Gavin Funovits

• Trained individual clients in the art of aviation through theoretical and practical flight instruction.

• Piloting developed my excellent customer relation skills. Discovery flights are one of the first skills I mastered. Initially, when we start flight instructing we build our client list by taking potential customers on discovery flights. The goal is to promote flying and ultimately have them enroll at High Flight Academy. Out of my 27 students that I currently instruct, I acquired 15 of these students from discovery flights using my knowledge of the aviation industry.

• Safety verification of students and the aircraft. Before each flight, preformed thorough inspection of each aircraft used, demonstrated and instructed the importance of these tasks to every student. Verified the competency of each student to be sure they understand the importance of the preflight inspection. This includes obtaining a weather briefing, calculating weight and balance, and using the appropriate performance charts for each aircraft.

• Developed lesson plans based on each students current level of training. These lesson plans are complex and in-depth. Each lesson plan includes both flight and ground training modules. These lesson plans comply with the standards found in the Airman Certification Standards. These lesson plans include all necessary tasks to become a certificated pilot.

• As a CFII, my reasonability is to qualify students to obtain their instrument rating. The training I provide ensures each student will be able to handle IFR operations, and become instrument rated pilot. This training covers multiple areas such as single pilot resource management, instrument approaches & related approach charts, IFR Emergency procedures, partial panel IFR procedures, along with all required components related to this important rating.

• FAA student exams, every student I've qualified for any FAA Practical Exam has always been well prepared, and ready for their checkride. In my time at High Flight Academy I have never had a checkride failure. Given that my students flying abilities are a direct reflection me and my teaching abilities, I always make sure I put my students in a position of success for their aviation careers.

• Inflight emergencies, although my aviation career is at it's infancy, I've managed to confidently and calmy deal with unforseen situations. I've always been able to remain calm and handle the situation appropriately to ensure the safety of myself and my students.

• Devotion to my career, the average flight instructor logs 80 in flight hours in a month. In May, 2023 I logged 133 hours in a span of 28 days. Due to my dedication to my students, my peers, and my career, I always am willing to go the extra mile to ensure success for myself and everyone who surrounds me.

• I'm very adaptive to flying different airplanes. Throughout my career, I have never shied away from flying a new aircraft. In my aviation career I have proficiently mastered skills in 5 different airplanes. I have flown DA-20's, DA-40 TAA, Cessna 172 (P & M models), PA-28's, and a PA34-200. I love the challenge of learning a new airplane and it's systems.

Reference

Chris Hayden (Chief Flight Instructor) - 412-860-5453

Ryan Pardo (CFII Training) - 724-841-5337

Alan Meininghaus (Commercial AMEL Training) - 412-225-6819

Robert Ramella ( Pennsylvania Roofing Systems) - 724-433-6872

• During my 5 years at Pennsylvania Roofing Systems I worked various jobs, but I worked primarily in the warehouse. This position entails stocking jobs, doing inventory, and making sure the equipment that goes to the jobs functions and is safe.

• Safety inspections, Due to the nature of commercial roofing and the high risk of injury safety is always at the forefront of my mind. The inspection of safety equipment was a focal point of my tasks prior to anything being sent to a jobsite. These job related safety inspections are very similar to preflighting an airplane to ensure all components are safe and work properly.

• I'm well versed at multitasking. In the course of my time, at Pennsylvania Roofing Systems, I learned to be able to multitask in high stress environments. Pennsylvania Roofing is a union employer that primarily focuses on high profile jobs such as public schools, universities, and hospitals. Being apart of a team of over 80 employees which must function as a collective unit. I was one of three primary people which keep all others equipped to achieve their daily tasks.

• I work exceptionally well with others. Given the line of work, it is an absolute necessity to be able to cooperate and communicate with others. Even with the most difficult of roofers and sheet metal workers, I have always been able to rely on my exceptional cooperation and communication skills to achieve a positive and successful work environment.

• I'm able to manage high stress situations. With the warehouse being responsible for the equipment and material of more than 10 jobsites daily, dealing with stress was common. This environment helped me stay composed even under high stress situations.