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Darlene Kellogg Rudisill is a highly seasoned FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) and Gold Seal Flight Instructor based in Kasilof, Alaska. Her aviation journey began in San Diego, where she learned to fly in a 1946 Luscombe 8A with her grandfather, navigating primarily by pilotage and dead reckoning. Before moving to Alaska in 2007, she built a prolific career in Southern California, earning the title of Los Angeles FSDO CFI of the Year in 1996. Her experience is exceptionally broad, encompassing everything from high-performance Lear Jet charters to primary instruction in light Cessnas and multi-engine aircraft.
Specializing in floatplane and tailwheel operations, Darlene is a key figure at Alaska Float & Tailwheel Training on the Kenai Peninsula. She has logged thousands of hours in the challenging Alaskan environment, where she also serves as a seasonal charter pilot. Her safety-centric approach to checkrides is informed by decades of operating in remote areas where weather and terrain demand superior decision-making. Darlene’s transition from corporate jets to Alaskan bush flying highlights her versatile expertise and her commitment to fostering skilled, self-reliant pilots capable of handling the unique rigors of the Last Frontier.