Dick Anderson
Dick Anderson, born on an Iowa farm, developed a passion for flying early on, inspired by his pilot father. He obtained his private pilot certificate in 1972 and earned commercial, instrument, and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certifications at the University of Dubuque by 1976. Beginning his career as an instructor, he later transitioned to the airlines, serving as a B727 flight engineer until Eastern Airlines ceased operations. Overcoming personal challenges, including the loss of his wife to Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS), Dick moved into corporate aviation and spent 17 years as a designated pilot examiner (DPE), evaluating pilots from private to CFI and Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) levels. He even competed in the biplane class race at Reno in 2015. After retiring from active flying, Dick rediscovered his passion at Green Castle, now relishing the chance to instruct. He has more landings and takeoffs under his belt than flight hours—a testament to his enduring dedication to aviation.
Brian Rohr
Brian Rohr, grew up in small-town Iowa and has been obsessed with airplanes for as long as he can remember. He started with building models, transitioned to U-Control, then radio-controlled (RC), and eventually full-scale flying, earning his pilot certificate in 1991. Brian is a full-time Battalion Chief with the Iowa City Fire Department and has been a freelance visual flight rules (VFR) and instrument flight rules (IFR) instructor since 1994. He is passionate about grassroots flying and developing strong stick-and-rudder skills in his students- a focus that helps Brian specialize in tailwheel transition training. When not instructing, Brian can be found building a Van’s RV-7 experimental aircraft in his home shop or tinkering on various airplanes. When not instructing, building, or tinkering, he's the guy looking up at anything that flies overhead. Brian embodies the famous words of Leonardo da Vinci, “Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”
Ed Brecht
Edward Brecht has been an independent Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) at Green Castle Aero Club since June 2022. His aviation career began from 1990 to 1994 as a CFI and Charter Pilot at P&N Flight Charter in Marion, IA, where he taught numerous students to fly in both visual flight rules (VFR) and instrument flight rules (IFR) operations while also flying customers on charter trips to various locations. Known for his patient and thorough teaching style, Ed prioritizes checklist discipline and operational training habits that reinforce safety and ensure successful flights.
Dan Marine
Dan Marine has been a flight instructor at Green Castle Aero Club since 2021 and has been around aviation since joining the U.S. Air Force in 1992 where he earned his jump and glider wings before serving as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer on F-15C fighters. He earned his private pilot certificate in 1998, flying sporadically for 20 years before attending Indian Hills Community College from 2020-2021 where he became a Certified Flight Instructor-Instrument (CFII). Dan works in the family home building company, Oak Tree Homes, and is also a charter pilot for JetAir, Inc in Iowa City where he flies Cessna Citations. His philosophy as a flight instructor is to create opportunities for students to explore and learn from mistakes while teaching efficient and safe aviation practices.
Sri Nandakumar
Srinath “Sri” Nandakumar has been instructing at Green Castle since 2020. Originally from Northern California, Sri began flying in 2014 as a high school student, learning to fly as a member of the owner-operator flying club, "Flying Particles" in Livermore, CA. He later attended Purdue University, where he studied Aerospace Engineering and continued flying with the student-run flying club, “Purdue Pilots, Inc.,” eventually serving as its President. After moving to Eastern Iowa to work for Collins Aerospace, Sri became an active member of Green Castle, initially teaching multiple iterations of Private Pilot Ground School. Now, after a career change, he is a medical student at the University of Iowa. As a flight instructor, Sri emphasizes the fundamentals, such as stick-and-rudder flying and pilotage. His mission is to mold learners into skilled, inquisitive, and safe pilots who make sound aeronautical decisions, while prioritizing efficient and comprehensive achievement of their aviation goals. For more information, visit his website: www.flyklvk.aero
Jason Liska
Jason Liska has been an independent flight instructor at Green Castle Aero Club since 2023. His aviation career began in 2002 as a U.S. Air Force T-6A Texan II flight instructor and he was later qualified as a bomber pilot in the B-1B Lancer. This unique military background equipped Jason with an unwavering respect for checklist discipline and operational training habits that reinforce safety of flight well beyond initial flight training. He routinely integrates chair flying (visualization), flight simulators, and table-top emergency procedures instruction into his comprehensive training plans. Jason’s top priority is always the success and safety of his students. His favorite flights are the ones he sees child-like joy on the faces of those who sit beside him as they take to the skies.
