A FLYING instructor has been named Instructor of the Year by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Carol Cooper, 45, the chief flying instructor for Andrewsfield Aviation Ltd in Stebbing beat off tough competition from across the UK to win the award

A FLYING instructor has been named Instructor of the Year by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Carol Cooper, 45, the chief flying instructor for Andrewsfield Aviation Ltd in Stebbing beat off tough competition from across the UK to win the award, which is only given out every two years.

On receiving the letter, she said: "I was gob-smacked when I received the letter telling me I'd won. I was really quite overwhelmed," she told the Dunmow Broadcast.

"I was standing in the front office when I opened the letter. The airfield manager, Michael Rowland, came in and I showed it to him saying not to tell anyone.

"Of course, he went and put a big banner announcing it on the airfield's website!"

To win the award a person must have their name put forward with a letter of recommendation from a third party.

This is sent to the AOPA who then select from all the nominations the person they deem to be most worthy. The award is presented every two years.

Miss Cooper, of Great Saling, says she has no idea who put her name forward for the award but says she feels it is a former pupil having seen a copy of the nomination form; a copy of which was handed to the Dunmow Broadcast on Monday.

It states: "Carol is the most effective and personable instructor/examiner I have ever had the pleasure to be taught/tested by.

"As a professional pilot, I have met and endured many trainers both in GA [general aviation] and the airline community - and all of them could learn from Carol."

However, Miss Cooper is modest about winning the award.

"I think there are people out there who are more suitable than me to win this. I don't do this job for the glory or any kind of reward; I do it because I love it.

"It gives me a great deal of job satisfaction. But it is nice that someone put my name forward. Whoever it was, I'd like to say a big thank you to them."

Miss Cooper is not sure what she will receive, either a trophy or a certificate, to mark her achievement because the letter stated that the executive committee would be contacting her soon to make arrangements for a presentation.

"I haven't really thought about where I'll put it. I think it would be nice to have it here at the airfield.

"So many people have been coming up to me to offer their congratulations it would be nice to have something to show them."

Miss Cooper has been flying since 1980 and teaching people to fly for 20 years.