Flight Instructors
Tomo Nishimura CFI
Tomo has been instructing at King George Aviation since 2005, and appointed as a Chief Flight Instructor in 2007.
He was born in Japan, and came to Canada in 2000. A professional chef back in Japan, he came to Canada to study English, and found he had a lot of spare time which lead to a short aviation course at BCIT. It was during this time that he became interested in flight. He got his commercial pilots license at Boundary Bay Airport in 2003. He got his Class IV flight instructor rating in the summer of 2004.
Sebastien Gomard
A full-time AME, Sebastien, first became interested in flying in his native France but had to wait until he immigrated to Canada to get his wings. With a loan from his Father in late 1998, Sebastien was finally able to fulfill his childhood dreams of flight. Two months after becoming a licensed ultralight pilot, he received his Instructors rating. Now rated on 15 different aircraft types, Sebastien also has the following endorsements: Float, Tail dragger, and Mountain check. Sebastien is also often called on for his test piloting abilities by local builders.
James Crane
James began his flying career in 1994. After completing his private pilots’ license (aeroplane) in Vernon B.C., He then moved to Calgary to enroll in the Mount Royal College Commercial Aviation Diploma Program. It was in Calgary, while attending the program, that James discovered ultra-lights. After completing his instructor’s rating in 1997 he began a part time job as an instructor/check pilot for the Calgary Flight Training Center based at Springbank Airport (CYBW) where he primarily flew the Zenair CH601 and Avid Mk IV Taildragger.
After wandering down various other career paths, which included 7 years’ service in the Canadian Armed Forces (Army) and working as a helicopter medic, James is happy to be returning to aviation. His long term goals include completing his alternate category license and becoming a commercial helicopter pilot. Currently James holds a commercial pilots’ license (aeroplane) with multi engine rating, and an ultra-light pilots’ license with instructors’ rating. He also has about 30 hours of flight time in a Bell 205 “Huey” helicopter.
Jose Caballero
Jose first got the flying bug in his mothers womb, as his maternal grandfather was a Pilot who first got his wings in 1911. On his fathers’ side, he has had both an uncle and grandfather who were in the Chilean Airforce. Flying, literally, is in his blood. As children, Jose and his bother spent many days at the local airport and were often taken along as passengers simply because the pilots needed ballast for their planes. After moving to Canada, he became an ultralight pilot in 1991 and on his 50th hour received his Instructor’s rating. In 1993, he went on to get his PPL, Night and Float ratings. Now, with over 4,000 hours and type ratings on 15 different aircraft types, Jose is the most senior flight instructor with King George Aviation
Duncan Cowen
A full-time high school Shop Teacher, you can find Duncan at the airport on the weekends and during the beautiful BC summers. With over 15 years of ultralight flying experience, Duncan is a seasonal favourite both in the air and during his colourful ground schools.
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Joel Ellis
KGA is proud to announce our newest Instructor. Joel Ellis. Joel comes to us from the GA world and Air Cadets, where he learned to glide. Joel has been flying for close to 7 years and is ultimately looking for a career with the Canadian Air force.
Monty Badyal
Born and raised in Surrey BC, Monty grew up in a Sikh house hold with his Parents and three Siblings. As a child growing up, Monty an Avid sports enthusiast could be found either on the sports field or riding along with his Father in his truck. Thorough out his formative years Monty was considering either trying out for a Professional Football team, or becoming truck Driver. AT the age of 15 Monty tried a couple of flight lessons and was hooked. After High School Monty took the BCIT aviation program and graduated earlier this year. All of us at KGA welcome Monty.
Darrel Wells.
With over seventeen years of sport and commercial flight experience in everything from multi engine Aztecs to radial engine Ag Cats, Darrel has extensive experience in aerial application, mountain flying and tail wheel instruction. He is a Chief Instructor for the transportation department at the British Columbia Institute of Technology with credentials in business management, teaching, psychology, airline and airport operations, aircraft mechanics and several OCHS related subjects. Give the Student your best, keep it fun, keep it real and keep it safe, that’s his recipe for Student success.
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