OREM — Greg Soter is ribbed a bit for taking a part-time job that pays him a few dollars an hour.
As the president and owner of his own marketing and advertising agency, his day-job wage is much more than what Utah Valley State College pays him to teach students how to fly planes.
He doesn't see teaching as a job, however.
"The way I see it, essentially, I get to participate in my hobby, which could be an expensive hobby. I get paid to do it, and it is fun," Soter said. "I tell my friends, 'Do any of you get paid to play golf? When you do, then come talk to me.' "
Soter has taught at UVSC for two years and recently achieved the status of Master Certified Flight Instructor — a title that takes a pilot about six years to earn.
He's the only one in Utah. Another pilot earned the status but has let his certification lapse. There are fewer than 500 in the nation.
According to Alexander Hill, director of education for the National Association of Flight Instructors, a master aviator could put the words "summa cum laude" on his pilot's license.
"These masters truly represent the creme de la creme of our industry," Hill said.
Soter will be invited to a "Meet the Masters" breakfast in July at the Oshkosh, Wis., EAA AirVenture, which is billed as the "The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration."
Soter already has received a plaque, a card indicating his status and a number of accolades.
He doesn't care much about that, though. He just loves to fly and lately, to share that love with others.
"I have known my whole life that I had to fly," Soter said. "My earliest childhood memory has to do with flying. I became a saver on my (LDS) mission, saving what nickels and dimes I could for flying lessons. I almost literally put down my suitcase and headed to the Provo Airport when I got home."
When UVSC's aviation program director told Soter he needed some "gray hair" on the teaching staff, Soter decided to help out.
"I just loved it. I said, 'Wow, this is cool,' and I busted through the program fast. Now, I'm at my office my 8 a.m. until about 5 and then I run home, grab my headset and get to the airport."
Soter can fly all of the college's 30 aircraft and adapts the aircraft to his student. He's never had a heart-stopping moment teaching, although he has sometimes taken over the controls.
"If the weather changes, I'm one to get the heck back on the ground," he said.
He tries hard to match the pupil to the situation and the aircraft. He prides himself on preparing the student for a successful experience.
"When I teach, I very, very seldom touch the controls. I could teach you to fly in just few minutes."
At 57, Soter is thrilled to find himself doing what he absolutely loves even though it takes a lot of time away from an understanding wife. "She tells me flying has saved my life because it gives me so much joy," Soter said.
"I'm certain that aviation will play a role in my retirement," he said. "When I'm out there, actually flying cross-country, flying within the instrument system, talking to the air controllers on the ground, flying in and out of clouds . . . I'm in my plane. There's a solid deck of clouds beneath me and the sky above me is absolutely severely blue, it chokes me up. I love it."
E-mail: haddoc@desnews.com