Honoree – Bill Standerfer

Bill Standerfer

Honored 2025

Bill was born on January 1,1951 in Texas. As a youth, he was a Civil Air Patrol cadet who maintained a steady interest in making aviation part of his future.  By July 1970, Bill had earned his FAA certification as a Private Pilot. After being drafted in 1970, Bill reported to the U.S. Air Force, where he trained in electronics and began working with aircraft avionics and other systems. He went on to become a USAF instructor in his specialty honing skills that he later recognized as invaluable in his work as a flight instructor and in developing flight training programs at all levels.

Using his veteran benefits, he began flying with the Lowry AFB Flying Club, where he trained and flew a Beechcraft T-34. At Centennial Airport, he pursued and earned his commercial and instrument ratings. After earning his degree from the University of Colorado, Bill began working as an electrical engineer for Hewlett-Packard.

In 1990, Bill rejoined the Civil Air Patrol and became certified as a Mountain Mission Pilot. When Colorado CAP leadership sought to improve and implement a stronger mountain flying course, Bill took on the challenge and developed the program still in use today. Over the years, he has served in multiple leadership roles—including Squadron Commander and Group Commander—and continues to teach the CAP Mountain Flying Course.

At the same time, Bill was invited to join the Colorado Pilots Association (CPA) and became both a co-developer and instructor in the CPA ground school. He soon led an effort to modernize the Mountain Flying Course, integrating current technology and elevating it to a new level. Bill has held several leadership positions within the organization, including serving as President in 1992, and has been Chairman of the CPA Mountain Course since 2014. In November 2008, the Colorado Pilots Association honored him as Member of the Year for his “dedicated service to the CPA Mountain Flying Program.” To date, the CPA course has trained more than 2,000 pilots from across the country in techniques for safe operations in Colorado’s challenging mountain environment.