Flight Instructor: Dave Abati

Dave Abati is a retired U.S. Air Force Officer who entered the service in 1972.  He began his 28-year USAF career at Moody AFB, Georgia, where he attended Undergraduate Pilot Training in the T-41/T-38/T-38 aircraft.  Upon graduation, he was assigned to the C-140 (Lockheed Jetstar) Flight Inspection aircraft at Clark AB, Philippines where he flew missions servicing mobile navigation equipment supporting USAF operations throughout Southeast Asia.  He followed that assignment with several others in “Flight Check” aircraft both overseas and in the CONUS.  Dave’s active duty flying career included stints in Flight Check, Air Training Command and AF Systems Command where he flew, in addition to the C-140, and many other aircraft including the T-41 (C-172), DC-3, T-37, T-38, and the T-39 (North American Sabreliner).  He was an instructor pilot in Air Training Command as well as a Research Pilot with 4950th Test Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.  He logged more than 3500 hours during his 28-year career.  He finished his AF career as the Project Director for the conversion of the T-38 from a conventional to glass cockpit.

 

Upon his retirement, he was selected to be one of only 16 (first ever) civilian pilots to fly the Air Force’s T-43 (B-737) navigator training “flying classroom.”  He flew these missions until the AF retired the T-43 amassing over 3300 hours.  After leaving this fantastic job, Dave flew commercially for a local businessman in the Eclipse 500 very light jet and the Citation X.  He also worked for a charter airline flying the Hawker 800XP.

 

Additionally, Dave was one of only 3 Instructor Pilots who provided Instrument and Flight screening training for Afghan Air Force Pilots in C-172 and Piper Seneca.

Dave Abati’s flying career spans 49 years with more than 9100 hours.  He holds an Airline Transport Rating (ATP) rating with six jet type ratings.  Additionally he has been a FAA Certified Flight Instructor since 1991 and is a CFI/CFII/MEI.  He is also a Certified Cirrus Training Center Instructor with more than 250 hours in the SR20/22.  He has flown a multitude of general aviation aircraft during his time as a Flight Instructor.

 

He and Linda have been married for 49 years and have two adult children and four grandchildren with a fifth to join the Abati family this summer.  They live in New

Braunfels, Texas.