MEET THE INSTRUCTORS
Who We Are
East aviation partners with Certified Flight Instructors who work independently. Our instructors are partners and use our system to provide excellent and consistent instruction. These independent flight instructors bring years of experience. Schedule your first flight with any of our partnered instructors.
Rick East
Instructor
Rick East is a passionate aviation enthusiast and a Certified Flight Instructor who has dedicated his career to sharing his love for flying with others. He has always been fascinated by aviation and pursued his dream of becoming a pilot, earning his Commercial Pilot Certificate ASEL with an Instrument Rating.
After gaining extensive flying experience, Rick decided to become a Certified Flight Instructor so that he could share his knowledge and expertise with others. He specializes in Piper PA32, and Mooney transition training and owns a Mooney M20 E.
Rick is particularly passionate about teaching primary students, and he enjoys working with new pilots who are just starting their journey in aviation. He is patient, attentive, and takes great care to ensure that his students have a positive learning experience.
When he's not in the cockpit, Rick works as a Financial Planner. He is dedicated to helping his clients achieve their financial goals and uses his expertise to provide personalized investment strategies.
Rick is a devoted family man and spends his free time with his wife Rebecca and their two sons. He enjoys traveling, hiking, and exploring new places. With his extensive flying experience and passion for aviation, Rick East is a highly skilled and knowledgeable flight instructor who is committed to helping his students achieve their goals in aviation.
Sophie R Rogers
Instructor
Becoming a pilot wasn’t anything I ever dreamed about or aspired to be growing up. One day, as my father and I watched a small aircraft flying above us coming in to land, my father said, “Wouldn’t it be great to be flying that little airplane?” I had never given that idea any thought and all of a sudden, at that very moment, a seed was planted. I lived right next to an airport and signed up for flight lessons that week.
My very first flight in a small aircraft was in 1999 and went above and beyond anything I had ever imagined. From that moment forward I was completely swept off my feet. I went from getting my Private Pilot license, to acquiring an instrument rating, multi-engine rating, Commercial and Flight Instructor licenses and finally an Airline Transport Pilot license. I just kept right on moving forward, as I loved the training and learning process. Being a Flight Instructor enabled me to share my joy of flying by teaching others how to fly.
Over the years I’ve acquired over 10,000 hours of flight time. I’ve had wonderful opportunities along the way, my favorite being able to fly a 10-seater jet since 2004. That opportunity has enabled me to be immersed in a fast-paced highly professional environment and for that I am forever grateful. This has enabled me to share my experience and knowledge with students. Although my father has passed away, I think about him often when I step into an airplane and am grateful for the day, he Introduced me to an extraordinary idea. I will never forget how big his smile was when I took him up for his first flight as a Private Pilot!
Rob Huddleston
Instructor
My name is Rob Huddleston. I was born and raised in Cullman, AL, I am 27 years old. Airplanes have been my passion since I was five years old. I currently hold a Commercial ASEL and a CFI/CFII. I also have a degree in Aviation Management and a Business minor from Auburn University. I have been a CFI/ CFII for almost a year and half now. I am currently based at out of KCMD as a flight instructor for WSCC and I have recently joined East Aviation as an instructor. I’m very excited to meet and work with each and everyone of you.