Avionics News March 2023 - 42

FLAMINGO AIR
Continued from page 41
" He sold that company in 1993 and concentrated on
growing Flamingo Air's charter business full time in
1994. "
Before Flamingo Air, McGee spent more than 20
years teaching high school and college classes. She
earned her private pilot license in 2001.
" I had lost a finger in an accident and started flight
training to get my mind off of my hand, " she said.
" I found that when you're flying, you can't think
about anything else. It was so much fun that I got my
instrument rating. My previous career was in education,
and I wanted to continue that by starting a flight school.
We did that in 2004, and now have nine aircraft and
offer private, instrument and commercial flight training
and multiengine ratings as well as CFI, CFII and MEI
ratings. "
Flamingo Air operates a Piper Cherokee Six, Piper
Cherokee 140 Cruiser, Piper Aztec and a leased
Piper Arrow. In addition, Marshall and his wife lease
their aircraft to the school - two Piper Cherokee 140
Cruisers, two Piper Cherokee Warriors and a 1946
Aeronca Scout tailwheel.
Mid-year, Flamingo Air will begin offering flight
training in partnership with Indiana Wesleyan
University in Marion, Indiana, as part of the university's
degree programs. Students can build flight hours and
college credit toward a bachelor's degree in aviation
management and associate degrees in aircraft dispatch
and professional pilot.
In 2008 as Flamingo Air was settling into its flight
training, Marshall and his wife and children were
immigrating to the United States from South Africa. He
had just $80 and a suitcase and took to working on a
farm to make ends meet.
" In South Africa, I was a pilot and A&P. I wanted
to get my certificates transferred to this country, along
with my son, who's also a pilot. We found Flamingo
Air. I liked what I saw, and 12 years later, I'm still
with them, " said Marshall, who started at the school
providing drone training to first responders and law
enforcement personnel.
He strongly believes in training for avionics
technicians.
" I love avionics, " he said. " I've installed all of
our radios. I think training is extremely important. If
somebody who doesn't really know about avionics tries
to work on them, they can cause big problems. As you
know, you don't have to have a certificate for avionics,
but there is an AET certificate.
Director of operations Tim Marshall along with student and intern
Ashlynn Whitmarsh installed this avionics stack in the school's Piper
PA-28-201 Cherokee Arrow used for complex, instrument and highperformance
training.
42 avionics news * march 2023
" I think all avionics technicians should be certified.
People shouldn't be able to come out of working
on lawnmowers and suddenly be installing glass
cockpits in King Airs. Avionics technicians should be
recognized because it's a very difficult thing to do - to
read diagrams and connect and build proper wiring
harnesses. At Flamingo Air, we teach people to do
it the right way. I'm looking forward to growing the
program. " q
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