Dave Hooper’s aviation career began when he was 13 years old. He flew light aircraft  throughout high school and college. He has been a resident of the Northwest Suburbs for the past 34 years. He currently holds an ATP certificate and has the following ratings: B-727; B-757; B-767; B-777; CV-240/340/440; N-265. He has commercial privileges for airplane single engine land and holds a Flight Engineer certificate along with a Ground Instructor Advanced Instrument; CFI/A and CFII certificates.

Dave entered the USAF in 1970 and has flown the following: T-37; T-38; T-29; T-33; OV-10 while in Thailand as a FAC, and finally the T-39 where he was an IP. He attended the USAF Instrument Pilot Instructor School. Upon leaving the Air Force, he flew a Sabreliner and B-727 for United Technologies Corporation where he was also an instructor. In 1977, he was hired by American Airlines and flew as a FE; FO; Captain and Check Airman both domestically and internationally for 29 years, retiring in 2006. Eventually, he obtained his CFI and CFII and has been instructing part-time at Blue Skies Flying Services.