American Air Flight Training, Inc.

Warbird Weekend at PDK Airport! WW II military trainers and fighter aircraft are on display this weekend. Rides are being given in some of the aircraft.

A beautiful new paint scheme on this 1976 Cessna 182P airplane! I spotted it on the Aero Center ramp at PDK airport this weekend. The best colors and scheme I have seen on this type of aircraft.

On a flight from Atlanta DeKalb-Peachtree airport to the Charleston area and back. Putting break-in hours on a freshly-overhauled engine in a Beech Bonanza A36. Soaring over Kiawah Island and the Atlantic Ocean. Seeing the ocean and the beach in the wintertime warms my sole!

PAT EPPS - Aviation Legend has died at the age of 91. He passed away on November 14, 2025. I have been away from the DeKalb-Peachtree airport for several days and I just found out about this a few days ago. Pat and two of his brothers started Epps Air Service in 1965. I worked at Epps for several years, starting as a lineman in 1972, then a flight instructor and finally as the manager of his flight school. I also flew some jet charter for him.

Pat was a successful business leader, a highly-accomplished pilot, an adventurer, a risk-taker, a visionary, a philanthropist and a mentor. He was strong-willed and a very caring man. He helped many men and women get started in their aviation careers and he was supportive of them as they struggled to be successful.

Pat opened several doors of opportunity for me while I worked for him and later when I started my own flight school. While managing his flight school, he believed in me and he approved the investment of money and time in several programs that I proposed and developed. Two of these programs were the Citation Jet Type Rating Course and the Wheelchair Pilot Courses.

I, like many others, owe a lot of my success in aviation to Pat Epps. Pat set a great example for all of us. Thank you Pat - it has been a real honor to have known you and worked with you. I pray for the Epps family during the time of grieving.
Steve Shaner

Time for Some Proficiency Flight Practice?
Steve provides proficiency training in our simulator and Piper Archer LX airplane on VFR and IFR skills, including advanced and emergency procedures. If you want to start or complete a course, such as Private Pilot or the Instrument Pilot Rating, Steve has a thorough and professional program for each. Steve has been a full-time flight instructor for over 50 years and he was a former FAA-Designated Pilot Examiner for 32 years.

If you have been out of flying for several years and wish to return, Steve has a special program for that as well. Steve also provides regular proficiency maintenance training and practice on VFR, IFR and emergency procedures and some pilots see him once a month in this program. Give him a call today at 770-455-4203 or email him at [email protected].

OOPS! At DeKalb-Peachtree airport, this Bombardier Global Express Jet made the turn from taxiway Alpha to taxiway Hotel a little too far off center. The left main landing gear went off the pavement and into the dirt, which cannot support that much weight. The wheels sank deep into the dirt and they were stuck. Workers had to dig a deep trench and create a ramp in the dirt to roll it out. Two huge, heavy-duty tow trucks with cables attached to the aircraft were used hours later to pull it out of the ditch and onto the taxiway. There was one minor injury - to the pilot's pride.

Congratulations to Gary Foote!
Gary has completed training for his Commercial Pilot course with me and also passed his Commercial checkride with Dan Emin. Gary did excellent on his knowledge test and the checkride. He has now purchased a 2020 Cirrus SR22T. We are currently conducting proficiency training for him in the Cirrus.

Flat Tire on the Runway at PDK airport
Recently a Cessna 172 had a flat tire on the runway at DeKalb-Peachtree airport on the weekend. They were unable to secure the right equipment to move the plane back to the ramp or to change the tire. The pilot and some volunteers were able to push it to the ramp with a make-shift device that didn't work very well. It was a 3 - hour trip back to the ramp.

A vintage airplane recently visited PDK airport - a 1949 Beechcraft A35 Bonanza. At 74 years old, it still looks great!

Congratulations to Brian Morgan
Bryan has completed his Commercial pilot course at American Air and passed his FAA check ride with Dan Emin. Dan said Bryan did excellent all the way through. Bryan also completed his tailwheel course earlier at American Air and he now owns a new Cirrus SR22T. He continues to take regular pilot proficiency training with us. Brian is an orthopedic surgeon in Atlanta.