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Doug joined the Fly Above All team as a basic instructor in 2004, and in 2007 he received his Advanced Instructor certification. Doug describes his passion for flying and teaching.

"Ever since I was young I've had a passion for flight, and have always surrounded myself with activities related to aviation. But it wasn't until I was introduced to paragliding that I was able to fully realize the enjoyment of aviation in its most pure form. I was immediately hooked!

I received my Novice Pilot Certification through the Fly Above All program in early 2002, and was quickly welcomed into the local flying community. It was then that I realized just how special Santa Barbara free flight flying could be. In addition to the numerous flying sites in close proximity, I found a local flying community with a level of excitement, positive attitude and passion that I had yet to see in any other activity.

I continued my paragliding education by flying often with local instructors, attending paragliding clinics, and working to absorb as much information as possible. Of the many skills I learned, the most valuable has been to maintain a strong emphasis on safety and safe piloting decisions. My conservative flying attitude, attention to detail, and focus on long term safety has helped me remain accident free throughout my flying career.

In addition to flying, I have always enjoyed teaching new skills to others. For several years during college I worked as a sailing instructor, always looking back on that as the perfect job. Later, while in graduate school, I was a tutor for math and science, and taught engineering students as a teaching assistant. No matter what the subject, I've always been drawn to the challenge, excitement, and sense of accomplishment when my students perfect a skill.

By working so closely with my paragliding instructors during the first few years of my flying career, I was given the opportunity to help teach new students as an instructor apprentice. It felt very natural to be teaching again. And, being able to combine two of my passions, teaching and flying, into a single job, what could be better? Perhaps this really is the perfect job!

My goal as an instructor is to help new pilots develop a solid foundation of skills, with an emphasis on the safe piloting decisions, which will allow them to experience the special joy of free flight for many years to come."

Fly Above All is delighted to welcome Doug Gotthard as a USHPA Advanced Paragliding Instructor.