Our instructors are great educators.

They were carefully hand-picked based on their experience, ability to communicate effectively, and their charming personalities. Unlike time-building instructors, these experienced instructors are focused on facilitating the most productive learning experience for the student. We get comments time and time again from our customers about how much they enjoy working with our instructors.

Our Team

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Jake

Owner – Twin Falls

Jake Spaulding is the owner of Glass Cockpit Aviation! Jake always wanted to be a pilot and started his flight training in 2000. He currently holds a PPL and is looking forward to being able to share his passion for aviation with us and his family.

Barry

Chief Pilot – CFII, MEI – Boise

Barry has moved all over this beautiful country, including many years in CO, NC, AK, and then AZ for flight school. Now, he is fulfilling his dream as a professional pilot/flight instructor here in Idaho. He began his training in Mesa, AZ, where he earned his certifications as a CFI, MEI, and CFII, flying mostly Cessna 172s and Piper Seminoles. He has always wanted to be a pilot and feels extremely fortunate to be a flight instructor, and share his passion for aviation with others. One of his short term goals is to get a seaplane rating and spend some time as a bush pilot in AK, or island hop in the Caribbean, but ultimately, he would like to fly wide-body aircraft for Delta Airlines. When Barry is not flying, you can find him traveling to a new country in Central or South America, spending time in the outdoors, or hanging with his gigantic Great Pyrenees. He also likes to scuba dive, hike/camp, backpack, and anything fishing, particularly saltwater fly fishing at the moment.

Katherine

Katherine

CFII – MEI – AIGI – Twin Falls

Katherine is an Arizona native where she started her aviation journey. With her partner Abe, along with two miniature dachshunds named Renegade and Charger, she enjoys exploring the Arizona wilderness and now, the Idaho backcountry. In her spare time, Katherine enjoys making candles, wax melts, and soap that she sells online to fellow aviators.

Michael

CFI – Twin Falls

Michael has been obsessed with aviation for as long as he can remember and he started flying at 18 years old. After a 20 year career in the U.S. Navy, he spent nearly 20 years in a Law Enforcement career. While there were gaps in flying due to military deployments and other obligations, he never lost his passion for flying and flew whenever he could. After retiring from a second career, Michael was finally able to pursue his dream of becoming a flight instructor. He is now living the dream of teaching and flying! When he isn’t flying, he loves to participate in outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. His goal is to continue to make the most of life and help create the best pilots possible.

Mike

Mike

CFII – Boise

Mike started his training in Sacramento where he grew up, before moving to Idaho in 2021 and finishing the rest of his ratings. He hopes one day to chase his lifelong dream of becoming an airline pilot. When he’s not flying, Mike enjoys skiing and golfing.

Matt

CFII – Boise

Matt Grew up in Southern Oregon before he made his way to Boise to continue his education at Boise State University. Matt has a true passion for aviation, dedicated to helping students build confidence and skill in the cockpit. He takes pride in creating a supportive, safety-focused learning environment while sharing his love for flying. His ultimate goal in aviation is to fly that left seat for Alaska Airlines.

When he’s not in the air, you can find him mountain biking, whitewater kayaking/rafting, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Nathan

Nathan

CFII – MEI – Boise

Nathan grew up in a small town in Washington state. From a young age his grandfather taught him to operate a variety of machinery, which translated to a love of all things mechanical. After discovering pilots get to operate some of the coolest machines around, he settled on aviation as a career. He completed his flight training at ATP in Arizona, and began working with GCA in 2024. When Nathan isn’t flying, you can find him hunting or fishing!

Anthony

CFI – Twin Falls

Anthony started his flight training out of KBJC in Denver, Colorado. He has always wanted to be a pilot since a little kid, and when he is not flying he likes to go fishing, watch football, and be with his family. Anthony’s end goal is to end up at the airlines!

Lucien

Lucien

CFII – Boise

Lucien lives and breathes all things aviation and has a passion for sharing the skies with students of all levels. Lucien is a member of the Idaho Air National Guard as a Crew Chief for the A-10s. He completed all of his flight training right here in Boise with Glass Cockpit Aviation and is excited to continue developing his career in aviation! He is also pursuing his Bachelor’s degree at Boise State University. In his free time, Lucien enjoys outdoor activities such as camping, biking, and running. He also enjoys volunteering with local organizations as a pilot and sharing his passion for aviation with members of our community.

Soren

CFII – Boise

Soren is very passionate about giving the highest quality of service to his students, and to make flying fun at the same time, all while treating them as individuals! His dreams in Aviation are to fly for the airlines and travel the world while doing so. Some things outside of aviation that he enjoys is snowboarding, golfing, riding ATV’s, white water rafting, and hanging out with his family!

Emily

Office Admin – GCA Private Pilot in Boise

Emily is a office admin at Glass Cockpit Aviation as well as a Flight Attendant for Southwest. She has always loved the view from above and realized she wanted to be a pilot as soon as she got involved in Aviation.  She plans to become a flight instructor and get back on with Southwest as a pilot. When she isn’t flying you can find her in the mountains backpacking, on the river, or on a long run with friends.

Maddie

Maddie

Office Admin – GCA Student in Boise

Maddie is a office admin at Glass Cockpit Aviation. After college she decided that flying was something that she wanted to pursue as a career. Maddie plans on gaining hours flying privately and then eventually working with the forest service to help put out fires. When Maddie isn’t around planes, you can find her assisting with volleyball coaching, traveling around the Pacific Northwest, or spending her time outside.

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Trenton

CFI

Trenton’s passion for aviation started with the stars. Even as a little kid, he looked up and wondered what more was up there. After meeting and talking with several airline pilots, he decided aviation was the right path for him. He completed his certificates in Utah and moved back to his home in Idaho. He loves spending time outdoors and finding new places to explore and hike. His end goal is to work for a major airline and, after retiring, to own and operate his own Chick-fil-A.

Michael

CFI – Boise

Mike found his passion for aviation 8 years ago and has completed all of his primary training through Glass Cockpit. His aviation goals include flying float planes and tailwheel aircraft in Alaska and the Frank Church Wilderness while ultimately rounding out his career flying fire tankers. When he’s not flying airplanes you can find him snowboarding, hunting elk and mule deer, whitewater kayaking, riding a bicycle or at his other job in the fall guiding hunts and packing mules in the Frank Church Wilderness just north of Stanley.

Our Maintenance Team

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Klayton

Maintenance Crew – GCA Private Pilot

Klayton is a Private Pilot and member of GCA’s maintenance crew, with aviation running deep in his family. He started his career by restoring WWII aircraft at AirPower Unlimited and is now pursuing his A&P with GCA and a future as a pilot in the airlines. Passionate about sharing aviation with others, he’s just as at home in the air as he is snowboarding, swimming, or cliff jumping.

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Mason

Aviation Mechanic

Mason Marley is an aviation mechanic at Glass Cockpit Aviation, where he brings a strong mechanical background and a passion for precision to every aircraft he works on. He relocated to Twin Falls in May 2025 to pursue his career in aviation maintenance. Outside of work, Mason is an avid camper, enjoys swimming, and spends his free time working on vehicles—always drawn to anything that runs or takes him outdoors.