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Catherine Elizabeth Cavagnaro is a distinguished FAA Designated Pilot Examiner and nationally recognized flight instructor based in Winchester, Tennessee. With a PhD in mathematics, she serves as a Professor of Mathematics at the University of the South (Sewanee), where she uniquely combines her academic background with aviation to teach aerodynamics and flight safety. As the founder of Ace Aerobatic School at Sewanee-Franklin County Airport, Cavagnaro has become a global authority on spin recovery and emergency maneuver training. She is widely known for her "Flying Smart" column in AOPA Pilot magazine and her induction into both the Flight Instructor Hall of Fame and the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame.
Holding an Airline Transport Pilot certificate and various instructor ratings, Cavagnaro's expertise is supported by a diverse aviation career that includes serving as a test pilot for NASA icing studies. She was honored as the 2020 National Certificated Flight Instructor of the Year and the 2018 National FAASTeam Representative of the Year. Her safety-first mindset is exemplified by her meticulous training programs that help pilots master complex maneuvers and unusual attitude recoveries. Beyond her work as an examiner, she is a sought-after speaker for the FAA and AOPA, dedicated to translating complex aerodynamic theory into practical, life-saving skills for the general aviation community.