Jason Price- The "Wiz Kid" of Aviation

To be an Aviator is to experience a unique feeling. It is almost impossible to convey this feeling without first hand experience. If you have ever flown, you know what it is like, but what about the millions and millions of people who never have had that opportunity? Some may dream of someday taking to the skies, still others like my wife, never knew the pure ecstasy that piloting a plane in General Aviation was until she got into a Cessna 172 with me. This opened the world to her and she became a much more enthusiastic aspiring pilot.

There are many people like that, who love flying but don’t even know it yet. They have never stopped to think of it and are in fact unaware of the possibility of ever becoming a part of this community. That is in part because with increased security measures at airports, we forget to think of how "un-welcoming" some airports are or have become. Or how inadequate our promotional efforts often are. We have seen flight schools stay small or struggle. Their appearance is not always ideal or inviting, or they do not necessarily convey the fact that this is a place where great adventures begin.

But like in everything, there are the exceptions to the rule. The stars of our craft, people who envision and build an ideal scene.

Such a person is our Friends of Aviation member, Jason Price. I first heard of him when in Glendale College he was mentioned as “the Wiz Kid” - who one day decided to become a pilot and then in record time became one of the must proficient pilots around in the college. He ended up as an Instructor at the college after going through his own training.

I first met him while doing some refresher training at Glendale College, but then found out that he had moved on and started his own flight school at Van Nuys Airport - Mach 1 Aviation.

His flight school has everything one would expect of a professional outfit. He uses four modern Cirrus aircraft with glass panel. Everything cared for for the student
to ensure they be able to learn safely and efficiently.

But the most impressive thing was not just the superb set up of the school, it was
their great outreach actions into the community. Before they had an open house they sent 2,000 mailers out to invite people out and they got close to a 10 % response to this mailer and the phones ringing of the hook.

There is a tremendous interest for Aviation out there, but most people don't know how to realize their Dreams!

This is what it is all about, enjoy, dream achieve and grow and when you have done all this, reach out and help others do the same.

This is why Jason is this month’s Friend’s of Aviation Member in Action