Meet Our Team

Owner, Chief Flight Instructor (Part 61)

Keith has over 8,000 hours of flight time and holds the FAA Airline Transport Pilot certificate. He is also a Certified Flight Instructor (Instrument, Multi-Engine, and Single-Engine). He’s flown for Ameriflight, Air Ambulance, and American Eagle Airlines. He acquired and relaunched California Airways in 2004, and currently serves as Chief Flight Instructor for all Part 61 training courses.

Co-Owner, Office Manager

Susie is the office manager at California Airways. She coordinates parties, special events, does all of the marketing for California Airways and enjoys her position at the company very much. Susie brings to the team a lot of marketing experience from her former careers and has helped grow the business and developed new programs such as the Children's Birthday Parties, Aerocamp and Special Events.

CFI-A, CFI-IA, AGI, IGI, FAASTeam Representative

Jonathan is living his dream! A lifetime resident of California and most particularly the San Francisco Bay Area, he is enjoying his passion for flying and his calling as a teacher and instructor at California Airways. He is a Commercial Pilot as well as a Certified Flight Instructor and Ground Instructor for single engine aircraft, including instrument flight. He also serves as a volunteer safety representative for the FAA's FAASTeam. In addition to flying, Jonathan is active as a minister and an associate pastor at a local church. Both he and his wife enjoy traveling and exploring the out of doors. Jonathan is passionate about the future of the aviation industry and encourages everyone who shows interest to follow their dream to learn how to fly and to take it to the level of their greatest desire. Jonathan makes learning how to fly fun, but is very professional in his approach. He is available day or night, Monday through Saturday. Cell: 510-914-8581. Email: skyking2012@live.com.

AGI, MEI, CFI-A, CFI-IA

​I am a flight instructor based in San Francisco bay area. My students receive flight training on single and/or multi-engine land airplanes. Student's training provides the opportunity to earn the following licenses and ratings: private, instrument, and commercial. Whether you are looking to become a hobby pilot or are taking your first steps toward becoming a commercial airline pilot, you will receive the guidance and top quality instruction required to accomplish your goals. I am available to teach lessons at most airports in the greater Bay Area.I earned my licensees at some of the top flight schools in the US. Currently I am working and teaching at California Airways based in Hayward Airport . I also work part-time at NASA, Traffic Watch - CBS News and United Airlines. You can reach me at 415-200-8440 prayankjain85@yahoo.com.

Commercial Pilot, CFI-A, CFI-IA, MEI

Briano has logged 2,300 plus hours, and is FAA rated Commercial Pilot, and is a Certified Flight Instructor (Single and Multi-Engine, Instrument). In his spare time, Briano enjoys long walks on the beach, and puppies. Cell: (510) 813-1754

Commercial Pilot,Certified Flight Instructor - CFI, CFII, Aircraft Mechanic-A&P

Ben has been an instructor with California Airways for several years and has proved to the aviation community that he has an excellent reputation with the FAA. He is an experienced instructor with a total time of over 3000 flight hours and 2500 hours of instruction given. His teaching experience includes all aircrafts in the Cal Air fleet which includes the Garmin 430, Garmin 650, G1000 and autopilot systems. He has accumulated his flight experience as a traffic watch pilot, flight instructor, and leisure flying. In addition, he is a licensed aircraft technician specializing in avionics and has worked in the field since 2000. He is available as a CFI and CFII 7 days a week and can be reached at 510-693-0865 or by email: bbrillo76@gmail.com

Airline Transport Pilot, CFI, CFII

Dru started flying while he was in high school and earned experience as a flight instructor before he flew for a large part 135 cargo operator for several years. He has instruction experience in most, common single engine aircraft; and has also flown extensively in several multi-engine piston and turbine aircraft as PIC. He has a passion for people and teaching; and he is also a trained Life-Coach. His people skills translate very well into flight instruction, as he enjoys facilitating people in achieving their aviation goals (while having a safe and fun time). And he is also a certified Boy Scouts of America, Aviation Merit Badge Counselor.

Airline Transport Pilot, CFI-I, MEI, IGI, Gold Seal

John started flying when he was 13 years old and has been teaching full-time since 2001. He has instructional experience in a variety of single- and multi-engine Beechcraft, Cessna, Cirrus, Diamond, Grumman, Piper and Socata aircraft. John flew FedEx Caravans for a while, but returned to his real passion - helping motivated students reach their flying goals. John has logged over 7,500 hours, has written articles for "IFR Magazine,” and is the author of the iBook The Concise Guide to IFR. John is an avid bicyclist and blogs about aviation at Aviation Mentor. Email: freightdogtales@gmail.com.

Gold Seal Flight instructor CFI, CFII, MEL

Sam Gaadi has been a Pilot for 24years. His passion is aviation and helping to share with others the same passion. Sam is a Gold Seal Flight instructor CFI, CFII, MEL. He has an extensive background in aviation and has worked with hundreds of students/ pilots over the years. He is excited to help teach others how to fly and venture into aviation.

Gold Seal Senior CFIA, CFII, MEI

My great grandfather immigrated to the USA from Italy to build airplanes. His son, my grandfather, was an aeronautical engineer/ designer who spent most of his career at Fairchild Republic Aviation in Farmingdale, NY. My grandfather soloed after 30 minutes in a Taylor Cub in 1937 out of Roosevelt Field, NY. All and all, I am the 7th in my family in aviation in some capacity. The first time I manipulated the controls of an airplane I was 5 years old sitting on my grandfather’s lap in a Cessna out of Farmingdale, Republic Airport.

I started taking flying lessons in 1996 through Nassau County BOCES at the Farmingdale Republic Airport. In 2003 I acquired my B.S. Degree in Aeronautical Science, Professional Pilot from the State University of New York at Farmingdale. In 2003 I relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area and acquired my CFI in 2004. I have since obtained over 3,000 hours instruction Dual Given. In 2008 I moved to Moscow Russia to fly a Hawker Business Jet. Since then I have flown Challenger and Gulfstream Business Jets and obtained over 1,600 international jet experience in over 40 countries.