Flight Training - November/December 2022 - 43

ADVANCED PILOT DAY IN THE LIFE
BY ALICIA HERRON
HOOKED
NO TWO DAYS ARE THE SAME
FOR GLIDER INSTRUCTORS
GLIDER CFI SHAD COULSON IS LIVING HIS DREAM, BUT HE DIDN'T ALWAYS
know glider flying was his true passion. He grew up in Colorado Springs
with aspirations to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy and fly something
" fast and pointy. " But after discovering that he was ever so slightly colorblind,
he pivoted. " It's not like I can't tell you [what color] that is, or I can't
safely drive a car...but enough where I have a 'cannot fly at night' on my
medical.... If you fight against your limitations, you can keep them, or you
can just take what you get and charge. "
When Coulson started flying in 2008, he connected most with
powered paragliders, eventually flying them in 20 countries and on six
continents. In 2017 after working abroad, he moved back to the United
States. On a road trip he and his now-wife took that spring, they stopped
at Arizona Soaring for a glider ride. He took a flight with the owner, Jason
Stevens, who in addition to being a CFI is an accomplished competition
aerobatic pilot.
" I was hooked. Just could not stop thinking about it. It captivated me. "
He emailed Stevens in fall 2017 asking for a job and started working on
the line. Over time, he started working in the office, earned his commercial
and CFI glider certificates, and stuck with his interest in glider aerobatics.
Coulson won a national title at the glider national championships
in 2021. This year, he competed on the U.S. Aerobatic National Team in
France at the World Aerobatic Championships for the first time; Stevens
was also on the team.
" To be able to represent your country on a world stage is pretty mind
boggling. "
Now officially the operations manager, Coulson also flight instructs,
manages students' training, completes recurrent training with CFIs, and
schedules checkrides with designated pilot examiners. No day is ever
exactly the same as another, and opportunity, he says, is everywhere in
aviation if you seek out what you love.
Coulson says glider flying is for everyone and encourages pilots to
give it a try. He also takes the responsibility of growing aviation seriously.
" General aviation dies if we don't try to inspire the next generation.
We have a couple scholarships we offer, and the national organization,
SHAD COULSON
GLIDER CFI AND AZ SOARING OPERATIONS MANAGER
QUALIFICATIONS: Commercial pilot
and certificated flight instructor certificates,
both with glider ratings.
WORK/LIFE BALANCE: " I'm working on
that. When I get time off, I go fly a glider! "
Shad's wife (whom he proposed to in a loop
during glider aerobatics), while not a pilot, is
extremely supportive and loves flying; their
son is named Maverick (a name she chose).
FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB: " It depends...
but it's very rewarding to help people
achieve goals. "
LEAST FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB:
How much it costs to fly.
PAY: $22-$25/hour (clock in clock out, not
based on flight hours or tows). " We don't
want to incentivize the instructor to do more
tows at the expense of the student. "
the Soaring Society of America, has some scholarships
that they offer for young folks. "
Arizona Soaring operates year-round at the
Estrella Sailport (E68) in Maricopa, Arizona. FT
alicia.herron@aopa.org
FLIGHT TRAINING NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022
43
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