Enthusiastic and motivated instructor (CFI, CFII, MEI)
I'm an enthusiastic and motivated flight instructor (CFI, CFII, MEI) who is passionate about helping other aviators improve and achieve their flying goals. Whether you're a student pilot taking your first steps toward a license or a veteran who wants to brush up or return to the skies, I can help. I'm currently located in Sanford, Florida but have flown in most other parts of the state. I did extensive training out of Melbourne so I'm very familiar with Space Coast airspace. I'm willing to travel and negotiate rates as needed. I owned a Piper Cherokee for four years so I can provide transition training if needed. As a former (and future) aircraft owner I'm also comfortable training in your own aircraft provided I have experience in the airframe. If you want to learn more about how I can help meet your specific needs I encourage you to take advantage of a free 30 minute discovery call. I look forward to working with you!
Details
- State*Florida
- CFI Insurance*Yes
- Aircraft Access for Pilot TrainingYes
- Open to traveling across the countryYes
Held Certifications*
- CFI (Certificated Flight Instructor)
- CFII (Instrument Flight Instructor)
- AGI (Advanced Ground Instructor)
- IGI (Instrument Ground Instructor)
- MEI (Multi-Engine Instructor)
- Commercial ASEL (Airplane Single Engine Land)
- Commercial AMEL (Airplane Multi Engine Land)
- High-Performance Endorsement
- Complex Endorsement
- Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)
Training Stages (Can offer)
- Private Pilot License (Certificate) - PPL
- Instrument Rating - IR
- Commercial Pilot License (Certificate) - CPL
- Multi Engine Rating - MER
- Certified Flight Instructor Instrument - CFII
- Sport Pilot License (Certificate)
- High-Performance Endorsement
- Complex-Airplane-Endorsement
Aircraft Experience (Instructed in)
C172 (M,N, R, SP), PA-28 (180, 181), C182 (S)
Aircraft Experience (Piloted)
C172 (N,M, R, SP), PA-28 (180, 161, 181), BE-76, DA40, DV20, C152, C182 (S, RG)
Pilot Training Provided
- Certificates/Ratings Flight Lessons
- Ground School
- Intro/ Discovery Flight
- Checkride Prep
- Safety Pilot
- Time Building
- Stalls, Spins, Upset Recovery
- Aircraft/Avionics-Specific Training
- Cross-Country
- Flight Planning (VFR, IFR)
- Currency Training
Pricing - Hourly Rate (e.g. Ground School, Flight Lesson, Travel Time, Flight Review)
$50/hr all instruction $65/hr flight review/IPC
Airplane Category
- Single Engine Land
- Multi Engine Land
Location
Reviews (1)
- LS
Awesome experience flying with Gio! Very knowledgeable about the aircraft and was helpful making sure I understood everything I was learning and stayed safe while completing a high performance endorsement. Looking forward to flying with him again!
LYDIA S•April 2025•
About the instructor
I don't remember a time in my life where being a pilot wasn't my dream. I started my flight training journey after high school in 2014. I pursued my PPL for a year before taking a break from flying. During this break, I began a career in flight simulation working on A320 full flight simulators in Ft. Lauderdale. After a few years I moved to Boeing in Miami where I maintained primarily 757, 767, and MD-11 full flight simulators. I earned my PPL in 2020 and after a few months in Miami, I joined the F-15 Qatar program in St. Louis and relocated to the midwest to maintain F-15 flight simulators. I supported various F-15 programs in St. Louis while earning my Instrument Rating, Commercial ASEL/AMEL and high-performace/complex endorsements. During my time in St. Louis I became the proud owner of a 1971 Piper Cherokee 180 allowing me to dive into the world of GA maintenance. I relocated back to my home state of Florida in 2024 leveraging my experience with avionics and aircraft maintenance to earn a role as an Avionics Technician in Melbourne. As much as I enjoy working on aircraft and simulators, flying has always been the higher calling so I left my job as an Avionics Technician just a few months later to pursue flight instructing. I trained full-time for about six months while building proficiency and learning how to teach. I was blessed to have amazing instructors who served as mentors and modeled the type of instructor I aspire to be. I was hired in January 2025 by L3Harris in Orlando where I currently instruct full-time. When I decided to earn my CFI/CFII I knew I was subscribing to a lifetime of learning, committing to being a better pilot and teacher everyday. My journey up to this point may not have been the most direct or conventional but, my varied experience in the industry as a whole allows me to provide a unique perspective on certain aspects of being and becoming a pilot. As a result, flight instructing has evolved into so much more than just a job for me. Instructing has given me a way to pass along my passion for aviation by helping others achieve their own goals/dreams. Easily the most rewarding thing I've ever done and I'm eager to continue instructing, in some capacity, for the rest of my life. I look forward to helping more students reach their full potential through Skyfarer Academy.
I don't remember a time in my life where being a pilot wasn't my dream. I started my flight training journey after high school in 2014. I pursued my PPL for a year before taking a break from flying. During this break, I began a career in flight simulation working on A320 full flight simulators in Ft. Lauderdale. After a few years I moved to Boeing in Miami where I maintained primarily 757, 767, and MD-11 full flight simulators. I earned my PPL in 2020 and after a few months in Miami, I joined the F-15 Qatar program in St. Louis and relocated to the midwest to maintain F-15 flight simulators. I supported various F-15 programs in St. Louis while earning my Instrument Rating, Commercial ASEL/AMEL and high-performace/complex endorsements. During my time in St. Louis I became the proud owner of a 1971 Piper Cherokee 180 allowing me to dive into the world of GA maintenance. I relocated back to my home state of Florida in 2024 leveraging my experience with avionics and aircraft maintenance to earn a role as an Avionics Technician in Melbourne. As much as I enjoy working on aircraft and simulators, flying has always been the higher calling so I left my job as an Avionics Technician just a few months later to pursue flight instructing. I trained full-time for about six months while building proficiency and learning how to teach. I was blessed to have amazing instructors who served as mentors and modeled the type of instructor I aspire to be. I was hired in January 2025 by L3Harris in Orlando where I currently instruct full-time. When I decided to earn my CFI/CFII I knew I was subscribing to a lifetime of learning, committing to being a better pilot and teacher everyday. My journey up to this point may not have been the most direct or conventional but, my varied experience in the industry as a whole allows me to provide a unique perspective on certain aspects of being and becoming a pilot. As a result, flight instructing has evolved into so much more than just a job for me. Instructing has given me a way to pass along my passion for aviation by helping others achieve their own goals/dreams. Easily the most rewarding thing I've ever done and I'm eager to continue instructing, in some capacity, for the rest of my life. I look forward to helping more students reach their full potential through Skyfarer Academy.