Cindy Carter
Cindy Carter was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado.  She got her interest in flying from her father. He served as a crew member on a B-17 during WWII. Cindy received her private certificate in March of 1985 and then worked her way through the other certificates and ratings while enjoying the challenge of flying in the Rocky Mountains. In 1991 she was awarded one of the prestigious Amelia Earhart Scholarships from the 99's to obtain her Flight Instructor certificate. In 1998 she married her best friend and the love of her life, Bob Carter, who is an Air Traffic Controller at the Asheville airport. Having moved to Western North Carolina, she started flight instructing for a living. Cindy is an active member of the WNC Pilots Association where she  serves as president and she is an active member of the WNC Air Museum. She is a past member of the Pikes Peak 99s and the International 99s. The 99s, an international organization of women pilots, was founded in 1929 by 99 licensed women pilots for the mutual support and advancement of aviation. Contact Cindy Carter at 828-693-5266

Dustin McGrath
Dustin McGrath started his aviation career in the Navy as a jet mechanic working on F-18 aircraft while assigned to the Wildcats of VFA-131. He was also stationed at Sigonella, Sicily, where he performed powerplant maintenance on turboshaft engines for H-3 and H-46 helicopters. His travels in the military ignited a passion for adventure that led to the pursuit of becoming a professional pilot through Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, where he graduated with honors. During college Dustin also served as Vice President of the Northern Arizona Aerobatic Club. After college he earned his FAA powerplant mechanic license, CFI, CFII and MEI. Dustin has instructed at Tradewinds Aviation in Detroit for both primary and advanced students. Since 2005 he has been flying the Canadair regional jet for ASA, Delta Connection. Dustin has thousands of hours in the cockpit, mechanical expertise, and a passion for teaching the magic of flight. Contact Dustin McGrath at (828) 684-2022 or (928) 710-5747.

Martin "Frank" Muir
Martin began his aviation career on the flight line of a local FBO in Champaign IL in 1998.  He worked for the Flightstar Corporation at CMI for 5 years while he went to college at the University of Illinois. He earned his Airframe and Powerplant Maintenance license as well as pilot certification, commercial and CFII.  Martin graduated from the University with a B.S. in Aviation Human Factors.  After graduation he worked as part-time staff for the University of Illinois instructing private pilot students and instrument students.  In 2005 he married his beautiful wife Kate and realized that the life of a commercial pilot did not suit him nor his wife and the lifestyle they had envisioned.  After the wedding Martin and Kate came home from their honeymoon and days later moved to Pittsburgh PA where he began school at the Community College of Beaver County.  He enrolled in a three semester course for Air Traffic Control.  In 2007 Martin was hired by the FAA and began working as an Air Traffic Controller at Asheville Regional Airport, where he earned the nickname "Frank."  Martin enjoyed a few months of instructing with Falcon Airlink in 2008 before the company unfortunately dissolved and closed.  Martin is available for part-time instructing and biennial flight reviews.  He can be contacted by phone or email.  (412) 335-3937 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

John Gaitskill
John began flying in 1975 in Lexington, Kentucky earning his private pilot in April 1976, commercial certificate with instrument and multi-instrument ratings in 1977.  He became a CFI in 1979 after moving to the Chicago area.  He added instrument instructor and multi-engine ratings to his CFI.  John has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from University of Kentucky.  In 1984 he bought a share in a 1968 Skyhawk, which is all his now and is based at Hendersonville.  He has landed his Skyhawk in each of the lower 48 states and the Bahamas.  John has rented aircraft in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Greece, France, England, Spain, St. Petersburg, Russia, and Hong Kong and flown to Grand Cayman.  He has been actively instructing since earning his CFI, in Frankfort, Kankakee and Lansing, Illinois.  John operated a sole proprietor flight school and rental business with a Cessna 150 at Lansing, IL from 1986-1991. He has over 6800 hours, about half of which is in his Skyhawk.  John is available for instruction for private and commercial certificates, add-on ratings, and BFRs and ICCs, as well as custom cross country packages.  John is also the lead representative for the FAASTeam Program for Western North Carolina, helping to organize Wings Program safety meetings.  He can be contacted at 708-828-7275 and email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

If you are an active independent flight instructor and would like to be added to this listing, please send your contact information as well as a short bio and photo to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it