Sure, we have new, technically advanced airplanes, a superb flight training syllabus and a training environment that is second-to-none....but....it's our flight instructors that truly make the difference. Simply the best in the industry!

An All-Star cast, SunState Aviation Flight Instructors are mature, experienced professionals with an array of impressive credentials and thousands of hours of flight instruction given. Listed below are our instructors with their respective ratings.

	Steve Graham, Founder, CEO - CFI, CFII, ASEL, ATP AMEL, FITS Trained for Garmin G1000 Steve is the founder and CEO of SunState Aviation. Steve had been providing accelerated flight training as an independent flight instructor for many years and then served as the Chief Flight Instructor for a very large flight school prior to opening SunState Aviation in 2002. Steve hails from Cullman, Alabama.
	Jeff Sullivan, Chief Flight Instructor - USAF retired, CFI, CFII, FITS Trained for Garmin G1000, experienced with Avidyne Entegra cockpit. Jeff comes to us from Bend Oregon and has been instructing with SunState Aviation since 2004. In 2009, Jeff was promoted to the Chief Flight Instructor position and just prior to that served as one of our Senior Flight Instructors, providing student progress checks. Jeff has experience giving instruction in many make/model aircraft including Cirrus, Mooney, Piper Saratoga, Bonanza, Cessna 172, 182, 206 just to name a few. "I just wanted to say that I enjoyed my stay and was impressed with the school. Jeff did a great job instructing me." Charles C.
	David Blakney, Assistant Chief Flight Instructor, CFI, CFII, FAA Safety Team, FITS Trained for Garmin G1000 David, a native of Maine is an Air Force veteran whose career has included management positions in healthcare and the semiconductor industry. Desiring a career change, he pursued aviation full time in 2006, completing his instrument and commercial pilot training right here at SunState Aviation. David is also an FAA Safety Team member. "David Blakney was a fantastic instructor who went far beyond what I would have expected of any instructor....I think he takes a great deal of pride not only in the success of his students, but also in working at SunState as demonstrated by his attention to detail." Nat F. "I had a wonderful experience at SunState. David was perfect in his job" Jacques G.
	Ryan Sebek, Senior Flight Instructor - CFI Training Specialist, CFI, CFII, MEI, Gold Seal CFI, FITS Trained for Garmin G1000 Ryan was born in Maryland, moved to Jupiter, Florida in 1986 and then finally making St. Cloud his home in 1999. Ryan has an Associates Degree in Computer Science from Palm Beach Community College. He obtained a Bachelors Degree in Aeronautical Science along with his CFI, CFII and MEI instructor ratings from Florida Institute of Technology graduating Magna Cum Laude. Ryan started working for SunState Aviation Flight School in February, 2002 and now has well over 3,000 hours of dual instruction given. His personal interests include automotive mechanics and auto body repair and painting. "I think the quality of instruction was excellent. Ryan was really top-notch in discipline and continuously raising the bar just high enough to stay challenged without being discouraged. His knowledge is encyclopedic." Erik K.
	Jason Gledhill, Multi Engine Training Specialist, ATP, CFI, CFII, MEI Jason is our multi engine flight training specialist. Jason was formerly the Chief Flight Instructor for another busy flight school and has proven to be a valuable addition to our team.
	Matthew Gallagher, Helicopter Training Specialist, CFI-(A), CFI-(H), CFII-(A), CFII-(H) FITS Trained for Garmin G1000 Matthew grew up in Ireland and England where upon graduating with a BA (Hons) in Philosophy he pursued a career as a professional Chartered Accountant working for blue chip multi-national accountancy and banking firms in the United Kingdom and Cayman Islands. It was whilst in the Cayman Islands that Matthew decided to embark on a career in aviation. This bought him to central California where he trained for 12 months obtaining the following FAA Licenses. Airplane Land and Sea Single / Mutli Engine Commercial with Instrument Rating. Airplane CFI, CFII and MEI. Helicopter Commercial with Instrument Rating. Helicopter CFI and CFII. Having obtained his FAA Licenses he then earned and obtained his European JAA (f)ATPL Licenses for both aeroplane and helicopter and his JAA FI rating at training establishments in England, Ireland and Florida. He has over 550 hours instruction given for both FAA and JAA licenses. Outside of aviation he is a keen Scuba diver, holding a PADI open water instructor certificate and is a licensed Realtor^® in the State of Florida.
	Terry George, CFI, CFII, FITS Trained for Garmin G1000 Terry is a South Florida native, born and reared in Miami. He is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma and a United States Air Force veteran. His professional career includes domestic and international marketing positions with Cessna Aircraft Company, Fairchild Aircraft Corporation and AlliedSignal Air Transport Avionics. Terry and his wife, Marie, make their home in Saint Cloud, Florida.
	Jarid James, CFI, CFII, FITS Trained for Garmin G1000 Jarid has been instructing for SunState Aviation since 2008 and has received most of his pilot training from SunState Aviation. He holds CFI and CFI-I instructor ratings and has received FAA and Industry Training Standards (FITS) training on the G1000 cockpit. "Jarid deserves some special recognition for his professional attitude and flexibility which allowed me to get the job done in short order...." "He is a great instructor and represents your company well." Tim C.
	Dennis Kelly, ATP, CFI, CFII, MEI, FITS Trained for Garmin G1000 Dennis graduated from the US Air Force Academy in 1978 and then completed undergraduate pilot training in Del Rio, Texas in 1979. He then moved on to fly his dream aircraft, the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter (both the A and B models) at Norton AFB in Riverside, CA and eventually went on to train C-141 pilots at Altus AFB in Oklahoma. Dennis is an aircraft owner and holds CFI, CFII, MEI and Airline Transport Pilot single and multi engine Airplane ratings.
	Luis Flores, CFI, CFII, FITS Trained for Garmin G1000 Luis has been instructing for SunState Aviation since 2007 and has completed much of his pilot training at SunState Aviation. He holds CFI and CFI-I instructor ratings and has received FAA and Industry Training Standards (FITS) training on the G1000 cockpit.
	Sam Ayler, CFI, CFII, FITS Trained for Garmin G1000 Sam has been instructing for SunState Aviation since 2007. He holds CFI and CFI-I ratings and has received FAA and Industry Training Standards (FITS) training on the G1000 cockpit.

The SunState Aviation Advantage
We encourage you to shop around, check out other flight schools and see if they measure up. Feel free to use this handy check-list as a guide for comparison purposes.
	SunState Aviation		Flight School _______________
	Yes	No	Yes	No
FAA approved flight training syllabus	X
Standardized curriculum	X
Scenario-based training	X
Computer Based Instruction	X
Experienced, full-time flight instructors	X
One on one style training	X
Progress checks	X
New training aircraft	X
Technically Advanced Aircraft	X
Aircraft maintenance on location	X
Helpful and attentive support staff	X
Complimentary practice exams	X
Written exam on location	X
Practical test on location	X
Accommodations available	X
Pre-paid discounts available	X
Control towered airport environment	X
Multiple instrument approaches on field	X
FAA approved simulator	X
Online scheduling	X
Great weather year 'round	X
Close to international airport/attractions	X
Customized accelerated training programs	X
Old, poorly maintained airplanes		X
Classrooms full of cadets		X
White shirts and epaulets		X
Want all your money up-front		X
Hidden charges / fuel surcharges		X
Questionable and deceptive practices		X

A word about our pricing and rates: SunState Aviation's commitment to you, our students and customers is to provide the highest quality training and aircraft rental possible, combined with the very best possible customer service at the very best prices and hourly rates possible. We do not add fuel surcharges or any other hidden charges to our rental rates (a 7% local sales tax is added to non-instructional aircraft rentals), nor do we falsely inflate our rental rates in order to offer "special cut-rate deals." Our rates are competitive and our block discounts are already as low as we can possibly go. Please do not ask us to depart from our published rates. The prices and rates published on this web-site are the effective rates at the time that you viewed them and are subject to change. Thank you for your understanding.