Employees of Northern Air
Michelle Barker
Michelle Barker is our new office manager. She became a much needed employee in July 2010. Michelle was born and raised in Bonners Ferry. She recently completed a year as an Americorps Vista community volunteer. She volunteered with the Boundary County Visitor’s Center, Bonners Ferry Chamber of Commerce and many other local nonprofit organizations. She has a college degree in communications and public relations and is involved in many community activities. She’ll be a great asset at the Boundary County airport and FBO.
Her aspiration are to become a pilot and learn more about aviation in general. In the meantime, she’s learning fast just working in the office and around other pilots.
Nathaniel Cheshire
Nathaniel Cheshire was born in Northern Minnesota in 1978 & started climbing trees & hills shortly thereafter. He grew up in the country sides of Minnesota & Missouri with two brothers & one sister. Although vertically challenged (5’7”), Nathaniel has always endeavored to climb to higher heights. After graduating high school, he went to flight school & began learning to fly. He completed his flight training in 1999 & started flight instruction immediately. Since then, he has trained private, instrument & commercial pilots of both genders from 15-76 years old. Finding himself in the grassroots of aviation, his affinity to the maneuverability and spectacular views that a small aircraft provides fits him comfortably. Nathaniel thoroughly enjoys the beauty of God’s creation so evident here in the mountains & valleys of the great Northwest. His favorite kind of flying is in the mountains – going in & out of remote airstrips. He strives to help enable others to reach new heights.
Carla Dedera
Carla Dedera began her flying career in 1970 when she took her first airplane ride. It was far from love at first flight; The pilot scared her so badly that she never wanted to fly again. However, the advice of a wise flight instructor convinced her that if she understood how to fly, she wouldn't be so afraid of flying any more. He was right. And now it's love at every flight.
Being able to move to different parts of the United States has given Carla well-rounded and valuable experience. Many years were spent flying in and around southeast Alaska and in Texas, with numerous flights between the two. Needing to get out of the heat of Texas, Carla and her husband moved to Bonners Ferry where she continues to use her commercial flying and flight instruction abilities.
Carla holds a Commercial/Instrument Pilot Certificate for both single and multi-engine airplanes. She also holds both the Advanced and Instrument Ground Instructor certificates, as well as a Certified Flight Instructor Instrument for single-engine airplanes.
Sharing with the general public the beauty of the mountains and scenery of northern Idaho is one of Carla’s special joys. She invites you to come learn about Northern Air, Inc. and take advantage of its many flying opportunities.
Bill Caldwell
Bill has loved airplanes since early childhood and performed the typical stunts such as jumping out of a barn loft with a bed sheet for a parachute. After surviving a well-spent youth he became a professional forester and worked for the Montana State Department of Natural Resources for over 30 years. As the Libby Unit Manager for MT. DNRC, Bill was heavily engaged in natural resource management and wildlands fire management.
In 1998, his artist wife, Marjorie said "you need to learn to fly an airplane so we can fly to art shows." That’s when Bill finally acted on his passion for the air. Bill obtained his private license in December of 1999, his instrument rating in January of 2002, and after retiring from a career with MT DNRC, his commercial license in June of 2005. All of his flight training was completed at Northern Air.
Kristi Patterson
Kristi Patterson has been flying since 1991 when she earned her private pilot’s license in Port Angeles, Washington. Kristi moved to Alaska a couple years later and worked as a dispatcher for Layton A. Bennett Flying Service. After five years in Alaska, Kristi came to Bonners Ferry and added to her flying experience by obtaining her instrument rating through Northern Air. She works for J.R.S. Surveying during the week and handles customer service responsibilities for Northern Air on the weekends.
Dave Parker
Dave Parker has had a love of aviation since buying his first 5-cent airplane on the way home from first grade. Upon reaching 18 years of age he received his private pilot license through a Boy Scout Explorer post. By age 21 he had earned his Commercial, Instrument, Certified Flight Instructor, and had built an aircraft. The 230 MPH Glasair sport plane was the 50th aircraft of its type to be built in the world. Dave learned aerobatics in the plane and demonstrated it at air shows throughout the Northwest.
Dave now has over 8,000 hours flying with over 2,000 hours of flight instruction given in many different aircraft. He enjoys giving flight instruction, tracking wildlife, improving aircraft and meeting all the neat people that make up the field of aviation
Dave holds the following:
•Commercial Pilot Airplane Single and Multiengine Instrument Airplane
•Ground Instructor Advanced Instrument
•Airframe and Power plant Mechanic with Inspection Authorization
•Certified Flight Instructor Airplane Single Engine Instrument Airplane
