My name is Garth Baker, owner and operator of Short Final Aviation, LLC. I am a former Mission Pilot for the Air Force Auxiliary (Civil Air Patrol). I hold a Single-Engine & Multi-Engine Commercial Pilot Certificate, Instrument Rating, Certified Flight Instructor Single Engine Land and Multi-Engine Land Rating as well as a Certified Advanced Ground Instructor Rating. I have over 7000 hours total time and over 3500 hours of dual instruction given.
I am also a retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Detective.
As a young man I set out to accomplish two things in life professionally, be a police officer and a pilot.
While working for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, I taught newly hired police officers in the field as a Field Training Officer and later as an EVOC instructor where I taught the operations of emergency vehicles in extreme conditions.
I have over 20 years of experience at being an instructor.
In retirement from law enforcement I have been fortunate enough to postion myself in aviation where I can share my passion for aviation through teaching.
One thing I have found through years of experience, is that the art of mastering your craft is completed not only through doing, but also through teaching others to do.
Chuck is an Airline Transport Pilot, Commericial Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor Instrument with an extensive background in aviation. Chuck flew CH-47 helicopters in the army, was an Air Force Academy aero club manager, an air traffic controller (ATC) at Los Angeles Center and worked ATC at Buckley Air Force Base.
Madison Alexander comes to Short Final Aviation as a Commercial instrument rated pilot and an advanced ground instructor. Madison became interested in aviation at the early age of 4. When Madison turned 17, she decided aviation was her intended career and has been flying fixed wing aircraft since.
Madison is very dedicated in her profession and can assist pilots with ground instruction from Sport through Commercial pilot.
Michael Akers started flying at the age of 18 while serving in the U.S. Navy. Michael is a commercial pilot in both single and multi engine aircraft with a instrument rating.
Michael is very active in the Civil Air Patrol as a mission pilot, cadet orientation pilot and instructor pilot.
Michael retired from the Navy after 20 years, then took another career serving his country/community in law enforcement.
Michael is still involved in law enforcement as an EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operator Course) instructor ich Idaho Peace Officer Standards Training.
After Retirning from law enforcement Michael fulfilled a lifelong dream by becoming a flight instructor.
Matt took his first introductory flight in the 5th grade after having been fascinated by airplanes since a very young age. Matt knew he wanted to be a pilot from that moment. Matt has a bachelor's degree in aviation, he holds commercial certifications in single engine, multi engine aircraft, as well as a certified flight instructor and certified flight instrument instructor.