I am a CFI, CFI-I, and MEI with hundreds of hours instructing private, instrument, commercial, and CFI-I applicants with more than 80% first-time pass success rate. Currently a PC-12 turbo-prop pilot

Find out more about Maggie

• 1) What age did you start playing sport? Tell us about this time or moment in your life.

  While working in emergency medical services in 2020, I had the privilege to work alongside state troopers who were flying helicopters all day every day. That got me very interested, and three months later I took my first flight lesson. I had just graduated college two years prior. This was me just after my first flight lesson. I remember feeling very enamored.

• 2) What are your favourite sports; those that you practice at a high level, a simple hobby, and a sport that you'd still like to discover?

  For actual sports, I played soccer and ran cross country and track growing up and all throughout high school - I love to move! For hobbies I enjoy spending time with my pup, traveling, working as an EMT per-diem, skiing, being with friends and family, reading, and many other things.

• 3) What gives you the motivation and passion to pursue your sport?

  Flying is such a thrill and I feel truly privileged to not only be able to do it, but to be part of a community, to learn from others, and to share what I've learned. My friends and family elevate all of this with their support. Plus, it’s just the best job…Like, ever.

• 4) Do you have a sporting achievement that you're particularly proud of?

  I currently feel most proud of: the student I first endorsed for a solo (nerve-wracking as an instructor!), and passing my PC-12 checkride in Texas that started my current journey: commercial turbo-prop pilot. I remember feeling so nervous but the nerves just made me feel more proud when I finished.

• 5) How have your achievements and challenges made you a better sportsperson?

  Achievements always feel nice and give me that extra boost of motivation and determination, however I have learned far more from my failures. Having not just a positive, but a *resilient* mindset has done more for me than anything else. But I’ve only come to learn that through my failures. It’s something you never stop learning.

• 6) If you had to go for a jog with a famous athlete, who would you choose? And what questions would you ask them?

  Jackie Cochran for sure! Bet I could learn a LOT of old-school tricks in the cockpit!

• 7) How do you help people stay motivated?

  You’ve absolutely GOT to have fun. There are so many hard parts in learning to fly (most notably ground knowledge), staying motivated can be tough. I find what helps most with myself, and with the 30-40 students I’ve had, is to break it up, and dumb it down. Take off bite-size chunks. Find what works for you. Sometimes YouTube videos go a loooooong way.

• 8) What makes you a Superprof in sports?

  I love it. Learning how to continuously break down concepts into something easy to understand is forever a challenge for every teacher. Not only does it help my students, but it greatly helps me too. I never get sick of making new connections/meeting new people, finding new ways to explain things, and seeing those lightbulb moments students have. Best feeling ever.