I became a flight instructor because I love aviation and wanted to share it the right way. Flying has been one of the most meaningful parts of my life—both challenging and rewarding in ways few other things are. Teaching it isn’t just about hours or check rides for me; it’s about helping someone else see what’s possible and doing it safely and confidently.
PA-28-160
PA-28-161
C-172
PA - 28 -181
PA - 44 -181
Aircraft Experience (Piloted)
PA-28-160
PA-28-161
PA - 28 -181
PA - 44 -181
BEECHCRAFT 23 MUSKETEER
DA-20
Home Airport(s)
Falcon Field (KFFZ), Chandler Municipal (KCHD)
Pilot Training Provided
Certificates/Ratings Flight Lessons
Ground School
Intro/ Discovery Flight
Flight Reviews - Biennial Flight Reviews (BFRs)
Checkride Prep
Safety Pilot
Time Building
Stalls, Spins, Upset Recovery
Aircraft/Avionics-Specific Training
Cross-Country Flying
Flight Planning (VFR, IFR)
Currency Training
Aircraft/Insurance Checkout
Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC)
Ground School Programs Experience
King Schools
Gleim Aviation
Pilot Institute
Sporty's
Finer Points
Fly8MA
Flight Insight
Pricing - Hourly Rate
$75-$100
Pricing Notes
Committed students who commit to multiple sessions per week will receive a discount in flight instruction costs.
Airplane rental as low as $85 + Gas
Location
Reviews (0)
About
Hello, I'm Thomas F.
In the FAA Flight Instructor Handbook, self-actualization is described as the feeling of doing what you were meant to do. While I wasn't born into aviation, it's absolutely something I was born to do! That deep sense of purpose has driven me since childhood—watching planes over Falcon Field and knowing I had to be up there someday.
My journey took me through the American Airlines Cadet Academy at CAE in Mesa, Arizona, where I trained under a fast-paced Part 141 program and graduated at the top of my class. But more important than technical skill, I learned that true instructional excellence is about presence, patience, and a genuine investment in each student's growth.
That's why I built Desert Skies Aviation—not as a pilot factory, but as a flight school centered around each individual's goals, style, and pace. For me, instruction isn't a stepping stone; it's a calling. I'm committed to raising the standard, giving back to the community that changed my life, and building resources for the next generation of aviators.
I'm pursuing a career at the airlines, but I'm equally dedicated to making flight training better—whether in the classroom, the cockpit, or the curriculum. If this resonates with you, then I'll say what I say on every takeoff: "How lucky are we?!"
In the FAA Flight Instructor Handbook, self-actualization is described as the feeling of doing what you were meant to do. While I wasn't born into aviation, it's absolutely something I was born to do! That deep sense of purpose has driven me since childhood—watching planes over Falcon Field and knowing I had to be up there someday.
My journey took me through the American Airlines Cadet Academy at CAE in Mesa, Arizona, where I trained under a fast-paced Part 141 program and graduated at the top of my class. But more important than technical skill, I learned that true instructional excellence is about presence, patience, and a genuine investment in each student's growth.
That's why I built Desert Skies Aviation—not as a pilot factory, but as a flight school centered around each individual's goals, style, and pace. For me, instruction isn't a stepping stone; it's a calling. I'm committed to raising the standard, giving back to the community that changed my life, and building resources for the next generation of aviators.
I'm pursuing a career at the airlines, but I'm equally dedicated to making flight training better—whether in the classroom, the cockpit, or the curriculum. If this resonates with you, then I'll say what I say on every takeoff: "How lucky are we?!"