Edward V. Pasquale
B COMM, ATPL
I have always been fascinated by machinery – and an airplane is a really neat machine. As a teenager I was fortunate to work on my grandfather’s farm where I learned to drive a tractor, a combine harvester and other associated machinery. Whenever the wind was blowing from the northwest, I would occasionally see airplanes maneuvering and descending below the horizon.
I soon found out that there was a local airport 5 miles north of the farm.
In the fall of 1971, I found the airport in a small town called Maple Ontario and signed up for an intro flight. The operator of the school – Maple Air Services Ltd. – enrolled me in their next ground school – 14 weeks over the winter months – and started my flight lessons in the spring once the weather improved. I obtained my Private Pilot license in July of 1972 and kept adding licenses and ratings at a rapid pace. Commercial and instructor by 1974 and ATPL by 1976.
I have flown all of the usual general aviation aircraft, including Cessna, Piper, Mooney and Beechcraft. I joined a College in the Toronto area about 24 years ago. Their fleet at the time was 5 Bonanza BE33 and 2 Baron BE58 aircraft. I also fly the Duke BE60 for a private company.
The first “flying highlight” for me was going solo, then achieving my private pilot’s license. I will always remember my first family passenger – my grandmother – who insisted on being my first passenger.
Commercially, I have 17 type ratings and I fly the Embraer Phenom 300 and 100, the Cessna C550, C525 and C510, as well as the Eclipse 550 aircraft. For turboprop aircraft I fly the Beech King Air 90, 100 and 200, the Piper Meridian series as well as the DAHER TBM 700 thru 940 series.
I am a designated pilot examiner for Transport Canada for Multi and IFR check rides and an ACP which is the Canadian equivalent of a Part 135 check airman.
Although I do not own an aircraft, I mentor many owners in their transition to their newly acquired aircraft. My latest owner has a Phenom 300e with the latest interior, avionics and engine upgrades. Also getting my first jet type rating – on the MS760 Paris Jet – was incredibly exciting.
I believe that BPT represents the pinnacle of training excellence in the Beechcraft series of aircraft. I mostly fly with Canadian pilots who attend a zoom ground session and then arrange a flight with me at their local airport. All BPT instructors attend regular standardization training to keep up with new issues and compare notes on avionics upgrades.
The weekend immersion sessions are one of the unique aspects of BPT. Also, the flexibility to deliver local flight training is a significant advantage. For both a new pilot and an experienced pilot, BPT represents the highest level of experienced Beechcraft instruction available.
For the experienced pilot, BPT instructors can help increase skills in handling the aircraft and importantly, in building confidence.
For all pilots in the BPT network, I am available to answer questions related to Canadian operations.