Flight Training - March 2015 - 42

SPENCE TAKES PERSONAL INTEREST IN
MY FLYING. HE IS MORE INTERESTED IN
MY SUCCESS THAN OTHER INSTRUCTORS
I HAVE FLOWN WITH.

of what he's learned in the previous year,
and each time he says he's amazed how
he's grown as instructor-something that
clearly energizes him.
This interest in growth and enthusiasm for learning has led him to be the
school's in-house Bonanza expert. It's not
something that he actively sought in an
effort to get more students. That's not his
style. It started because his father owns a
Cessna 182 with a Continental IO-520, so
he understands how to manage a big-bore
engine. Add in a few hundred hours of
Beechcraft Baron time, and it was only
natural he would fly the school's beautiful
1999 Bonanza. And to do that, he knew
he'd have to learn it inside and out, which
he did. One student said Watson knew the
airplane so well it seemed like he owned
it. He can recite the names of avionics like
a dealer.
Although the desire to be fair to his
of his way to fully research topics," one
The Aviation Adventures gig began
students and give them good service is
student said. I asked Watson about this,
in 2012.
the reason to maintain his expertise and
and he says he will read aviation materiThe path Watson has chosen is at least
be prepared for every lesson, Watson's
partially responsible for his success. Spend- als in the evenings before lessons to make real passion is his desire to make aviation
sure he's clear on the information. He
ing the day at an office job as an air traffic
a welcoming and inclusive place. "The
also sits in the airplanes and works with
control liaison for the military maintains
thing I love the most is seeing people go
avionics or flows. "I have no tolerance for from feeling not welcome to confident
his ongoing interest in aviation, but it
people who aren't prepared when they are pilot," he says. "I love it when they start
doesn't fulfill his desire to fly. For that,
charging the student," he says.
he spends evenings and weekends at the
telling me what to do."
But he's also the first to admit he
airport. It also means he doesn't need to
Watson cringes when he tells stories
instruct. Watson speaks passionately about doesn't know everything, a testament
of people at airports with their feet up,
what matters most to his students and what to his obvious humility. He'll gladly say
leaning back in the chair, who aren't
he doesn't know the answer to a queshe does to try to better serve their needs.
welcoming. "I'm trying to counter that as
tion, but that "there should be very few
In poll questions where Watson's stuaggressively as I can," he says.
of those cases on a lesson." It's a reason
dents could answer verbatim, they wrote
His serious approach to the job is
to hit the books, he says. On New Year's
glowingly of his depth of knowledge and
counter to his outgoing, friendly personalpassion to share it. "Spence really goes out Day every year, he sits back to take stock
ity. One student said he's the friendliest
instructor in the school. That's easy to
believe. He makes you feel like his
"HE IS
"SPENCE REALLY
"SPENCE'S LOVE
best friend minutes after meeting.
True to form, winning the award
APPROACHABLE
OPENED MY EYES
OF AVIATION TRULY
embarrasses him. He thought it was
AND FRIENDLY
TO THE ONLINE
SHOWS. EVERY
a joke when he heard. Staff like to
AND MADE ME
AVIATION COMMUTIME I MEET TO FLY
FEEL SECURE THAT tease him at the school, which has
NITY. HE WAS ABLE
WITH HIM, HE IS
HE WOULD WORK more than its share of AOPA Flight
TO REFER ME TO
EXCITED AND VERY
Training Excellence Awards. Watson
WITH ME TO
SEVERAL GOOD
KNOWLEDGEABLE
says he's come to terms with it, for
WEBSITES AND DATA OBTAIN MY
ABOUT THE LESSON.
one primary reason: "I'm happy
IN MY 18-YEAR FLYING SOURCES THAT HAVE GOAL SAFELY."
because my students are happy."

CAREER, HE IS
THE BEST I HAVE
ENCOUNTERED."

42 /

FLIGHTTRAINING.AOPA.ORG

PROVED HELPFUL."

Ian J. Twombly is editor of Flight Training
magazine.

http://FLIGHTTRAINING.AOPA.ORG

Flight Training - March 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - March 2015