BFC Affiliated Instructors

BFC Affiliated Instructors
Where love of flying meets love of teaching

Nicholas Costigan

Nicholas Costigan, CFI
Independent Flight Instructor

Nick has had a passion for aviation which stemmed from flying with his father at a young age.

Joining the Marine Corps right out of high school, he was an intelligence analyst and has traveled across the middle east, Africa, Asia, and Europe. During this military tenure, Nick’s passion for aviation took off. After departing the Marine Corps in 2020, Nick moved to Bakersfield and completed the rest of his pilot certificates. He enjoys watching his students succeed in their aviation dreams!

He is currently finishing his Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics degree.

When not instructing, Nick is a corporate pilot.

Brad Ritchie

Brad Ritchie- CFI
Independent Flight Instructor

Brad Ritchie made his entry in aviation in 2010, when he earned his private pilot certificate. He made flying a career and earned his instrument, commercial, and flight instructor certificates at the Bakersfield Flying Club.

Brad has been a CFI with BFC since January of 2021 and looks forward to sharing his passion for flying with others.

Adam Peterson

Adam Peterson, CFII, MEI
Independent CFI
AOPA Distinguished Flight Instructor, Multi-Year

Adam is an experienced CFI, providing training for Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot and CFI. When not teaching, Adam is a corporate pilot flying a Cessna Citation and a King Air.

Courtney Risner

Courtney Risner
Independent CFI

Courtney was inspired to pursue a career in aviation from her grandpa, a former Air Force pilot. In 2016, while she was in high school, she joined the Civil Air Patrol and began taking flight lessons. She earned her PPL at the Bakersfield Flying Club in 2017 before moving to attend Fresno State. After graduating college in 2021, she pursued her instrument, commercial, and CFI ratings. She has now come full circle and joins BFC as a CFI!

Janice Sullivan

Janice Sullivan, CFII, MEI
Independent Flight Instructor

Janice Sullivan is very pleased to be a part of the Bakersfield Flying Club. She is currently a flight instructor with ratings of CFI, CFII, Multi-engine, Glider and ATP. Janice qualifies students as private, instrument, commercial and certified flight instructor pilots.

She has previously been employed as a charter pilot, corporate pilot, flight instructor and an experimental test pilot (Paul McCready’s Solar Challenger). She also works with the FAA as a FAASTeam representative to pomote aviation safety.

Ms. Sullivan has logged over 8,000 hours of flight time of which 5,000 hours are as a certified flight instructor. She is proficient in the state of the art instrument and navigation Garmin G1000 glass panel and has logged over 600 hours. The Cessna corporation has certified her as a CFAI in the Garmin G1000 in the Cessna 182 Skylane aircraft.

In 2006, Janice retired after 25 years as a licensed professional educator to return to her first love: flying as a Certified Flight Instructor. She enjoys combining her experience as an educator into her flight training curriculum.

David Mcmurtrey

David Mcmurtrey, CFI
Independent Flight Instructor

David earned his private pilot in 2008. He continued to grow his love and knowledge of aviation earning his instrument, commercial, multi-engine and flying his Mooney over the next several years. After 35+ years as an executive business leader, he now is spending his time with a career in aviation and sharing his love of flying through teaching others the joy of flight.

When not flying he enjoys spending time with his grandson, family and playing hockey.

Jake McHenry

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Jake McHenry, CFII, AGI Gold Seal
Independent Flight Instructor

Jake is joining the club with over 13 years of flight instruction experience. During his career, he has accumulated over 3000 hours of dual given in multiple airframes. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Business Management in 2017. Jake acted as an Assistant chief flight instructor, and stage check airman for a 141 school in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and is excited to bring his experience and knowledge back to his hometown of Bakersfield, California.

Anthony Johnson

Anthony Johnson, CFI
Independent Flight Instructor

Anthony was first curious about aviation from seeing airplanes fly over his childhood house, only a mile from Meadows Field Airport. That curiosity eventually turned into interest and then interest into love for aviation. In 2020, he pursued that love and acquired his Private Pilot’s License from the Bakersfield Flying Club. From there, he would work to achieve his Instrument Rating, CPL, and CFI at Bakersfield Flying Club. Anthony has enjoyed all the experiences aviation has given him and strives to instill the same love and passion for aviation in his clients.

Fred Webster

Fred Webster, CFII, MEI
Independent Flight Instructor

Fred has been flying professionally for over 30 years and has accumulated over 20,000, accident free flight hours. He is an FAA Certified Flight Instructor, Instrument Instructor and Multi-Engine Instructor. He has flown over 50 different aircraft and holds an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. Fred has given primary to advanced flight instruction in a variety of aircraft from Cessna 150’s to Beechcraft Barons.

Fred is an expert when it comes to using your iPad in the cockpit. He is also a volunteer FAASTeam Representative promoting aviation safety through seminars. Being able to pass on the knowledge gained to another person and succeed is what makes teaching a great experience for Fred.

When he is not flying a B-787 or brewing his award winning beer, you can find him at the airport!

Donna Webster

Donna Webster, CFII, MEI
Independent Flight Instructor

Donna was the 2012 FAA Western Pacific Region Flight Instructor of the Year. This General Aviation Awards Program is a cooperative effort between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and aviation industry sponsors to recognize annually outstanding individuals in the Flight Instruction field. Candidates are judged based on sustained superior performance in their respective fields as well as specific accomplishments and contributions to aviation safety, education, and professionalism.

Donna has been a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) since 2001 and is one of few Pilot Examiners who have been granted the authority by the FAA to conduct Initial Flight Instructor checkrides. She is a volunteer FAASTeam Representative who writes, produces and presents safety seminars for the Wings program.

She has logged over 10,000 flight hours. From Cessna 150’s to Cessna Citations, over 70 different aircraft types. When it comes to flight instructing, she and her clients talk about expectations, make a list of goals and accomplish them.

Donna really enjoys instructing and seeing her students grow and excel in flying.