Gerhard learned to fly single engine airplanes while going to school for a year in the US. Back in Germany, he learned to fly gliders, and then started flying powered aircraft again when joining TFC in 1988, becoming a CFI in 1993. After leaving TI in 1998, he moved to McKinney and began training flight students in his Cessna 150. Over the years, many of those students were successful in making the transition to Private Pilot or better, a success rate the FAA recognized by awarding Gold Seal Credentials.