Gus is the designated school dog for ATD Flight Systems. His very important duties include demanding belly rubs and treats from students in between flights. In his free time, he enjoys chasing squirrels, naps, and trips to the North Kansas City dog park.

Neal has been flying for over fifteen years. He has an A&P license and worked as a technician for Textron Aviation for 7 years. He received a Masters of Science in Aeronautics with a focus on Aviation Safety from Embry-Riddle in 2016. Neal is passionate about aviation and ensuring that his students receive the highest level of training.

Contact Neal today at 316-680-9423.

Andrew became hooked on aviation after taking his very first flight in a small airplane with the Young Eagles Association at the age of ten. He began working towards his career in aviation with ground school courses during his senior year of high school before heading off to K-State at Salina for his college education in Aviation. At K-State, Andrew obtained his CFI, CFII and MEI, along with his AGI and IGI certificates, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Technology.

Andrew was thrilled to be given the opportunity to instruct for the university during his last semester, and continued instructing at ATD after moving back to Kansas City post graduation. Andrew’s enthusiasm and dedication was quickly evident, and in 2009, Andrew was named Chief Pilot for ATD, making him the youngest Captain in ATD charter history. In 2012, Andrew expanded his career, becoming a pilot for Wolfe Automotive Group followed by Airshare. He came back to ATD full-time in 2019 and he looks forward to a fulfilling career in the Kansas City aviation industry for years to come.

At 14 I had a job before and after school, working on a dairy farm in southern Colorado where I grew up. My boss had a friend that worked at the local airport as a crop duster and flight instructor. Having watched his handiwork in our fields, I was fascinated by all of it. Knowing this, my boss gave me a “flight lesson” for my 15^th birthday. The airplane was a Grumman Tiger.  As we settled into the canopy cockpit, my instructor nudged me and said, we don’t normally give lessons in this plane, but it’s just a whole lot more fun…He was right.  The experience planted the seed that became a lifelong love of aviation.

After earning my private’s pilots license at 17 I went on to earn a degree in Aviation tech from UCM and continue to be an active member of the Aviation Alumni. I have had a multitude of aviation experiences from working the flight line at MKC, to ferry pilot, to grid mapping pilot, to flight instructor.

Teaching is an opportunity to give back to aviation and hopefully help others find the joy in aviation that I found as a 15-year-old boy flying in a Grumman Tiger for the first time.