A JAXAERO instructor coaching a student at the flight simulator

Meet the team

Trained by pilots who've
flown the whole journey.

From your first discovery flight to your multi-engine checkride, you'll learn from a team of 21 instructors who've been exactly where you're headed — led by airline and flight-standards professionals who built their careers helping others get there.

Schedule a discovery flight See our fleet

Flight instructors on staff

CFI·CFII·MEI

Every rating taught in-house

20+

Years of airline & training leadership

Zero→Airline

One team for the whole pathway

Leadership

The team that sets the standard.

Our training is built and held to airline standards — led by an airline pilot who has built and run pilot-training programs at national scale, and a flight-standards leader who keeps every checkride and procedure consistent. The result is a clear, professional path from your first lesson to the airline cockpit.

President

Ben Gabriel

President Airline Pilot NATA Excellence Award

An Atlanta-based airline pilot with 20+ years and 6,000+ hours across piston, turboprop, and jet aircraft, Ben has trained pilots in everything from two-seat trainers to airliners. He led the training department of one of the nation's largest flight schools, helped develop multiple accredited university aviation programs, served as an adjunct professor, and is a recipient of the National Air Transportation Association's Excellence in Pilot Training award. He brings that airline-level experience to every student's path toward a professional cockpit.

Director of Operations

John Amico

Director of Operations Safety & Standardization CFI CFII MEI

A cornerstone of our safety, standardization, and leadership team, John has given 5,000+ hours of instruction, overseen 100+ first solos, and spent more than a decade as a Training Center Manager and Flight Standards Manager for the nation's largest flight school — developing and testing training procedures at scale.

The instructors

The instructors who'll get you there.

Military aviators, career changers, university graduates, and homegrown JAXAERO pilots — every one of them committed to getting you to your goal safely and well.

Check Instructor

Nico Bowers

CFICFII

Nico left a career in healthcare to chase aviation after a discovery flight. A St. Augustine Flight Club member, he finds helping students reach their goals deeply rewarding.

Check Instructor

Jonathan Rutledge

CFIIAdmissions

A first-generation pilot from Jacksonville who completed all his training, PPL through CFII, at JAXAERO. As our Admissions Specialist, Jon builds authentic relationships with every student he meets.

Ben Barwick

CFICFIIMEI

Born and raised in Thomasville, Georgia, Ben knew at age 10 — after his first commercial flight — that he wanted to fly. He cherishes family, friends, faith, and flying.

Ashley Broadus

CFI

Kate Struthers

CFI

Cole Grant

CFI

Robert Lee

CFICFIIMEI

A 20-year Florida Air National Guard veteran — an F-15 and F-35 maintainer and quality-assurance inspector — now working toward his ATP. Robert loves sharing his passion for aviation with every student.

Kasen Woody

CFICFIIMEI

A C-130J maintainer with the West Virginia Air National Guard who learned to fly in 2018, then moved to Jacksonville to build his aviation career with JAXAERO.

Chandara Him

CFIA&P

An A&P mechanic who spent five years rebuilding DC-3s and C-47s in sheet metal — and even designed and built his own glider — before learning to fly. Now a career instructor at JAXAERO.

Frankie Norton

CFICFII

An Auburn University aviation graduate and Jacksonville Beach native who finished his flight training at JAXAERO. Frankie brings deep-rooted passion and a strong commitment to safety.

Tyler Caswell

CFICFII

After years honing his craft as a residential builder in New England, Tyler relocated to Florida to fully pursue aviation, earning his Commercial, CFI, and CFII at JAXAERO.

Charlie Ashton

CFICFII

A Jacksonville native who discovered aviation on a 2023 discovery flight and earned everything from Private through CFII at JAXAERO, with his sights set firmly on the airlines.

Ethen Meneley

CFICFII

From San Antonio, Texas, Ethen fell in love with flying on his first discovery flight, then moved to Jacksonville to finish his training. His goal is to fly for a major airline.

Matthew Fox

CFICFIIMEI

An FSU graduate and Florida Air National Guard weather forecaster following both parents into aviation. He takes pride in watching his students progress and succeed.

Brandon Navratil

CFICFII

Brandon spent 14 years flying helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft filming wildlife near Yellowstone before training at JAXAERO. He blends aviation expertise with years of guiding experience.

Dawson Campbell

CFICFII

Dawson earned everything from Private through CFII at JAXAERO starting in 2024 and now helps the next class of students progress. He's pursuing his MEI on the way to the airlines.

Trevor Money

CFICFII

A commercially rated single- and multi-engine pilot and former special-education teacher with 300+ skydives. Trevor brings patience, structure, and clear instruction to every lesson.

Isabella Murrell

CFICFII

Rian Sexton

CFICFII

Eric Rohlfing

CFICFIIMEI

Come meet them in person.

Book a discovery flight in scenic coastal North Florida, meet the instructors, and see the fleet for yourself.

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Trained by pilots who've
flown the whole journey.