Premium Benefits:

• 10% Off Aircraft Rentals
• 10% Off Simulator Rental
• 10% Off Maintenance Labor

After many successful years building and creating an award winning flight school, Owner of Latitude Aviation, Jeff Fouche, has sold the business to Coeur d’Alene/Spokane region natives and entrepreneurs Kirk Lauer and Kristian Nylund. With this new co-ownership, Kirk and Kristian bring a unique and exclusive skill set not seen at other flight schools in the region. They are excited to build and expand on what is already an established flight school at Coeur d’Alene Airport.

In what began as a student/instructor relationship at Latitude Aviation, Kirk and Kristian have developed a business partnership with a vision of cementing themselves as a major asset to current aircraft owners, pilots, and students at the Coeur d’Alene airport and the surrounding area. They look forward to developing the current employees, replacing/updating the current fleet of training aircraft, and are looking to acquire additional hangar space to allow for future growth and expansion.

With over 20+ years of experience in the auto industry, to include fixed operations, Kirk brings a variety of knowledge to the table and will be instrumental in the development of the five on-site mechanics, expansion of the maintenance department, and will oversee the build of a second hangar. The new hangar will provide a dedicated are for customer aircraft and will further cater to customer needs.

Kristian, is currently a Boeing 757/767 First Officer at Delta Air Lines, flying Internationally and Domestically, and has substantial experience as both a regional airline Captain and Chief Pilot for multiple corporate flight departments operating Cessna Citation aircraft. With over 6000+ hours and 6 type ratings, Kristian is excited to share his experiences with current and future students of the school and plans to join the instructor core as an active flight and ground instructor. Kristian worked as a Part 141 flight instructor at the University of North Dakota and has instructed multiple pilots/aircraft owners locally. Having successfully trained a broad range of students from Private Pilots all the way up through CFI/CFII applicants, Kristian also has the qualifications to provide training to meet insurance and type rating requirements. With his extensive aviation background and flight instructing experience, Kristian will oversee all aspects of flight instruction to include ground school, certification, curriculum, and instructor hiring.

With this transfer of ownership, Latitude Aviation will be completely rebranded as Coeur d’Alene Aviation & Maintenance. This rebranding will consist of a streamlined and cost effective fleet of aircraft consisting of a Cessna 150, two Cessna 172’s, and a Cessna 310, with the intention of adding additional aircraft as demand increases. This fleet mix combined with the DCX MAX AATD simulator, will allow the school to tailor training to Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multiengine, and Flight Instructor Certifications as well as meeting insurance and type rating requirements to include Cessna Citation (CE-500). Customers will enjoy the scheduling flexibility this fleet provides and it will alleviate stagnation in training when aircraft are down for unscheduled maintenance.

Although Latitude Aviation is now dissolved, the employee core will remain. Coeur d’Alene Aviation & Maintenance will continue to provide personalized, professional, and top notch service that current customers value and have come to expect. With a driven and motivated ownership team, the company is positioned to thrive for years to come. Exciting changes will be happening throughout the transition and be on the lookout for the official grand opening early 2021!