First Adam Katagiri Commercial Pilot Award Claimed by Darren Kroeker

After standing as an offering for student excellence in excess of six years, the Adam Katagiri Commercial Pilot Award has finally been claimed by its first recipient—Commercial Pilot Student Darren Kroeker.

“This award has been truly elusive for our students,” says Chief Flying Instructor David Parry, “and I think this really reflects the complexity and level of difficulty of Transport Canada’s qualifying Commercial Pilot Licence written examination.” 

The Adam Katagiri award came about in honour of this young Langley Flying School graduate and former Flight Instructor who was killed during a flying accident in Jordan in November, 2004.  “Adam had a passion for life and for flying, noted above all for his warmth and compassion as a human being,” says Parry.  Adam left his Flight Instructor job with Langley Flying School for what was supposed to be a temporary absence in September of 2003 to do humanitarian work in the Middle East, assisting victims of civil unrest.  While in the Middle East, converted he Canadian Commercial Pilot Licence to the Jordanian equivalent and was eventually hired to fly L10-11 Tristars for a then Jordanian air charter company.  The Adam Katagiri bursary requires Langley Flying School student to achieve 90% or higher on Transport Canada’s Commercial Pilot Written Examination.

For Darren Kroeker, the Adam Katagiri award represents the most recent of three major recognitions he has received for outstanding achievement during his professional pilot training.  In February of 2010, Kroeker secured the Samuel Ruize Private Pilot Award for excellence demonstrated on Transport Canada’s Private Pilot Written Examination; then in October of 2010, Kroeker was awarded the Anne and Rudi Bauer Memorial Scholarship by the British Columbia Aviation Council.  In all, Kroeker’s award winnings now approach $2400.  “This guy has put his heart and soul into his pilot training,” says Parry.

For Kroeker, the big prize he really wants is to be accepted into the pilot training program with the Canadian Air Force.  “I want to fly jets for Canada,” says Darren, succinctly, when asked about his career asperation.   His instructors and fellow students at Langley Flying School believe it!

Posted: March, 2011