Yuma News Now

Yuma, Arizona - Arizona Western College will be offering a Private Pilot Ground School (TEC 111) course during the fall semester. The course will be instructed by Mike Taylor, who has an extensive background in aviation. This course is being offered to anyone interested in pursuing a career in aviation or to anyone with personal flying goals in mind. 

Private Pilot Ground School willprepare students for the FAA private pilot written examination.  Airplane systems, meteorology, federal aviation regulations, aeronautical charts, radio navigation, the flight computer, and other topics will be covered in sufficient depth throughout the semester.

The instructor of the course, Mike Taylor, first learned to fly in 1975 at Yuma Int’l Airport with a company called Aero International. He was a working college student and was able to fly one hour a week on his limited income. Every weekend he would look forward to scheduling a flight at Yuma Int’l. It took 52 weeks to get his private pilot’s license. Eventually he earned his commercial and instrument ratings along with his CFI (certified flight instructor rating).

During this process he was teaching science at Yuma High School (YHS). From 1987-1989, he implemented and taught an Aviation / Aerospace Physics Class at YHS. During this course he encouraged students to pursue aviation careers. One day a student asked why he did not become an airline pilot, since he was so excited about flying. He did not have a good answer.

So in 1989, Taylor left education and accepted a job with an airline flying B-727 turbojet aircraft. He became a check airman with the airline training new pilots. However, 3 days after the 1st Gulf War the airline closed. He flew B-727s with a freight airline until returning to education in 1992.

Taylor’s experience in aviation has provided a number of opportunities. From 1992 to the present date, he has instructed pilots as a CFI, towed aerial banners and has worked as an aircraft mechanic.

Taylor’s current FAA certificates include: