Featured Staff Archives | Page 2 of 4

Flying

Looking for a New Aviation Headset?

Choosing the right aviation headset is one of the most important equipment decisions for any pilot. Whether you’re a student on your first solo flight or a seasoned aviator logging thousands of hours annually, your headset affects comfort, communication quality, and overall flight safety. With so many options available,

Flying

What is a Type Rating and When is it Required

By Mike Bliss We are all familiar with the fact that the FAA issues pilot certificates and Instrument Ratings. What might be less known to those working their way through the different levels of certification is the Type Rating. We know that a Private, Commercial, or ATP pilot certificate

Learn to Fly, Training

Why Some Business Owners Should Become Pilots: The Strategic Advantage of Taking Flight

Business aviation services have evolved beyond their traditional use for Fortune 500 corporations because entrepreneurs and small business owners now see pilot training as a viable business approach. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) reports that business flights represent 40% of all general aviation operations. The majority of

Become a Pilot, Training

Inside American Flyers’ Professional Pilot Program: What You’ll Learn and When

By Mike Bliss Being professional means more than just being paid to fly. It includes being reliable, respectful, competent, and acting with integrity, while presenting a good appearance. Training to become a professional pilot should emphasize these qualities and be conducted in a professional environment by qualified instructors using

Flying

The Electronic Flight Bag: A Powerful Tool, But Not The Whole Journey

by Mike Bliss Tips for cross country flying, don’t just use your Electronic Flight Bag(EFB) The Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) is truly a marvel in what it can do for a pilot. It can plan your route, calculate weight and balance, fuel burn, flight times, and even file the

Flying

What Class Medical Certification Do You Need?

Before taking the controls of an aircraft as a student pilot, you’ll need the appropriate medical certificate. There are three different classes of medical certification: First, Second, and Third. It’s important to understand which one aligns with your aviation goals. Whether you’re training for personal enjoyment or training for

Flying

How to Log Your Flight Hours Correctly (And Avoid Common Mistakes)

By Mason Ross As pilots, we have to keep records of our flying experience “in a manner acceptable to the Administrator”. The FAA has outlined these requirements in § 14 CFR 61.51: Pilot logbooks. The Oxford Dictionary defines a logbook as “an official record of events during the voyage

Flying

Understanding the Role of the FAA Examiner: What to Expect on Checkride Day

By Mason Ross It is finally time. You’ve completed the required dual instruction, solo flights, ground training, and written exam. Your flight instructor has endorsed you as “prepared for the practical test for the issuance of the certificate or rating” you’ve been training for. That endorsement wouldn’t be in

Flying

Training for Real-World Emergencies: Sim vs. Reality

The More You Practice, the Better You’re Prepared Emergency preparedness isn’t just about reacting in the moment, it’s about training beforehand to recognize warning signs, think clearly under pressure, and respond with precision. For pilots, that readiness comes from a combination of hands-on flying and simulator training. But how

Flying

Your First Solo Flight: What to Expect and How to Prepare

A pilot’s first solo flight is a major milestone filled with pride, excitement, and a touch of nervousness. For many students, it’s the moment everything clicks: all the ground school, dual flights, and practice come together, and you realize you’re ready to fly an aircraft completely on your own.

Featured Staff

Featured Staff Member: Joe Nily

Joe Nily is one of the assistant chief pilots at our Morristown facility in New Jersey. He is a hard-working employee, and he embodies the qualities of a true leader. He has been working at our Morristown location for two years, and he has established himself not only as

Featured Staff

American Flyers Spotlight: Featured Instructors November 2023

Name: Alex CadenaCFI Location: Conroe, Houston, Texas (CXO) Every day feels like a learning opportunity, and I know I’ve learned a lot from my fellow instructors here at American Flyers. I enjoy meeting new pilots and putting myself in their shoes, which takes me back to when I was

Featured Staff

Featured STAFF MEMBER: Magda Bol

Magda Bol is a remarkable individual who truly embodies the values and qualities that any employer would want on their team. Hailing from South Sudan, Magda’s journey to success has been marked by hard work, determination, and a passion for education. Having received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from

About American Flyers, Featured Staff, History

Featured Staff: Sean Heath

Sean Heath first got the “aviation bug” when he saw an advertisement on Facebook for an introductory flight back when he lived in California. He thought, “This will be an awesome adventure! I’ll fly over the beach and take control of an airplane. How cool will that be?” Little

About American Flyers, Featured Staff, History

Featured Staff: Sharon McCormack

Over the years, American Flyers has dedicated issues to employees who have truly inspired those around them to be better. When I speak to others in the flight industry, I am often struck by the incredible talent and rare individuals who have worked for American Flyers over the years.

Featured Staff

Featured Staff: Grecia Vargas

American Flyers is built around some of the best instructors the FAA has to offer, and Grecia Vargas is no exception. As the assistant chief flight instructor of our Pompano Beach location in Florida, Grecia leads a team of instructors focused on providing the highest level of education to

Featured Staff

Featured Staff: Jason Branski

For the past 8.5 years, Jason Branski has been an integral part of the American Flyers team. Originally from a small town in the western suburbs of Chicago, Jason joined American Flyers to work as a member of the customer service team at our former location at the DuPage

About American Flyers, Featured Staff

American Flyers: Flying, Instructing, and Leading with Passion

Many of us have had a coach or instructor at one point in our lives who were obviously miserable with their career. Whether it was their attitude or lackluster effort, you could tell they didn’t want to be where they were, doing what they were doing. And this impacted

Featured Staff

Featured Staff: Cristal Amerson

Cristal Amerson is the manager of our Houston school. A Florida native, Cristal went to Broward College where she studied for her career in business management. One of her first jobs before coming to American Flyers was in the Miami Dolphins ticket office. It was working in the ticket

Featured Staff

Featured Staff: Ray Garcia

Ray Garcia is a smiling face that everyone wants to be around. Ray is a mechanic based out of our Addison, Texas location who partners with our managers to oversee maintenance at both our North and South locations. He is a well of knowledge, a voice of encouragement, and

Featured Staff

Featured Staff: Mike Nagel

Mike Nagel is a second-generation employee of American Flyers. Mike’s dad, Mike Sr., began working for American Flyers (A.T.E. at the time) in the 1970s when we had a location at Love Field in Dallas, TX. After leaving A.T.E., Mike Sr. began working for Southwest Airlines where he stayed

Featured Staff

Featured Staff Members: Maintenance Team

Thank you to our entire maintenance team for all of your hard work and dedication. Our mechanics work tirelessly each day to ensure our airplanes meet the highest standards the industry has to offer. Because of them, our employees and customers feel safe each time they fly one of

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