February 24, 2020

I wanted to let you know that I was really impressed with the training I received from Barry Lane. He was excellent at explaining the systems of the 690A and 690B. In the airplane he was also great at showing the proper technique in both standard and emergency situations. Overall, I hope I have the opportunity tolearn more from him in the future.

Peter Ludolph

---

August 20, 2003
To Whom It May Concern:

Last week, I experienced the finest recurrent aviation training in my 18 years of flying. Although I have been fortunate to have very talented instructors previously, Larry York's focus on ensuring there is a total and systematic understanding of the airplane before cranking an engine, for my money, sets a new standard. Thumbing through the Pilot Operating Handbook, since it was essentially review, always seemed adequate to me before. Larry, however, asked probing questions to detect softness in understanding (that might prove fatal in the wrong circumstance) and, once detected, did a skillful teaching job to bring that understanding fully up to par. His use of a marker board to explain systems and to test the student's grasp was very effective and left no room to merely slide by. While I have heard airplane systems explained many times before, I have never had an instructor so thoroughly engage me to be sure I had reached the requisite level of "got it."

In the in-flight portion of the training, Larry was highly organized and straight-forward about the drills we did. There were no dangerous surprises that placed the pilot in a hazardous situation or exercises that were hard on the airplane. After observing my normal habits, he suggested a simple management system that reduced both workload and unnecessary variation, particularly in descent and approaches. Moreover, the system can be used in all twins, not just our Baron 58. I have done simulator training in the past. While there is some benefit to "simulating" situations that would be unreasonably dangerous during a real training flight, in general the "simulation"--at least in the Baron mock-up I used-- was unrealistic. The trick was to learn and to manipulate the idiosyncrasies of the machine, not necessarily to manage a real airplane in real flight. At least in this category of airplane, my opinion is that the live training I did with Larry is overall much more beneficial than simulator training.

Finally, it is clear that Larry is not just going through the motions. He is truly passionate about rendering a service that could very well save lives. The analogy he used to describe his approach at the very beginning turned out to be very accurate: he sees himself as a dentist looking for cavities and then properly filling them.

I had more cavities than I was aware of. They are now properly filled, and my family and I will be safer because of Larry's skill and care. Needless to say, I would highly recommend using Larry for training and currency needs.

Robert Morrison III
Morrison Fleet Services

---

April, 26 2017

Hello Larry,
Thank you for coming out to Courtney Aviation and working with us on our annual 690 Turbine Commander training program again this last month. As always, it was a pleasure, and there were important pieces of information learned by everyone in attendance; even those such as myself who have been in your classes and flight training for 13 years. Wow the time has flown by so fast, but it has been so good to be able to work with you. Each year our staff, and I mean all the pilots, mechanics, and office staff, have looked forward to this time of year when we get together with you for spring training in preparation for the upcoming fire season, and this year was no different. Thanks for making training an event that folks look forward to, it has always been a positive experience.

Larry, my flying staff tells me that they are very comfortable with the demeanor and style with which you instruct. It is not rushed, and each pilot feels respected, and appreciated for their particular talent set. For the areas that they need to work on, the feedback that I have consistently received is that the pilots appreciate the delivery of information to help them learn in areas of weakness such that they are able to visualize the system, process or maneuver in a clear way, so it makes sense. Through having a picture or understanding of the elements, and how they fit together; the concept or maneuver no longer represents a hurdle to muddle over, but rather the pilot can step through that challenge on the high ground with the overview that makes sense of it.

Your ground school systems course is the model that sets the standard of how any industries systems courses should be taught. The well thought out order of presentation, carefully chosen words, and very clearly laid out dynamic visual graphics provide a clear visual aid to your deliberate order of presentation. An example of this: The ability to utilize dynamic pictorial evolutions on the projector screen, allows us your students, to be able to see the changes in the hydraulic system as you walk us through the changes in state of that dynamic system. These visual aids showing the flow of fluids through a system, or the pathway of electricity in the various circuits is an invaluable aid to both pilots and mechanics for full understanding of the systems on the Turbine Commander.

Having the background of solid systems knowledge is important, and gains real value when you tie the structure and function of that system in a practical application through operations in the actual aircraft. I am very comfortable with your instruction in the aircraft, whether they be normal manuevers, or simulated emergencies because you have a well planned, objective based approach to each operation. Your depth of experience in the Turbine Commander not only allows for a large safety margin, it allows you to demonstrate the elements clearly to our pilots so they are learning the procedure or process from a full thickness basis, not just a rote, repetition of a procedure. It is hard for me to imagine that any simulator based training program could begin to address so many of the actual issues that may confront a pilot, and even if they could, they would miss the real world effect of vibration, smell, taxiing and ground control of the aircraft, etc. The engine management is one of the very important and potentially costly areas of operation that is enhanced with actual aircraft training.

I have spent my career attempting to convey deeper understanding of applicable knowledge to my students, and have disappointingly found few instructors who seem to wish to take the relatively small additional time to help impart deep levels of understanding of subject matter for their students. The value of your method of teaching, aimed to a level of full understanding is so important, because it allows a student to become their own instructor, with the ability to correlate a concept to another system, circumstance, or procedure, and in applying that knowledge generates more ways to safely operate an aircraft. This level of learning more than adds value; it multiplies the value of the time you and your students spend together, and I know this results in an increased level of safety and efficiency in all future operations.

I believe your instruction, tutoring, mentoring, and just plain old sharing of stories with relevant value, have resulted in a very low error rate on the part of our entire staff when working on and flying, not only our Twin Commander aircraft, but all our aircraft. A thoughtful, careful, well planned approach to any aviation activity is the paradigm that you offer, and it has caught on. How can one attach a value to that in a company; it is priceless.

Several years ago when there was a problem with the extension of the nose gear on one of our Turbine Commanders during a flight on which you were the instructor, the uneventful outcome was in significant part due to the deliberate, calm, and considered method in which you took control of the situation and aircraft to bring it to as good an outcome as could be expected. With nothing left to do but land with the nose gear only partially extended, the smooth and gentle landing you made resulted in damage restricted only to the nose wheel area of the aircraft. Thank you again for controlling this into only an incident.

We all appreciate your sincere commitment to helping us learn and grow in our profession, and we look forward to working with you and your staff next year.

Hart Drobish,
President,
Courtney Aviation Inc.

---

January 17, 2007
To Whom It May Concern:

My company recently purchased an E90 King Air. Our insurance required me to attend a King Air InitialTraining School. I talked to several “Nationally Known” flight training schools, none of which had an E90 simulator. I was encouraged by them to attend their course for the older model 200 King Air or the newer C90 EFIS. I did not want to go with the “pretend method” of flight training at a not-so-pretend cost. I decided to do some checking on the Internet and see what, if anything, was available concerning E90 training. I stumbled upon Larry York Aviation, which advertised E90 training in your Aircraft and at your Airport.

I called my insurance agent and discussed my “pretend” problem with him. I told him about Larry York Aviation and asked if my insurance would approve this on site training. Within a few hours my agent called me back and said our underwriter had approved Larry York Aviation. I then contacted Larry and discussed with him what I wanted and asked if he could be of service to me. He was quick to affirm the availability of his services.

Larry’s professional, but unhurried manner over the phone helped to convince me that this was the best approach for me. We established a training date that day. Upon meeting Larry, I was impressed with his personal appearance, dress and manner. I found Larry to be very knowledgeable in the subject matter and he presented the material in a very organized manner. He has a quiet, unhurried teaching manner. I found him to be the same way in the aircraft as well. He answered all of my questions with a lot of patience and none of the “we have been over that before” attitude.

Of all the instructors I have had in my Air Force and general aviation career, I will state that Larry York is the best I have encountered. My boss, who is a private multi-engine pilot, and who has completed and passed the written instrument exam, was so impressed with Larry that he spoke to him about coming back in six months for his King Air Training. At that time, I will also do some refresher training.

I would highly recommend Larry York as an instructor without any reservations.

Sincerely,

Olin Price
Corporate Pilot
Boggs Transport, Inc.
Monroe, NC

---

May 4, 2007
To whom it may concern:

As an airline Captain/Check airman who has been flight instructing since 1987, I have had the great opportunity to both teach and attend many Initial, Upgrade and Recurrent ground schools. These include two different airlines for the J-3100, EMB-120 and the CRJ CL-65. Also included are the Cessna 340, AC 500, 02 (Cessna 337) Ground and schools for various Government contractors, 135 and 91 corporate operators. While acting as Chief Pilot for a 135/Government Contractor in 2004, our company bought our first Turbine aircraft. I was tasked with transitioning our pilot group from piston equipment to Turbo Props. This needed to be done both efficiently and safely. After exploring many options including the usual simulator vendors such as Flight Safety, we chose Larry York Aviation for our Initial 690 training. He now comes back to California annually for Recurrent and Initial training (based on our needs at the time).

I am very impressed with Larry's attention to detail. His class is very thorough and he provides a lot of one-on-one instruction. He has quite a challenge because of the variety of students involved in the class: some of the pilots in our company have several type ratings and some have no turbine experience at all. Larry York's training is as good as (and in most cases BETTER) than any training I have received in Aviation. He meets and exceeds the standards of any 121-certificate holder.

I have and will continue to highly recommend him for any Initial or Recurrent training needs a pilot or aviation department may have. A simulator cannot match the training in the actual aircraft. The company I am a captain for is one of the few airlines that still does ACTUAL 121 FLIGHT Training, even though it is not required by the FAA. It is a quality airline that sees the value of looking beyond what the simulator has to offer.

Larry York's Training is the best aviation has to offer. If you are interested in quality instruction and a thorough aircraft check-out by an instructor that knows his business, then you should go with Larry York Aviation.

Kenneth S. Cobb
Courtney Aviation
Captain/Check Airman
RJ, AC-50, AC-690

---

June 8, 2007
To whom it may concern:

After thirty-seven years in aviation, twenty-five years as a pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps, and twelve years in corporate aviation, I have finally met a flight instructor whoes instructional skills are clearly superior to even my somewhat cautious view of corporate aviation flight training organizations and flight instructors. As a current airplane owner (Beechcraft Musketeer), it seems to me that you and AIG might be interested in knowing that Larry York, President of Larry York Aviation LLC of Grapevine, TX, recently conducted a recurrent training course for our startup Part 135 Charter Company on the King Air C90. I was so impressed with the ground school and flight training we received from Larry, that I wanted you to know that he will, in my opinion, serve the best interest of your insurance company and your customers who choose to utilize his recurrent training program(s).

I am a simulator instructor with a major flight training organization, a training center examiner (FAA), a type rating examiner (JAA), and a Program Evaluator on several different business jets. Thus, it is a little awkward for me to write that recurrent training in the actual airplaine served our purposes so well, but Larry's flight training followed by a flight review and instrument proficiency check allowed us to expedite the application process for our charter certificate, something that I believe would not have happened in a simulator training environment only.

If an opportunity arises where your customers desire recurrent training in their airplane, I will gladly give a personal recommendation for Larry York Aviation.

Sincerely,

Rex M. Williams
Director of Operations
Cowboy Aviation Services LLC

---

August 2, 2007
To whom it may concern:

I recently had a requirement for training in the Cessna 414. Having flown many aircraft over the past forty-eight years and been subjected to all types of training, I was not exactly excited. What a pleasant surprise.

I contacted Mr. Larry York, and received some of the best training of my aviation career from a genuinely nice individual with exceptional knowledge and a real interest in my success. What a pleasant surprise to not be required to deal with an individual's ego or be constantly reminded of my shortcomings. Straightforward, operational based instruction, and always with a smile.

I could recommend no one higher than Larry York, the consumate instructor and gentleman.

Capt. C.D Ewell, American Airlines
Chief Pilot and Vice President-Flight
Retired

Type Rated-LR Jet, B727, MD80, A300-600, B757 B767, MD11

---

I have been flying KingAirs for over 25 years and the Cessna Conquest I for over 15 years. I attended Initial and Recurrent training on both aircraft at two of the most well known training facilities in the US during that time period. Last year, 2014, I was flying with a company that has been using Larry York Aviation for their recurrent training on the Conquest I for several years. Consequently Larry gave me my recurrent training. I was so impressed with his program, knowledge, and outstanding teaching methods that I decided to use him for KingAir recurrent training this year instead of the major training facility that I have been using for the past several years.

Larry's knowledge of the systems and flight characteristics on both aircraft meet or exceed that of any instructor that I have ever had. I have learned things from Larry that I have never heared of from any other instructor. He presents all information in a way that anyone can understand. He doesn't try to change your method of flying unless he sees that it is potentially unsafe and he has "suggestions" that will make flight planning as well as flying the airplane much easier and reduce workload. And another great thing about Larry York Aviation is the cost of his training will make the boss very happy!

I will continue to use him for future training and I HIGHLY recommend Larry for Initial and recurrent training.

James Baldwin
Chief Pilot, Bridwell Oil Co,
CE-550
ATP, CFII, SEL & MEL