Testimonials
Patrick Drew
Pilatus PC-12, Beechcraft Baron G58, Beechcraft Bonanza A36
I have been flying with Gary Biba for nine years. He has been my primary instructor for my Private, Instrument and Multiengine Ratings. Gary also assisted me in finding and buying a Bonanza, a Baron and most recently a Pilatus. I fly mostly for fun rather than for business. I have flown with my wife and two kids to Vail, Santa Fe, Padre Island, Nashville, both Coasts and many spots in between.
I had very clear objectives when I started flying with Gary. I wanted high-quality instruction that would give me the skills and mindset to fly as safely as possible. I was not interested in someone who was teaching mostly for the purpose of accumulating hours. Nor was I interested in getting a rating in the fewest possible hours. Prior to Gary, I had poor experiences with a couple of instructors who did not have the focus on safety and conservative decision making that I feel is necessary for piloting — especially if you’re going to be flying around with your family in the airplane.
Gary is very experienced and very professional. He is excellent at teaching flying skills and regulations, but more important, he teaches the proper way to think about evaluating the options and risks associated with flying. If you’re going to be flying long, cross-country flights with your family, you need to be making the right decisions with regard to weather, aircraft characteristics, destination airports, your capabilities and more. I feel that Gary has prepared me very well for this environment and, as a result, I’m very comfortable when I’m flying my family in inclement weather or making an approach into a busy airport.
A confirmation of my training came during the multiengine practical test. The examiner was a 20,000-hour King Air/Citation pilot. He has conducted practical tests with hundreds of students. He felt that I was one of the best-prepared and highly skilled candidates that he’d seen. This is more a testament to Gary’s instruction than my brilliance.
Gary and I continue to fly together on a regular basis to maintain my proficiency. He provides management services for my Pilatus and I often use him as a resource when in need of aviation advice. I would absolutely recommend Gary to anyone who is serious about flying.
Snap Pearson
Cirrus SR22, Columbia 400
My primary objective was to learn from an instructor that would ultimately give me the knowledge, ability and confidence to fly safely with my family and friends. Gary Biba has exceeded all my expectations.
My approach to flying may have been a little different than most. I wanted to buy a new plane and have my primary training done in the plane that I would ultimately be flying. Gary helped me find a plane and went above and beyond the call of duty to make owning and training in the new plane a reality. Gary walked me through the purchase process and accompanied me to the factory to pick up the plane. He even went through the factory training to become a Factory Certified Instructor.
It was not until Gary and I went to the factory to bring home the plane that I really began to truly appreciate what a special instructor I had found. Not only was I impressed with Gary’s knowledge and expertise as we went through the factory training, but the factory instructors were equally as impressed and complimentary of Gary.
We all know as pilots that flying is serious business. I can assure anyone looking to become a new pilot or expand their experience with additional training or certification that Gary is one of the most professional and enjoyable people that I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. Flying with Gary has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
Gary, I thank you for all you’ve taught me and look forward to learning much more from you in the future. If anyone would like to personally talk to one of your students, please feel free to have them contact me.
Jim Van Winkle
Beechcraft Baron G58, Beechcraft Bonanza A36
Gary Biba provided me with outstanding, highly professional flight training through my Bonanza and Baron transitions and my Commercial and Instructor Certificates. His positive attitude, professional demeanor and outstanding flying skills have not only made me a better pilot, but have allowed me to thoroughly enjoy the training experience itself. Gary is always on time, always prepared and always a pleasure to fly with. I would highly recommend him to anyone who is serious about becoming a safer, more proficient pilot and having fun getting there!
Kathy Cook
Beechcraft Bonanza V35B
I have a background in engineering, so I have learned to do my homework. When it comes to flight training, I look for several qualities in a flight instructor:
1. Depth of knowledge of the airplane I am flying
2. Solid stick and rudder skills that will keep me safe while I am learning the ropes
3. Easy going personality with a positive attitude for the perfect learning environment
4. True passion for aviation and teaching in general
I have flown with quite a few flight instructors all with varying degrees of each of these attributes. Gary Biba has all of these positive qualities rolled into one person.
Not only did Gary seem to have the Bonanza Pilot’s Operating Handbook memorized, he was able to impart all of the critical information to me without making me feel overloaded at any point.
And all of this while putting up with a woman driver…
I really enjoyed flying with Gary, and I hope to do more training with him in the future.
Terry Rabbitt
Pilatus PC-12, Beechcraft Baron G58, Beechcraft Bonanza G36
Gary Biba is unique, not only does he have a total grasp of the airplane and its avionics, but he also has been given the wonderful and rare talent of being able to teach……… so few people have both.
During the past five years I have had the pleasure of observing Gary both as a pilot and instructor. His skill, knowledge and cockpit-manner are unequaled. I earned my instrument rating, commercial certificate and multiengine rating with Gary and it has been a very rewarding experience. He comes to each lesson (always ahead of time) with a complete lesson plan, which we cover in ground school and then execute in the plane.
Gary’s understanding of the Bonanza and Baron’s characteristics as well as his knowledge of the Garmin G1000 is complete. He is an expert at instrument and multiengine procedures. It has been such a positive learning experience for me to benefit from Gary’s highly organized and disciplined approach to flying.
Most recently, Gary helped me transition into turbine aircraft with the acquisition of a Pilatus PC-12. Our training missions have included flights all across the US, gaining valuable real-world experience. In addition to the flying, Gary handled the purchase and sale of multiple aircraft for me and continues to provide management services for my Pilatus.
Paul Bordelon
Beechcraft Bonanza V35B
When I began my search for a flight instructor, I had four main criteria:
• Depth of knowledge
• Practical experience
• Patience
• Good attitude
Gary Biba has an abundance of all these qualities.
While expert in many aircraft, it was Gary’s knowledge of Bonanzas that impressed me. He has countless hours in many models and has served as an instructor for the Bonanza Pilot Proficiency Program. Additionally, Gary created a custom PAC (power + attitude + configuration) chart and detailed checklists specific to my aircraft. These have proven invaluable and have made me a more thorough, process-driven pilot.
Above all, Gary has a great right-seat manner. He is always calm, confident and focused on the tasks at hand. Time spent in the cockpit with Gary is fun and I’m always impressed by how much we’re able to accomplish in each lesson. Under Gary’s instruction, I completed the Bonanza transition and earned my Instrument Rating. Based on my experience, I would highly recommend Gary to anyone seeking a flight instructor.
Harold Skaggs
Beechcraft Bonanza A36
Flying in general, and instrument flying in particular, require rigorous training and attention to detail. In my seamless transition to a retractable-gear Bonanza, Gary Biba was a careful guide and mentor for success. My comprehensive instruction tackled everything from emergency descents, emergency-gear extension and engine-out recovery to the dreaded “door opens in flight.”
I return to Gary for refresher sessions, semiannual reviews and recurrent training. His skill, familiarity with Bonanzas and his humor make for an exceptional package in a flight instructor. I am confident that every student — no matter what level of competence or experience — will feel encouraged and confident with the training received.
Russell Grigsby
Cessna 441 Conquest, Cessna 206
Gary Biba was my instructor for my Instrument and Multiengine Ratings over a period of two and a half years. I found him to be extremely professional and very thorough. He has a strong grasp of the information needed and is able to teach in a way that is clear and understandable.
My skills as a pilot improved drastically over the period that I worked with Gary. He is easygoing yet persistent in teaching. He taught me procedures, safety lessons and processes that have stuck with me throughout my flying career. I would strongly recommend him as an instructor and have done so on numerous occasions.
David Lastrapes
Beechcraft Bonanza A36
I began flying with Gary soon after I decided to become a pilot in 2000. I knew from the start that I wanted to fly an A36 Bonanza and Gary was the perfect instructor. Gary has owned an A36 and spent many hours with American Bonanza Society experts on this aircraft. He was very familiar with flight characteristics, systems and emergency procedures. I completed the Bonanza transition course and went on to earn Commercial certificate. I know I received an excellent education as a pilot.
Gary is a fine teacher who has an in-depth knowledge of FAA regulations, wisdom from many years of flying and familiarity with the latest and greatest in the aviation world due to his annual pilgrimage to Oshkosh. He also has the insight to understand the strengths and weaknesses of his students. I still use Gary for my Instrument Proficiency Checks and Flight Reviews and it’s very comforting to fly with someone who knows what I’m good at and thus where to focus our time in recurrent training.
Finally, I truly enjoy my time flying with Gary. We’ve been through a lot, including formation training and touring Oshkosh together. He has a fun and easygoing style, but he never compromises the mission, safety or the integrity of his job. I would recommend Gary to any pilot seeking an outstanding aviation instructor.
Charlie Morina
Challenger 600, Eclipse 500, Beechcraft Baron 58, Beechcraft Bonanza A36
I worked with Gary Biba on both my Instructor and Airline Transport Pilot Certificates. Gary has to be one of the most-organized and best-prepared instructors I’ve ever flown with — and that includes staff at Flight Safety and SimuFlite. He makes every minute of our lessons as productive as they can possibly be.
Gary is very flexible in terms of the services he can provide. If you’ve never flown before and want to get started, he can handle that. He also has an excellent record with people working on advanced ratings.
In my specific case, I didn’t need a lot of instruction because it was more convenient for me to do my flying with someone closer to Houston. Gary flew with me at my request to review what I had learned and to provide pointers for my practical tests. His input was very useful to me, and I passed all my practical tests on the first attempt!
Gary has a very laid-back teaching style that is professional but never intimidating. He comes prepared and ready to teach, and you will not find a more conscientious instructor for your training dollar. Gary instructs because he loves to instruct, and when you’re doing something you love, it shows in the way you perform.
Jeffrey Minch
Beechcraft Bonanza A36
I hope that this note finds everything well for you and yours.
Well, the long, arduous course is over. I am finally a Private Pilot and now, of course, the rains have begun. I guess I really will have to finish my Instrument Rating sometime soon. Otherwise, I may never get a chance to fly again.
Thanks for all your hard work preparing me for the final phases of my Private Pilot Certificate. You taught me many practical things but, most important, you have taught me to think and to do things that are based on sound reasoning rather than just by rote.
I look forward to continuing our work together for my Instrument and Multiengine Ratings, as well as making the transition into other aircraft.
I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you. I learned a lot and I appreciate your professional, productive approach. Thank you.
Bill Aikman
Beechcraft Baron 58, Husky A1-B, Beechcraft Bonanaza P35
Over the past ten years, I’ve had the privilege of receiving hundreds of hours of advanced flight training from Gary Biba. I’ve been a pilot for 50 years. During that time, I have flown with numerous flight instructors — some good, some not so good. Gary is by far the finest instructor that I have encountered in my many years in aviation.
To be a successful flight instructor, a pilot must have a real passion for flying and love to teach. Gary has both of those attributes. He is truly an exceptional pilot and instructor.
Flight Training • Pilot or Copilot Services • Aviation Consulting
Aircraft Purchase and Sales Assistance • Aircraft Management
