---

Club Manager and 141 Chief Instructor

David St. George learned to fly at Flanders Valley Airport in 1970. Proving that everyone is eventually trainable, he became an FAA Gold Seal Flight Instructor for airplanes (single and multi, instrument, and glider) and serves the Rochester FSDO as an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner. In this capacity, he gives flight tests at any level from sport pilot to ATP and CFI and functions as East Hill Flying Club's 141 Chief Instructor and manager. David holds multi and single engine ATP pilot certificates, with pilot ratings for glider and seaplane. He recently earned his seventh renewal as a Master Instructor and owns an Aeronca Champ so he can build hours for that airline job.

Staff Instructors

We have many other highly-qualified instructors assisting Dave with the flight training duties at the East Hill Flying Club. With the training records maintained by the instructors and communication among the instructors, students are encouraged to utilize any of the available instructors to meet their schedule, without fear of wasting valuable time. Variety in viewpoint combined with a structured syllabus produces a stronger, independent pilot rather than a "clone!"

Eric Hummel is a native of Muncie, Indiana. He became a Private Pilot in 1986 at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C., while serving in the United States Army Band. Eric is a graduate of the University of Iowa, and has been a public school music teacher for 17 years. He holds Single- and Multi-Engine ratings, and since 2001 has completed Commercial, Instrument, and CFI training at EHFC. During the week Eric spends his time hanging around at Lansing High School, where he is locally recognized as the evil "Band Director." He is currently instructing VFR on weekends and holidays in the Cessnas and the Mooney.

Kenny Martin always wanted to fly since he was a kid and finally took his first flight lesson in 1991, he subsequently found out his wife was pregnant with the first of three children! He took his second flight lesson 14 years later and this led to commercial certificates in single and multi-engine airplanes and helicopters with instrument ratings in both...he had to make up for lost time.
     Kenny is currently in his 28th year as a Pennsylvania State Trooper, most recently with the Aviation Unit. First flying a Cessna 206 Stationair and occasionally a 208 Caravan with the Fixed Wing Unit, he is now in the Helicopter Unit flying the venerable Bell 206B Jet Ranger. Ken lives with his family on a small farm outside of Ulster, Pennsylavnia where he also raises Belted Galloway cattle. "With retirement on the horizon I look forward to meeting and flying with the members of East Hill or just talking aviation over coffee (black please)."

Mark Mendelson learned to fly at East Hill more years ago than he cares to remember. We have a neat video of his first flight with John Stickle in 1986 when he used to play in a rock band at the local colleges (he had hair back then). Having served the aviation industry in many capacities, he returns to us as a CFII teaching VFR and IFR in the Cessnas and Mooney.

Mike Thomas: After earning his Private Pilot Certificate and instrument rating, Mike joined the club to pursue his commercial, CFI: Airplane and Instrument certificates. He shares his experience and wit with students on a full-time basis. Mike teaches in the VFR and IFR courses, day and night (all weather) and is Mooney qualified. Mike also recently checked-out in the Citabria and qualified in the new CT-LSA. Mike has given up his contracting business and is working for East Hill full-time.

David Wanagel took his first flying lesson at East Hill in the fall of 1984. After a few years of flying as a private pilot, he decided to pursue other ratings, finally earning his CFI in 1991. David instructed at East Hill for two and a half years before deciding to move to Seattle in the winter of 1993. He returned to Ithaca in the summer of 2008 and recently got reminded by a friend (an East Hill member) how much he missed flying. After some hard work, he reinstated his CFI certificate and hopes to continue on to get checked out in all the East Hill planes as well as earn a CFII. He is currently juggling a full time job as a software engineer with trying to fit in as much flying time as possible. David is instructing day VFR in the Cessnas and the CT-LSA.

The instructors are available for lessons and Discovery Flights throughout the week.

EHFC Hiring CFIs

The EHFC is a busy school and always seeking qualified instructors. If you are a CFI and interested in teaching full or part time, this might be for you. An ideal candidate would have a Part 141 background, teaching experience in Cessnas, and a CFII. However, we'll consider the candidate's particular experience. If you'd like to apply, contact our Chief Instructor, David St. George, at the flying club at (607) 257-1313, or via e-mail here: david's e-mail .