Certified Flight Instructors
Flying Particles, Incorporated has a number of club members who are FAA Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs) and have been approved by the club’s Flight Safety Officer to provide flight instruction in FPI aircraft. These club CFIs are independent contractors and, as specified in our bylaws, are the only CFIs who may instruct in club aircraft. Our club CFIs have a range of backgrounds and are highly experienced. We’re confident you’ll find a good student-teacher match with several of them.
Choosing a CFI
Each person has his or her own style of learning and the same is true of teaching styles, so it is important to find a CFI who works well with you. Many factors will influence your decision, but personality match and style of communication are surely among the most important. Keep in mind that a CFI’s hourly rates and total flight hours may have little correlation with how well you’ll succeed in learning from them. We recommend you talk with a few CFIs, and equally as important, a few of their references, before choosing one for your training goal.
While most members like the consistency of using one CFI as their primary private pilot or instrument rating instructor, many find it helpful to periodically fly with a another instructor to see a different viewpoint. Not every CFI will be a good match for every student; if it’s not working out, try another CFI—you’re in charge of your training. For more information about choosing a flight instructor, we recommend the M-Zero-A guide..
Contacting a CFI or a Reference
If you are a club member and wish to contact a CFI or speak with his references, you may obtain their contact information from ScheduleMaster (click on the Group Info – User list tab. Right click on their last name to copy their email address). If you are not yet a member, or have just joined, please contact our Membership VP for referrals.
Bob Ackley, CFI, CFII
Occupation: Retired Plant Business Operations Manager, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Types of Instruction: Private Pilot, Commercial, Flight Instructor, Instrument Rating, BFR, IPC, and aircraft checkouts
Times Available: Days and Evenings except on Sunday
ADAM BERTSCH, CFI
Occupation: Computer Scientist, Flight Instructor
Types of Instruction: Private Pilot, Commercial, Flight Review, Mountain and Aircraft checkouts
Times Available: Fri, Sat, Sun and evenings during the week.
TAMMY BURTON, CFI, CFII, MEI, ATP
Occupation: Corporate Pilot and Part-time Flight Instructor
Types of Instruction: Private Pilot, Commercial, Multi, Instrument, ATP, Flight Instructor, BFR and IPC
Availability varies: please contact me at tammara.gb@gmail.com
TOMMY CHAN, CFI, CFII, MEI
Occupation: Full-time flight instructor
Types of Instruction: Private, Instrument, Commercial, CFI, CFII, MEI, Flight Reviews, IPC, High-Low wing, TAA, High performance, Complex transitions, Multi Engine, Aircraft checkouts
Time available: by appointment
MATTHEW CHURCHILL, CFI, MEI
Occupation:Full-time Flight Instructor.
Types of Instruction: Private, Commercial, (Instrument coming soon,) FAA Flight Reviews, Mountain Flying, Mock Checkrides/ Stage Checks, Multi-engine & Complex Training (in non FPI aircraft)
Times Available: Weekends and weekdays by appointment.
Website: https://www.flychurchill.com/
Eddie De Coito, CFI, CFII, MEI
Occupation: Full-time Flight Instructor, FPI Flight Safety Officer
Types of Instruction: Private Pilot, Commercial, Instrument, Flight Instructor, BFR, IPC, and FPI instructor checkout
Times Available: By appointment only
Jim Econome, CFI, CFII, MEI
Occupation: Airline Pilot and Part-time Flight Instructor
Types of Instruction: Private Pilot, Commercial, Instrument, Multi, Flight Reviews, Instrument Proficiency Check, A&P, IA.
Times Available: Varied by schedule. Office is at South Hangars. Weekdays best
Pete Eltgroth, CFI, CFII
Occupation: Retired physicist, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Types of Instruction: Private, Commercial, Flight Instructor, Instrument, FAA Flight Reviews, Instrument Proficiency Check, Mountain Flying. (In appropriate non-FPI aircraft: tailwheel techniques, aerobatics.)
Times Available: Most days, except Monday, Wednesday & Friday evenings
LOGAN EVANS, CFI, CFII, MEI, ATP
Occupation: Part-time Flight Instructor
Types of Instruction: Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, Instrument Rating, BFR, IPC, Mock Checkrides/ Stage Checks, Multi-engine Training (in non FPI aircraft)
Times Available: by appointment
Noah Fong, CFI-A, CFI-I, MEI, ATP
Occupation: Retired airline pilot. Former electrical engineer.
Types of Instruction: I tend to focus on instrument training but will consider other training as I have time. Always enjoy talking and answering questions about training topics and willing to help whether or not I become your instructor.
Times Available: Normally weekdays and evenings(I love to fly at night)
References: Horia Onofrei
Victor Marsh, CFI, CFII
Occupation: Flight instructor and corporate pilot.
Types of Instruction: Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, Instrument Rating, FAA Flight Reviews, Instrument Proficiency Check.
Times Available: Varied by schedule
Nach Mishra, CFI, CFII
Occupation: I am a full-time Data Scientist.
Types of Instruction: Private, Commercial, CFII, Instrument, FAA Flight Reviews, Instrument Proficiency Check, Mountain Flying, Tailwheel endorsement in Non FPI aircrafts.
Times Available: Weekdays evenings and weekends.
References: Pete Eltgroth, Mike Schneider, Eddie De Coito
Website: www.theeffectivepilot.com
Srinath nandakumar, CFI
Occupation: Aerospace Engineer.
Types of Instruction: Flight Review, Aircraft checkouts.
Times Available: By appointment only, email me: srinath99@gmail.com.
Francis O’Connor, CFI, CFII, MEI
Occupation: Full Time Flight Instructor
Types of Instruction: Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, Instrument Rating, FAA Flight Reviews, Instrument Proficiency Check, Currency and Proficiency Flights, Mock Checkrides/ Stage Checks, Multi-engine Training (in non FPI aircraft)
Times Available: by appointment
Tala Orngard, CFI, CFII, MEI
Occupation: Full-time Flight Instructor
Types of Instruction: Private Pilot, Commercial, Instrument, Flight Review, IPC, Rusty Pilot
Always on the lookout for insightful ways to help my students fly with skill, confidence, and finesse. I bring a positive outlook, patience, and a can-do attitude.
Times Available: Flexible
Steve Patenaude, CFI
Types of instruction: FAA and FPI Flight Reviews, Instrument Proficiency Check only.
Occupation: Retired
Times available: by appointment
Steve Radcliffe, CFI, CFII
Occupation: CFI, A&P
Types of Instruction: Various and FPI instructor checkout
Times Available: by appointment
Virginie Rollin, Ph.D., CFI, AGI, IGI
Occupation: Part-time flight instructor, Scientist
Types of Instruction: Ground school, private, commercial, flight reviews
Availability: weekdays preferred, by appointment
Website: www.aiminghigheracademy.com
Michael Schneider, CFI, CFII
Types of instruction: Private, Commercial, ATP, Instrument, Multi, Glider, BFR, IPC
Occupation: Mechanical Engineer
Times available: evenings and Saturdays
Joshua Smith, CFII
Types of instruction: Private Pilot, Commercial, Instrument Rating, BFR, IPC, and aircraft checkouts
Occupation: FAA Part 147 School Director, the Aviation Institute of Maintenance and Flight Instructor
Availability varies — contact me at airbandit at comcast dot net or 925-339-9596.
Chris Trapani, CFI, CFII
Types of instruction: Instrument Rating, Private, Commercial, FAA Flight Reviews, Airplane checkouts, Instrument Proficiency Checks, Mountain Checkouts
Occupation: Engineering Manager (Cisco) and Part-time Flight Instructor
Times available: Weekends and Weekday evenings
Bob Turner, CFI, CFII
Occupation: Retired physicist, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Types of Instruction: stage checks, instrument rating, CFII, aircraft checkouts, recurrent flight checks, biennial flight reviews, instrument proficiency checks and Commercial and CFI training.
Times Available: All days and evenings except Sunday mornings.
References: David Osborn, Matthias Frank, George Farquar
TED WADDELOW, CFI, CFII
Occupation: Part-time Flight Instructor; Government Affairs
Types of Instruction: Private, Instrument, Commercial, FAA Flight Review, Instrument Proficiency Check, Airplane Checkouts
Times Available: Weekends and Evenings
Tyler White, PhD, CFI, CFII
Occupation: Retired Biotech Scientist, Part-Time Flight Instructor
Types of Instruction: Private Pilot, Commercial, Instrument, Flight Review, Mountain and Aircraft Checkouts
Times Available: Weekdays and Weekends, Days and Evenings
SHUAI ZHAO, PH.D., CFI, CFII
Occupation: Research Scientist and Part-time Flight Instructor
Types of Instruction: Private, Commercial, FAA Flight Review, Airplane Checkouts
Times Available: by appointment
References: Pete Eltgroth
Contact me at: dr.shuai.zhao@gmail.com
