very proud of what I do and loves to brag.
Whenever we land somewhere and a fuel truck driver asks him
how much fuel we want, he just points to me and says, “I don’
t know, ask the pilot!”
Over the years I have flown more than 45 different general
aviation single and multi-engine airplanes and now have more
than 10,000 flight hours. As new airplanes are developed with
more and more modern gadgets to help the pilot, I have been
fortunate to be able to learn and teach using the greatest
equipment available including all kinds of Global Positioning
Systems and the new “Glass Panels”. In any career you must
keep up with technology to remain successful.
Several years ago I worked a bit for Crown Air Charter flying a
Partinavia – a high wing, fixed gear twin - for several different
contract jobs. This was a nice diversion from teaching and
provided me another look at what you can do as a pilot.
Currently, Jean’s Flight Training is the school of choice by San
Diego Christian College and we provide training for all ratings
for a Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation Science. The college flight
team participates in the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate Flying
Association (PCIFA) and last year qualified to go to the national
competition at Salina, Ks.
As a member of the National Association of Flight Instructors
(NAFI) I have had the opportunity to participate in some of
their surveys and have my input published. I have written
several articles for their on-line magazine the “e-mentor” and
for the mailed version “Mentor”. One of my articles will be
published in the September 2006 issue.
Instructor Pilot
Hello, my name is Jean Runner and I am a pilot. I founded
“Jean’s Flight Training” at Gillespie Field in El Cajon, California.
My husband and I live in Lakeside, California with our cat
“Cherokee”. She is four years old and was named for our
airplane – a Piper Cherokee.
I first started thinking about airplanes and flying when I was
about 12. We lived next door to an airline pilot and I thought
that his job was really cool. My sister became a pilot first and
she convinced me that I should also learn to fly. After she
became an instructor she helped me earn my instrument rating
and eventually I too became an instructor. I now hold Single
and Multi-engine, Instrument, Advanced Ground Instructor,
and Master Instructor ratings.
At first I was instructing at the flight school at Gillespie where I
learned to fly. I have always loved to teach and I really love
flying so it was natural for me to combine the two. After
several years working for someone else, a friend of mine – my
first flight student – convinced me that I could start my own
flight school. So, I did. It was scary at first because I was not
sure that I would have enough clients to keep busy. I should
not have worried because a number of my clients followed me
to Jean’s Flight Training and kept flying with me. I was busy 6
days a week and if I would have allowed it, I could have been
busy on Sunday as well. But it is important to allow family-
time and to get away once in a while to keep everything in
perspective. My husband, Bill has always been 100%
supportive of my flying and is very, very, helpful at the flight
school. He is very proud of what I do and loves to brag.
Whenever we land somewhere and a fuel truck driver asks him
how much fuel we want, he just points to me and says, “I don’
t know, ask the pilot!”
Over the years I have flown more than 45 different general
aviation single and multi-engine airplanes and now have more
than 10,000 flight hours. As new airplanes are developed with
more and more modern gadgets to help the pilot, I have been
fortunate to be able to learn and teach using the greatest
equipment available including all kinds of Global Positioning
Systems and the new “Glass Panels”. In any career you must
keep up with technology to remain successful.
Several years ago I worked a bit for Crown Air Charter flying a
Partinavia – a high wing, fixed gear twin - for several different
contract jobs. This was a nice diversion from teaching and
provided me another look at what you can do as a pilot.
Currently, Jean’s Flight Training is the school of choice by San
Diego Christian College and we provide training for all ratings
for a Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation Science. The college flight
team participates in the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate Flying
Association (PCIFA) and last year qualified to go to the national
competition at Salina, Ks.
As a member of the National Association of Flight Instructors
(NAFI) I have had the opportunity to participate in some of
their surveys and have my input published. I have written
several articles for their on-line magazine the “e-mentor” and
for the mailed version “Mentor”. One of my articles will be
published in the September 2006 issue.
One time I had to fly to Porterville, Ca. and took a non-flying friend
of mine along for the trip. When we were ready to return I checked
in with the local Flight Service Station for an update on the weather.
It was obvious that my friend did not understand much of what the
briefer was saying to me and as we were leaving to walk to the
airplane she said, “Jean, I have a question”. I said, “What?” She
replied with, “how many languages to you have to know to be a
pilot?” I laughed and said; “only English but you do learn a lot of new
phrases and meanings. Anyone can do it.” I did not graduate from
college – not because I didn’t want to, things were just too difficult in
my life at the time. But, I feel that I have been extremely blessed
and very successful. Education is very important so stay in school,
do your best, go to college if at all possible and reach for the stars
because you too can be a pilot. Good speaking and writing skills and
at least basic algebra will serve you well in reaching your goal in
aviation.
While you are waiting for that first flight lesson you can prepare
yourself with some fun things that will be helpful in developing your
understanding of how airplanes fly. There are several good
workbooks available that let you make good quality paper airplanes
and learn about their parts. Anytime you have an opportunity to fly
with a friend, Uncle, Mom, Dad, Brother, or Sister who is a pilot – do
it. If they offer you the flight controls –take them - then you can
brag to your friends that you “flew” an airplane.
In our area we have a new program called “Soaring Eagles” that once
a year offers a ground school class and an hour flight for each
participant. This is at the high school level and is open by application
and recommendation to any interested high school student. Also,
our airport has “Gillespie Field Young Eagles” where young boys and
girls can fly for very low cost and instructors volunteer their time to
instruct.
I started flying more than 30 years ago and it has been a huge part
of my life. At first there were some interruptions to my flying but
since 1983 it has been a constant hobby and then - since 1993 - my
career. I would recommend this life for any young woman. A career
in aviation can be extremely rewarding. You get to meet great people
who are interested in what you do. You can have a career in
instructing – as I do – and be rewarded each time one of your
students reaches a milestone. Several of my former students now fly
for the major airlines and it makes me very proud to see their
success. I would not trade my career choice for anything. If I had it
to do over, I would start flying as soon as I could reach the controls.
So, young ladies, reach for the stars and learn to fly.
of mine along for the trip. When we were ready to return I checked
in with the local Flight Service Station for an update on the weather.
It was obvious that my friend did not understand much of what the
briefer was saying to me and as we were leaving to walk to the
airplane she said, “Jean, I have a question”. I said, “What?” She
replied with, “how many languages to you have to know to be a
pilot?” I laughed and said; “only English but you do learn a lot of new
phrases and meanings. Anyone can do it.” I did not graduate from
college – not because I didn’t want to, things were just too difficult in
my life at the time. But, I feel that I have been extremely blessed
and very successful. Education is very important so stay in school,
do your best, go to college if at all possible and reach for the stars
because you too can be a pilot. Good speaking and writing skills and
at least basic algebra will serve you well in reaching your goal in
aviation.
While you are waiting for that first flight lesson you can prepare
yourself with some fun things that will be helpful in developing your
understanding of how airplanes fly. There are several good
workbooks available that let you make good quality paper airplanes
and learn about their parts. Anytime you have an opportunity to fly
with a friend, Uncle, Mom, Dad, Brother, or Sister who is a pilot – do
it. If they offer you the flight controls –take them - then you can
brag to your friends that you “flew” an airplane.
In our area we have a new program called “Soaring Eagles” that once
a year offers a ground school class and an hour flight for each
participant. This is at the high school level and is open by application
and recommendation to any interested high school student. Also,
our airport has “Gillespie Field Young Eagles” where young boys and
girls can fly for very low cost and instructors volunteer their time to
instruct.
I started flying more than 30 years ago and it has been a huge part
of my life. At first there were some interruptions to my flying but
since 1983 it has been a constant hobby and then - since 1993 - my
career. I would recommend this life for any young woman. A career
in aviation can be extremely rewarding. You get to meet great people
who are interested in what you do. You can have a career in
instructing – as I do – and be rewarded each time one of your
students reaches a milestone. Several of my former students now fly
for the major airlines and it makes me very proud to see their
success. I would not trade my career choice for anything. If I had it
to do over, I would start flying as soon as I could reach the controls.
So, young ladies, reach for the stars and learn to fly.
TM
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