Jake got his passion for aviation from his father. He received his private pilot license after his freshman year in college. While working at Boeing, he continued his flight training on the evenings and weekends earning his instrument rating. When nearing his commercial check ride, he decided to resign from Boeing to focus full time on flight training. he began with Ideal Aviation in 2022 and loves witnessing students transform from no flight time to PIC!
Shawn spent seven years in active duty Air Force as a Crew Chief. After leaving active duty, he decided he would rather fly! He completed his flight training at Southern Utah University, and is excited for his first position as a helicopter pilot instructor with Ideal Aviation!
Dan graduated from St Louis University with a B.S. in Aeronautics in 2008. After working for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for over 12 years, the call of the sky was too loud to ignore. He decided to become a Flight Instructor so he could share with others the wonders of flight.
Dan has been with Ideal Aviation since 2022.
Don began his flight experience working on his PPL in 2016 at C77. He finished the next year at KDKB. In 2021 he started training with ATP and received his instrument and commercial ratings. He went on to become a customer of Ideal Aviation where he received his CFI!
Kimberly Nagel
Kimberly Nagel was born and raised in the St. Louis metro-east area. Her education has been focused on management and accounting. She was on the Dean’s List and a member of the honor society. Kimberly started at Ideal Aviation in 2012. She was offered a position at FlightSafety International in 2019 which she accepted but returned to Ideal Aviation in 2022 to be closer to home. Although not a pilot, she has had the opportunity to fly many aircraft including Maul, Cessna 150, 172, SR-22 Turbo, Piper Arrow, Pilatus PC-12, Cessna Citation 1SP, and an airship! She also has several simulator hours in Embraer 145, 170, and CRJ 200.
Audrey Harris
Audrey Harris is a St. Louis county native who has spent her entire life around aviation. She is currently finishing her Bachelor Of Science degree at Saint Louis University for Aviation Management. Audrey is a fixed-wing Private Pilot working toward her Instrument Rating when she is not helping customers at the front desk. She has held the position of Office Manager since July 2021.
Collin Robertson
Collin was locally raised in Glen Carbon, IL. His love of flying helicopters was sparked while serving in the United States Navy and once out he completed his training at Upper Limit Aviation in Salt Lake City, UT. He has built over 900 flight hours and has been instructing with Ideal since July 2021.
Casey Kroeker was born and raised in St. Louis. He grew up dreaming about flying helicopters and after serving active duty in the US Army Infantry, he used his GI bill and pursued his dream of flight training. Now he is a CFI and close to completing his CFII. He has been instructing with Ideal since August of 2021.
or form, he has earned commercial glider, airplane, and helicopter certificates. More than anything, he loves to teach and holds CFI and CFII ratings in airplanes and helicopters. The Air Force brought him to the St Louis area in 2003 and he continues to serve as a Flight Surgeon in the Reserves. Josh has been instructing with Ideal since April of 2021.
Brett is from Highland, IL. He pursued his aviation dream at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL up to Commercial Multi-Engine. After graduating in May of 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree of Applied Science in Aviation Management and an Associate’s degree of Science in Aviation Flight, he received his CFI training from Midwest Aviation in Marion, IL while attending SIU. Brett has been instructing with Ideal since January of 2022.
Billy is a Saint Louis native. He was on active duty in the marine corps for 4 years and reserve for another 4. He has been flying helicopters since March of 2019 and is currently working on his CFII in the Southwestern Illinois College Aviation Program. Billy has been instructing with Ideal since January of 2022.
riginally from California, Jason spent 20 years as an Air Force officer and C-130 Navigator. His final assignment landed him in the Metro-East area where he soon found himself flying helicopters, completing his training through CFII, and beginning a second career. Currently, a utility and 135 pilot for a local operator, Jason has been a part-time and check instructor with Ideal Aviation since 2019.