Introducing Ryan Guthridge, Chief Ground Instructor

Omaha – The Aviation Institute welcomed a new faculty member in January. Ryan Guthridge joined the Aviation Institute as its chief ground instructor. In this role, Ryan works with Skip Bailey, the flight training coordinator, to oversee UNO’s professional flight program. Ryan is the point of contact with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the Institute’s Part 141 ground school courses, which are an integral part of the restricted Air Transport Pilot program (rATP). Students who complete their degrees and flight training through UNO’s FAA approved rATP program are able to begin their careers as airline pilots much sooner than pilots who train with other programs.

Ryan is also serving as coach of the Flying Mavs, UNO’s intercollegiate flight team, which will compete at nationals in Columbus, Ohio, in May. Ryan’s passion for competitive flying comes from his days as an undergraduate at the University of North Dakota (UND), where he was recognized as the nation’s top pilot by the National Intercollegiate Flying Association. After his days at UND, Ryan pursued an MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas and worked in the industry gaining valuable experience in designing GPS approaches for commercial aircraft and utilizing fixed wing and unmanned aerial systems (drones) for data collection in agriculture.

Originally from Iowa, Ryan is excited to lend his talents and experience to UNO’s aviation program. Who knows, he may even become a Maverick hockey fan!