Hello! My name is ......

Hello all! My name is Anna Leoni. I currently attend the University of Memphis and am on track to graduate in Spring 2026! Additionally, I work full time as a flight instructor (CFI/CFII) in the great state of Mississippi. I have my MEI checkride next week and have been taking a lot of time to prep for it.

A little bit more about my aviation background, I have a wide variety of experience in several different trainer aircraft. Most of my total time is comprised of flying around in Cessnas (172s and 152s), since that is what I mainly instruct in. Throughout my ratings, I have jumped around to different planes. For my private, I flew in the mighty Cessna 172. For instrument, I hopped on over to the glass world in a Diamond DA-20. I completed my commercial multi-engine in a Piper Seminole and then obtained my commercial single-add-on in a Piper Archer and a Diamond DA-40. For my CFI and CFII, I made my way back to the 172 for training. Finally, for my multi-engine instructor rating, I am flying in a Beechcraft Duchess. Now, I currently instruct at the school where I got my PPL at, which made for a sweet full circle moment!

I never viewed the jump from aircraft to aircraft as a hurdle to overcome, but as an exciting bridge to cross. My #1 job as a flight instructor is to impart my knowledge onto my students, and the fact that I have personally transitioned between different aircraft and avionics setups allows me to anticipate the challenges they might face. I am able to tailor lessons to the student’s current aircraft while also preparing them to adapt to whatever they may fly in the future. For example, I can demonstrate how to adjust sight pictures when moving from a high wing Cessna to a low wing Piper. A common question I get asked by students is if the low wings or the high wings are harder to land, funny enough. I also emphasize the importance of understanding systems by comparing differences between carbureted and fuel-injected engines, or between traditional steam gauges and glass cockpits. Through using these real world examples, I aim to give my students confidence, and not unease when they encounter new airplanes in their own training.

As an instructor, I work each day towards the goal of creating safe and smart pilots. These two qualities that go hand in hand; and to develop both, I attempt to show my students that there is rarely just one "right" way to approach a manuever or solve a problem. Something that I found extremely helpful as a student pilot was to fly with different instructors. For example, one instructor might teach teach steep turns by adding power while rolling into the turn, using 2 swipes of trim, and letting the "airplane fly itself" through the maneuver. Other methods may consist of adding power before the turn, etc. Many times, another instructor's way of teaching may help a student have a breakthrough in a manuever or in understanding a concept. I do my best to teach using all the tricks I know and I especially welcome the idea of them flying with other instructors. Additionally, I also strive to give them broader practical aviation experiences than I had as a student. This is to help them operate safely as future private pilots. Whether that be stopping an FBO, using the self serve fuel pump, landing at a Bravo or Charlie airport, or any other part of GA they are not required to accomplish in training. I hope that because of my unanswered questions as a student, I can provide more thorough training, creating safe and competent pilots as a result.

Thanks for reading! Wish me luck on my checkride, and see you next week!