Caitlin McCarthy, CFII
Sun Valley Aviators Owner &
Chief Flight Instructor
With over twenty years of flight training and commercial aviation experience, Caitlin McCarthy brings unmatched depth and breadth to every lesson she teaches. After earning a degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, she built a diverse career as Chief Pilot for an engineering company, a Part 135 charter pilot, and later as a specialist in training owners and operators of PA46 aircraft.
Now serving as both owner and Chief Flight Instructor of Sun Valley Aviators, Caitlin takes pride in fostering a strong aviation community in Idaho’s Wood River Valley. Her extensive knowledge and professionalism are complemented by a genuine enthusiasm for teaching, ensuring her students not only gain technical skill but also confidence in the cockpit.
Whether guiding a new Private, Instrument, or Commercial pilot in Sun Valley Aviators’ training aircraft, or developing a customized mountain flying program for a technically advanced turboprop, Caitlin and her team emphasize safety, efficiency, and thoughtful instruction—all while keeping the joy of flying at the forefront.
Mark Megonigal
Mark is our Aviation Ambassador at Sun Valley Aviators. He is occasionally available for flight instruction and plays an active role in community outreach, mentorship, and fundraising efforts that support scholarships for the next generation of aviators.
He earned his Bachelor of Science degree and completed all pilot certifications at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. After graduating, Mark instructed in Cessna and Piper light aircraft at Orange County Airport in Newport Beach, CA. He later founded Air Anywhere, an air ambulance service that transported patients across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.
In 1984, Mark was hired by AirCal as a first officer on the Boeing 737. Just three years later, AirCal was acquired by American Airlines, where Mark upgraded to Captain on the MD-80. Over the course of his distinguished 39-year airline career, he flew McDonnell Douglas MD-80s as well as Boeing 737s, 757s, 767s, and 787s—spending 34 of those years as Captain.
Mark retired from American Airlines in 2023. Today, he enjoys backcountry flying in his Cessna 182 and traveling with his wife between their homes in La Paz, Mexico, and Ketchum, Idaho, in their Cessna P210.
Spencer Gaudreau
Certified Flight Instructor
Spencer was born and raised in the Wood River Valley and graduated from Wood River High School. His passion for aviation took off with a discovery flight in Laramie, Wyoming, and soon after he earned his Private Pilot License in Twin Falls, Idaho. He went on to complete advanced training with ATP Flight School in Phoenix, Arizona, where he earned his CFI, CFII, and MEI certifications. Spencer also holds his ASES rating, obtained in Needles, California.
When he’s not in the air, Spencer enjoys snowboarding, fishing, and hunting. He’s continually expanding his aviation expertise through ongoing study and a lifelong commitment to learning.
