Flight Instructors
Name: Mike Venturino
Experience Level: Master
Certifications / Type Ratings: Airline Transport Pilot, Airplane Multiengine Land, Commercial Privileges, Single Engine Land, Types: B727, B737, B747, B757, B767, DC-3, L-300 (Civilian designation for Lockheed C-141) Flight Instructor: Airplane, Single and Multiengine Land, Instrument Airplane; Turbojet Flight Engineer
Years Flying: 1968
Total Flight Hours: More than 10,000
Total Instruction Hours: more than 2500 hrs
Why do you like to teach and instruct?: Give something back from the experience that I was fortunate to have in the aviation business and to meet interesting people and see them develop the skills to enjoy & perform the craft that I love.
Name: Oscar Joel Martinez
Experience Level: Master
Certifications / type ratings: Commercial Pilot, Airplane Single Engine Land, Multi Engine Land, Instrument Airplane, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)
Flying since: 2011
Total Flight hours: More than 1000
Teaching since: 2019
Dual Instruction Hours: More than 1000
Why do you like to teach and instruct?: Aviation is my passion. Since I was a kid I always wanted to become a pilot. I know that learning to fly is not easy, and I want to make sure that I am there for my students through every step of the process of learning to fly. It is a great feeling and responsibility to help someone become a safe and proficient Pilot, and I’m proud to be a part of that journey and of the local aviation community.
Name: Andrew Low
Experience Level: Professional
Certifications / type ratings: Commercial ASEL/AMEL Instrument, CFI, Cessna Citation CE-500 SIC Type rating
Flying since: 2020
Total Flight hours: More than 1000
Teaching since: 2025
Dual Instruction Hours: Less than 400 hrs
Why do you like to teach and instruct?: I don't know a pilot out there, CFI or not, who doesn't jump at the opportunity to share their knowledge of aviation. As a CFI I get to do that on a daily basis. Also, I am new to flight instruction but so far I have found the moment when a new student experiences their first 'Oh, I get it!' moment in the airplane to be very gratifying and motivating for both student and instructor.
Name: Alli Dickey
Experience Level: Advanced
Certifications / type ratings: Commercial Pilot Airplane Single Engine Land, and Multi Engine Land with Instrument Rating. CFI, CFII, MEI, and IGI.
Flying since: 2022
Total Flight hours: More than 1000
Teaching since: 2024
Dual Instruction Hours: Less than 400
Why do you like to teach and instruct?: I found my passion for flying after I was a flight attendant for Alaska Airlines. After my first month working I realized I was on the wrong side of the flight deck door and wanted to pursue becoming a pilot. I was looking for a career that would challenge me on a daily basis, and with flight instruction I have never found something as challenging yet rewarding in my life. I love to play a role in someone else's decision to pursue this dream of flying and see their progress from day one. I also grew up playing sports and was a Division 1 track and field athlete at the University of Nevada, Reno. I have found that instructing is just like being a coach and I love that aspect of it.
Name: Shamim Mohamed
Experience Level: Professional
Certifications / type ratings: Commercial Pilot, Airplane Single Engine Land, Glider, Instrument Airplane, Certified Flight Instructor
Flying since: 1994
Total Flight hours: More than 2000
Teaching since: 2023
Dual Instruction Hours: Less than 400
Why do you like to teach and instruct?: I've been crazy about airplanes since childhood – first balsa gliders, then radio control models, and finally airplanes. I’ve also always wanted to teach, my first job was as a math professor in Idaho. I quit and moved to Silicon Valley so I could afford to keep flying, and started flying gliders and tailwheel. I’m a glider tow pilot at Byron and fly around in the Glasair Sportsman that I built. I love to teach and I love to fly, so of course teaching someone to fly is in my opinion the best possible thing to do.
Name: Faan Chan
Experience Level: Professional
Certifications / type ratings: Commercial ASEL, Instrument Rating, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI).
Flying since: 2014
Total Flight hours: More than 400 hrs
Teaching since: 2025
Dual Instruction Hours: Less than 400 hrs
Why do you like to teach and instruct?: I enjoy teaching because it allows me to share knowledge in a way that helps others reach their goals. Instructing challenges me to break down complex concepts into clear, practical steps, which not only strengthens my own understanding but also builds confidence in my students. Watching someone progress from uncertainty to mastery is deeply rewarding, and it reminds me why I love flying.
Tour Pilots
Name: Andrew Low
Name: Nakela Snyder
Name: Alexis Calderon
Front Desk Staff
Name: Kevin Castellanos
Instruction Rates
Professional: $100-$115/hr.
Advanced: $110-$125/hr.
Master: $120-$135/hr.
Gold Seal: $130-$145/hr.
Professional: CFI with up to 2 Years Experience and 400 hrs. Dual Given
Advanced: CFI/CFII with more than 2 Years Experience and more than 400 hrs. Dual Given
Master: CFI/CFII with more than 3 Years Experience and 1000 hrs. Dual Given
Gold Seal: Gold Seal/ CFII with more than 5 years Experience and 2000 hrs. Dual Given
