Flight Instructors
Name: Oscar Joel Martinez
Experience Level: Advanced
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 400
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: Hass Lunsford
Experience Level: Professional
Certifications / type ratings: Commercial Pilot ASEL, AMEL with Instrument Rating, CFI, CFII, IGI
Flying since: 2002 (with a hiatus between 2005 and 2022)
Total Flight hours: More than 400
Teaching since: 2023
Dual Instruction Hours: Less than 400
Why do you like to teach and instruct?: I’ve been passionate about planes and anything to do with aviation since I can remember. I took my first flying lessons in college and graduated from Purdue University because of its reputation as one of the most aviation-centric universities in the U.S. Now I want to help induct the next wave of aviators by teaching the joy and adventure of flight, along with the serious responsibility of being a pilot. I love sharing my skills and passion for flying while instilling safe practices and high proficiency in new and existing pilots looking to advance.
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: 54
Total Flight Hours: 17,000
Total Instruction Hours: Part 121: 1000; Part 91: 750
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: Sam Scholz
Experience Level: Professional
Certifications: Commercial Pilot, Airplane Single Engine Land, Multi Engine Land, Instrument Airplane, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)
Flying Since: 2018
Total Flight Hours: More than 1000
Teaching Since: 2023
Dual Instruction Hours: Less than 400
Why do you like to teach: I've been around airplanes ever since I was a little kid. Over the years, I have developed a passion and love for aviation. My goal is to share this passion and the joys of flying with everyone. Whether you are a brand new student, or an advanced student looking to sharpen your flying skills, I would love to fly with you!
Name: Alex Miller
Experience Level: Advanced
Certifications / type ratings: Commercial Pilot, Single Engine Land, Instrument Rating. Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)
Flying since 2013
Total Flight hours: More than 1000
Teaching since 2021
Dual Instruction Hours: More than 400
Why do you like to teach and instruct? I started developing an interest in airplanes and aviation at a very young age. I had all the toys, models and flight simulators I could get my hands on. I also had multiple family members that were military aviators, who were very passionate about aviation, which I think helped cultivate a similar passion in me. It seems to be natural for people to want to share and teach subjects that they love, and that’s exactly how I fee about flight instruction.
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.
Instructor Experience Key:
Type Rate/Hr Description
Professional: $100-$115/hr CFI with up to 1 Years Experience and 400 hrs Dual Given
Advanced: $110-$125/hr CFI/CFII with more than 1 Years Experience and more than 400 hrs Dual Given
Master: $120-$135/hr CFI/CFII with more than 3 Years Experience and 1000 hrs Dual Given
Gold Seal: $130-$145/hr Gold Seal/ CFII with more than 5 years Experience and 2000 hrs Dual Given
