Above: Daughter Grace and I flying a King Air in 2022
I started instructing in 1991. I’ve watched some really talented people get the award for CFI of the Year. When I saw Larry Enlow get it in 1992, I knew I wanted it “someday”. When I returned to aviation in 2020, I set my sights on being selected. I was recently selected as the 2024 Honoree for the Orlando District. I am still in the running for the Southern Region, and if I pass that hurdle, the Nation.
Here is the official release from Bob Jex, who is one of the key men in this program:
John Tenney selected as Orlando FSDO CFI of the Year!
FAASTeam Volunteer John W. Tenney has been selected as the Orlando FSDO’s CFI of the Year for the 2023 – 2024 GA Awards cycle, a collaborative project between FAA and Industry (NPP01). As such, he is also the winner of the Larry D. Enlow CFI of the Year memorial award as well. The Enlow Award is an Industry-only award that parallels the GA Award program.
The announcement was made earlier this week. Tenney succeeds Bob Raskey, currently your national CFI of the Year.
John primarily instructs with 4S Aviation, LLC, as program manager for their Pilatus and KingAir courses. He also provides specialized instruction and flight services for numerous private clients in cabin-class twins. Tenney also serves with the prolific Orlando area FAASTeam, covering both the Orlando Executive Airport (ORL) and the Orlando International Airport (MCO).
Tenney hosts a monthly “Hangar Talk” forum and regularly assists with presentation of FAASTeam safety seminars at ORL. He will be recognized in ceremonies tentatively scheduled for February 7th; 7pm at Atlantic Aviation KORL. National finalists are undergoing selection; national winners will be announced late next month.
Congratulations, John, and best wishes!
FMI on the GA Awards program, check out generalaviationawards.com
Regional and National Awards also possible
I would be honored to represent the nation’s flight instructors if the opportunity presents itself. It should be announced by the end of March.
Who Helped Me?
I have had many mentors, instructors and good friend along the way who have influenced me, and many others. I want to list them here and thank them for being in my life.
First of course I want to thank my wife Kathleen, and my daughters Grace and Sophie, who have been with me through all of this. Even though they are not huge fans of flying, they are supportive of my activities.
I will split them in to three groups: Emeritus (passed on), Old Guard, and Up and Coming.
Emeritus (I miss you)
Bruce Campbell
Bruce was a respected Navy veteran, who did pilot services and aircraft management for some nice aircraft on the west ramp, including a B58 Baron and a Shrike Commander. I really wanted to do more with Bruce. He was a funny guy and very well respected. I managed to get in a business deal with him, and we got to know each other. We became family. Bruce once said that I was “much nicer once he got to know me” ha ha. Probably true.
Bruce and I eventually teamed up with Gary Burdsall of Able Aviation and started a satellite office to do 135 ops out of KORL. That was a learning experience to say the least. It was my first experience as a company instructor. I learned a lot about working closely with the FAA. This was helpful in many ways further down the line.
Bruce and I stayed friends right up until his death in 2016. I miss him every day and I’m reminded of him every time I go by the airport.
Larry Enlow
Larry was both my mentor and (initially) my nemesis. We became instructors at the same time and worked in rival clubs. I knew he was really good, because he took several students from me. To be fair, I did the same to him. I know it really annoyed him when I introduced him to people as “the second best instructor at the airport” but he always smiled through it. Later on, when he became an examiner and later an inspector, we buried the past and became good friends. I still teach his Cessna 172 walkaround technique. Larry passed away a few years ago doing what he loved, flying, and flying a Stearman as well. I am especially honored to also receive The Larry Enlow Award this year as well, for commitment to safety and general aviation.
Enlow intersection is named for him, so think of him every time you do an approach to runway 25 at KORL.
Lenny Francis
I met Lenny through CAP. He and Jim Grady owned the CAP Flying Club. I learned to fly in the club, instructed in the club and ended up being the club chief instructor. Lenny would have me check out all the other instructors eventually.
Lenny was a character, there is no denying that. He could stir up trouble with the best of them. Heart of gold though. Lenny would lend you the shirt off his back to help you. Yeah he was loud, boisterous and quite controversial but everyone that knew him, misses him greatly.
Jim Grady
Jim was the quiet half of the Jim and Lenny partnership, except when he laughed. He had a really loud, funny laugh. He used to get embarrassed by it but we all loved it. I flew with Jim every year in his old C210 with wing struts. He wanted to fly with me to stay current. Jim impressed me as a CAP Mission Commander. He was very experienced in delegating duties and maintaining safety.
Ken Mayfield
Ken was the chief pilot for Florida Gulf and later Mesa. He taught me something very important. “Yes you have to stick to the rules, but never let common sense get away from you.” Ken always had my back. I miss him (died in 2020).
Rick Groth
Rick mostly taught me how NOT to do things really. He was a great friend and very entertaining, but he thought rules were meant to get around. He brought me in as Chief Pilot/Check Airman for Air Orlando Charter for many reasons but he confided in me once that it was primarily to “get the FAA off his back.” Steve Moore told me the same thing. See below. Rick and I had some great times and great stories – see more here.
The Old Guard
Some of these folks will be mad at me for calling them old, but well …
Glen Perkins, CFI
I was about to give up on flying when I met Glen. He convinced me I was capable and able to learn not only to fly, but to be a professional pilot and instructor. He is an interesting guy, with a stunning history as a Viet Nam POW while in the USAF. More on his story here. I’ve been trying to reach Glen, but been unable to so far. He took me all the way from Private to Instrument Instructor.
Paul Allen
Paul Allen, owner of Pilot Services, Inc, was always flying out of Executive Air Center at KORL, and a lot of different airplanes, too. He was not friendly at first. He considered me one of those, young, “hot-shot”, here and gone in a minute flight instructors. I was determined though, and I talked to him every chance I got, hoping some day he would give me a chance to fly with him, or more to the point, fly for him as one of his contract pilots.
Finally, he decided to give me a chance. He gave me some back up flying for him, including photo flights for Harold Kyle, and some Cessna 172 flights for some law firms. Gradually, he moved me up to larger, faster aircraft. I am in his debt for trusting me with his clients. In fact, he has helped me establish my new company using his business model.
Later on, when Paul was having difficulties with some FAA issues, he came to me and I was able to help him in return, which made us both feel better.
Obie Young
Even though Obie and I have never flown together, he has made a huge impact in my life. He’s made a huge impact in aviation in general. Obie recruited me as an Accident Prevention Counselor, later as an Aviation Safety Counselor and most recently a member of the FAA Safety Team. Add to that the FAA Production Crew, which became the Florida Aviation Network, well you could say Obie doesn’t need any more hobbies. He sponsored me in to the Ancient Order of Quiet Birdmen as well. Obie thank you for being there as a friend. mentor and ruthless director!
Bob Jex
A fellow QB, I look forward to meeting with Bob and Obie on a monthly basis for purposes of expanding and promoting general aviation.
Diego Alfonso
Diego helped me get my Multi rating, and we flew together many times for pilot services. We share a lot of jokes and stories together. Diego taught me the three types of knowledge in Aviation: “1: The stuff the FAA wants you to know, you learn all of that you have to. 2) Stuff that impresses girls at parties, you learn all of that you want to. 3) Stuff that keeps you from balling it up at the end of the runway, you learn all of that you can.” His son Diego Jr. is also a great mentor of mine. I love Diego’s philosophy: “You never have to be anywhere!”
Doug Anderson
I met Doug in 1998, when he was the chief instructor for Comair Aviation Academy in Sanford. He put me to work instructing Chinese National students in old, beat up King Air 90s. At that time I was very happy to do so, since I was not a captain yet, and wanted the turbine PIC time. He came to a hangar talk in 2022 and said “Remember that job I gave you back then? It’s your turn now. Let’s fly some King Airs.”
We currently fly a couple of them on a regular basis, and he is my highest paid pilot at EPS.
John Stevens
Although John has been around the airport for a long time, I only met him recently, in 2021. He was the #2 pilot for Greenway Auto Dealers at the time. He and Steve Scheiber were gracious enough to show me around the PC-12 that they flew.
The next year, I started teaching the PC-12 at a local facility. They came in for recurrent and requested me as their instructor. We hit it off and I quickly became the go to guy to sub if either of them had to take a day off. It was thrilling, especially flying the other plane, a beautiful PC-24 Pilatus Jet.
Briefly I was the #2 guy, when Steve left to go to the airlines. I couldn’t keep the position for various reasons, but included the fact that Greenway wanted a full time pilot. I am still the #3 pilot and the first John calls when he needs a sub. We have had some great times together flying around the country, and we and our wives are rapidly becoming close friends.
Stan and Mary Wood
Two great instructors. Mary flew with me several times and taught me many tips and tricks, including “check to make sure the Flippers Flip and the Floppers Flop”, a great favorite of mine. Stan gave me a detailed and very memorable lesson on how Turbine Engines Work. Seriously, I will never forget that lesson on a white board, all of us sitting around on the floor of the hallway in hangar 227. We also worked together at SIMCOM.
Mike McCormick
Mike was my “boss” as the CAP Chief Check Pilot for Florida Wing. He trained me to replace him, and later on I went on to work as a National Check Pilot at CAPHQ in Maxwell. He taught me a lot, including how to be patient and work through red tape.
Tod Marcus
Tod was my instructor at Mesa, and did my B1900 type ride. He was “the most chill” examiner I ever met. I vowed if I ever got in to a check airman position (which I did shortly after) I would emulate him. He really knew how to make the candidate relax and not get “checkitis”.
Steve Moore
I met Steve when he was a fairly new inspector for the Orlando FSDO. Even though Ron Morgan was our POI, Steve ended up doing most of our inspections, and most of my check rides. He was impressed with my professionalism, which impressed me, because I didn’t always feel that professional. Steve was good for my confidence.
Scott Sindelar
Scott and I met at Mesa. I flew with him a few times in the 1900. Scott is very well known. He proves one of my aphorisms: “It’s not who you know, but who knows you.” It’s very difficult to walk around Executive Airport and not hear “Oh yeah I know Scott.” He is a great connector, laid back guy, and all around good person. Scott was instrumental in helping us get EPS going.
Steve Brady
Steve Brady took over for Steve Moore as our check pilot at Air Orlando Charter. I had known him since he was a private student of Larry Enlow’s in the Aero Club. We’ve always compared notes and supported each other. Too many little details to mention here but he makes me a better pilot.
Greg Ramola
Greg and I worked together at Mesa but we didn’t start flying together until recently. Greg built his own RV-7, pictured here. I love riding in it with him!
Greg is a very professional pilot, currently a training captain with jetBlue, recently qualified as an Airbus captain. He is dedicated to learning as much about the equipment he is flying at all times, a great safety technique.
Greg, his wife Lynn, and his son Justin are often seen with me and my family at restaurants as far south as Kissimmee and as far north as Savannah.
Up and Coming
Mark Livernois
Mark is a young pilot but diligently working to get better all the time. He is truly a “student of aviation.” I expect great things from him, as a strong leader in the Hangar Talk group.
Mike O’Leary
Mike currently flies for United in the B737, a plane I really love. He is another strong leader in the Hangar Talk group.
Charles “Chip” Dolan
I met Chip through an online flight simulator/ATC group. I flew up to Daytona to meet him and we immediately clicked. He is going down the maintenance path, which is another area aviation always needs help. Chip has always been supportive of not just me, but all of those around him.
Mike Harding
He is a legend in Orlando as “the puppy pilot.” Part of a puppy relocation program, Mike often flies to Enterprise, Alabama to pick up a plane load of abandoned puppies and brings then to Central FL, where they are matched with “adoption parents.”
He is know for his lengthy and rather interesting stories. You get the two of us in a room together be prepared. There will be stories!