I had the pleasure of having John Leavitt as my flight instructor during my accelerated pilot program in Palmer, Alaska. Not only did John teach me all the things I needed to know in order to become a safe and competent pilot, but more importantly, he taught me the things I “should” know. His nuanced approached to teaching, such as reading winds off the water, and flying in such a way as to preserve aircraft systems and parts, are tools that make a tremendous difference in student pilot development. John is punctual, professional, and never cuts corners pertaining to safety precautions. As a student, you will inevitably reach a point in your flight training that makes you question if becoming a pilot is the right choice. John will work tirelessly to ensure you surpass these hurdles, and accomplish your aviation goals. Due to John’s expertise and wealth of experience, I highly recommend him as a CFI for the beginner pilot, or the advanced pilot who is looking to enhance his/her skills. I am a better pilot for having done so.
There's lots of good pilots out there. There's even more good teachers. But there are very few good pilots AND teachers-and you're ahead of the game already by knowing John Leavitt. I met John and didn't know the difference between a Cessna and a super cub. I spent three weeks with him and came out of his training not only knowing that I'm a safe pilot, but a confident one. I would recommend him to anyone serious about getting better and that is willing to put in the work. He puts a lot of energy into instructing, and expects the same from you. 10/10 I'll be heading back for more training with John