2006 ASC OF THE YEAR: Master CFI Gene Hudson is the chief flight instructor of Silver Wings (www.GeneHudson.com), a CFR Part 61 flight school at Van Nuys Airport (VNY). He specializes in instrument, high-performance and technically advanced aircraft training.

A flight instructor since 1987 and an Aviation Safety Counselor (ASC) for more than 18 years, his skills as a lecturer are widely known in southern California. He regularly offers WINGS safety seminars to standing-room-only crowds on such topics as instrument flying techniques, airspace, landings and the human factors of flight. He also lectures to local pilot examiners on human factors and the psychology of pilot error as a part of their annual recurrency training.

Hudson also promotes aviation safety through the written word. His articles have appeared in Plane & Pilot, Private Pilot and SoCal Aviation Review as well as the US Air Force Flight Safety magazine. He is the author of one book, Instrument Flying Made Easy, and is currently working on a companion volume that will help pilots recognize and recover from vacuum and other failures in instrument conditions.

Bridgette Doremire is a Master CFI, CFII, MEI, and Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic. Sh She is also an FAASTeam Volunteer (ASC) and FAA Remedial Training Program Instructor for the Van Nuys FSDO. In those capacities, she has delivered lectures on GPS and Advanced Avionics at locations throughout California. As an avionics technician, she has conducted several IFR certification test flights for GPS, MFD, TCAD, Autopilot, FMS, and other radio installations.

Bridgette’s articles have appeared in Plane & Pilot Magazine and the Cessna Pilots Association’s monthly magazine. You can find her active on many online aviation forums including studentpilot.com and propilotworld.com. She is the author of over 200 Qref Avionics & Aircraft Checklists and has published one book, “Flight Instructor Notebook”, a lesson plan guide for upcoming flight instructors plus sage advice on day-to-day flight instruction.

Bridgette specializes in GPS and Advanced Avionics Instruction. More than just learning the knob twists and button presses, Bridgette teaches integration of the GPS into the flying process. A member of the FAA/Industry Training Standards Program, FITS, she has authored two FAA-Accepted courses. These courses integrate scenario-based training with advanced avionics and GPS, real training for today’s flying.