How It All Started
AeroPrep Labs began with a simple observation: capable, well-prepared pilots often walk into the oral exam carrying real anxiety. Not because they lack knowledge, but because they have never had a realistic, low-pressure way to practice the conversation itself.
In aviation, pilots can rehearse maneuvers repeatedly until they feel natural. The oral exam has never had an equivalent. That gap became impossible to ignore. Combined experience in corporate aviation, professional training, and education consistently pointed to the same issue: strong technical knowledge does not always translate into confidence under pressure.
AeroPrep Labs was built to address that exact problem. The platform blends deep aviation expertise with a clear understanding of how people learn and perform when stress is involved. The goal is not just rote knowledge, but comfort with the flow, pacing, and expectations of a real oral exam.
The result is an experience designed to make the oral feel familiar before it ever matters. When the structure and tone are no longer a surprise, pilots can focus on what they already know and demonstrate it clearly, confidently, and professionally.
Tom
Hansen
Tom is a corporate pilot and longtime aviation professional who has spent his career helping pilots build the knowledge and judgment required for real-world flying. He serves as a lead captain for a large management company and as a subject matter expert for FlightSafety, shaping advanced training programs for Dassault aircraft and mentoring pilots across a wide range of experience levels.
Tom combines deep technical expertise with a practical, human approach to learning, which ultimately inspired the creation of AeroPrep Labs—a way to give pilots realistic, conversation-driven preparation for the moments in a checkride that matter most.
Merry Beth
Hansen
Merry Beth brings a strong background in education, student support, and community leadership to AeroPrep Labs. She has spent years helping learners build confidence through clear guidance, patient coaching, and an instinct for understanding what people need in stressful moments. Her experience working closely with schools, families, and complex programs gives her a unique perspective on how people absorb information and grow when the stakes feel high. That mindset shapes the heart of AeroPrep Labs, grounding the project in empathy, clarity, and a genuine commitment to helping pilots feel capable and prepared.