The Experts
Behind ActivePILOT

Ari grew up in Woodland Hills and attended Cal State LA where he completed his master's degree in aviation management. He earned his private pilot in 1994 and has worked as a flight instructor and also as an operations specialist at Burbank Airport. Ari now flies the Embraer E-175 as a captain for a major airline and is based in Los Angeles. He has a passion for flying and enjoys helping develop the next generation of professional pilots. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, traveling, sailing and of course flying.

Leo was born in Cali, Colombia, and was accepted to the Colombian Naval Academy where he graduated as an officer and earned a bachelor's degree in Naval Science. After 11 years of service in the Navy, he moved to California in 2009 and served in the US military. Leo now flies the prestigious Boeing 737 as a captain for a major airline. Leo wants to combine his life experiences and knowledge to help others achieve their passion for flying. Leonardo enjoys running, hiking, going to the movies, and spending time with family and friends.

Jean is the muscle of operation at ActivePILOT. While being a student pilot, Jean oversees the day-to-day operations of the school, and nothing gets passed him unchecked. His love for flight training and bright thinking has made him a valuable asset to our team and his generosity to help newcomers into our flight training programs has made him a devoted resource to his fellow students.

Connor is an avid aviator who obtained all his pilot certificates with ActivePILOT including instrument rating (IFR), commercial pilot (CPL), and certified flight instructor certificate (CFI). His good disposition and readiness is always reflected anytime you have a chat with him. Connor's passion to help up and coming students receive the assistance they need to start flight training has gotten many to take the first step in their flight training career.

Ryan is a Southern California native who is passionate about flying. Having achieved many certifications such as Commercial Pilot Multi-Engine (CMEL), Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), and Complex Endorsement, Ryan excels at all aspects of pilot training. In his free time, Ryan likes to go out with friends, build engines and race cars, and do computer-aided design. Ryan has been flying for over 10 years and is ready to give you world-class pilot instruction.

Born and raised in Los Angeles California, one of Tash's favorite parts about aviation is its complexity and being able to continuously challenge oneself. Having obtained all her licenses Private Pilot through certified flight instructor with ActivePilot, she values the hard work and dedication that comes with flying. During her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and her two furry friends. When she's not flying, she enjoys international cuisines along with valuing vintage time pieces.

Caelia was born and raised in the San Fernando valley. She first discovered her love for flying with her grandpa, who built and flies his own experimental. She began training after graduating from college, where she then decided business wasn't nearly as fun as flying. After earning her Commercial Pilot license (CPL) and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) with ActivePILOT, Caelia is excited to now form a part of the team. Still passionate about numbers, weight and balance is her favorite ground lesson to teach. When she isn't flying, you can find her doing yoga, swimming, or hanging out with her dog!

Growing up in the Los Angeles area, Roman was passionate about sports, particularly basketball. After college, he began a career in the medical device industry, but always felt drawn to something different. That shift came when he took a discovery flight with ActivePILOT. The freedom and excitement he experienced during the flight ignited his interest in aviation. From that moment, he fully committed to the field, completing his private, instrument, commercial, and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) training with ActivePILOT. In addition to his passion for flying, he enjoys training in Jiu-Jitsu, staying active with workouts, and exploring new adventures with his dog. He is excited to share his love of aviation with others and help them achieve their flying dreams.

Devin grew up in Lake Havasu City, AZ, and began his aviation journey straight out of high school. Obtaining his Private Pilot Certificate at the age of 18, Devin went on to pursue the rest of his career at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Upon obtaining his masters degree, he relocated to Southern California, where he finished his Commercial Pilot License (CPL), Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), and Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII). Devin now offers 10 years of flight experience and is very knowledgeable about the industry making him your go-to for any questions. When he's not flying, you can find him at the lake riding jet skis, wake surfing, and enjoying most action sports. He is very passionate and thorough when training the next generation of pilots and is sure to make your flight training experience an enjoyable one.

Sergio is a prime example of what ActivePILOT has to offer. He completed all his ratings with the school. He started at private pilot and went all the way to multi-engine instructor. That is a total of 7 FAA ratings. He used his knowledge and skills he learned at active pilot to secure a job at a leading regional airline based out of LAX. We are very proud of Sergio. If you are curious what it is like to be an airline pilot, Sergio is the person to ask!

Carter is a Los Angeles native who has lived all over the city. His grandfather was a Navy fighter pilot, which inspired him to begin flying in early 2024. He has been with Active Pilot since September of 2024 and in that time went from Private to CFII in under a year. When he isn't flying, Carter enjoys producing music, spending time with his friends, and exploring the outdoors.

A Los Angeles native, Isaac traded lesson plans for flight plans after discovering aviation while working as a 5th grade teacher. His first discovery flight out of Van Nuys Airport felt like "the euphoria of a 16-year-old getting a driver's license," and he strives to combine his background in education with his passion for aviation to make learning to fly a structured and highly rewarding experience. Isaac began training with ActivePilot while training towards his instrument rating and went on to earn his instrument rating, commercial license, CFI, and CFI-I here. Outside the cockpit, Isaac loves taking his dog to the beach, enjoying a scenic drive on PCH and reading about personal finance.

Ismael Deras was born and raised in California, where he originally started his career as an electrician before realizing his true calling was in the sky. After deciding that the trade wasn't for him, he transitioned into aviation and earned his Instrument, Commercial license, CFI, and CFII ratings with the ActivePILOT team. Now a dedicated flight instructor, he enjoys sharing his technical knowledge of the cockpit with his students. When he isn’t flying, Ismael is usually out on his road bike, dialing in his camera gear for a new trip, or simply hanging out with his family, friends and dogs.

Emmanuel is a Los Angeles native with a deep passion for aviation. He completed his flight training at a Part 141 school in San Diego before moving back to LA to finish his CFI here at ActivePilot. With 7 years of flying experience, Emmanuel brings a patient, student-centered approach to every lesson, focused on building real confidence and understanding in the cockpit. When he isn’t flying, you’ll find him down in San Diego spending time with his family.

Justin Stork transitioned into the cockpit following a decade-long career as a television producer managing large-scale productions and complex teams. This background instilled in him a meticulous attention to detail and a proven ability to excel in high-pressure environments.

Justin completed his initial licenses and ratings with ActivePILOT before earning his Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) rating in Nashville. Throughout his training, he maintained an exemplary professional record with no FAA violations or checkride failures.

In addition to flight instruction, Justin serves as a contract First Officer for a Part 135 operator based out of Van Nuys Airport (KVNY). He leverages this real-world operational experience to provide high-quality, practical instruction to his students.

His passion for flight is rooted in his childhood, inspired by the time he spent in hangars with his father, an A&P mechanic. This lifelong connection to aviation has evolved into a professional calling defined by a deep sense of purpose and responsibility. Outside the cockpit, Justin is a devoted husband and father who enjoys hiking with his family, traveling, playing golf, and grilling.