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?!"