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Instructors
California Airways allows independent flight instructors to use its facilities and scheduling system to input their own availabilities for flight and ground instruction. Each instructor is an independent contractor and operate their own schedules and carry their own insurance. Below you will find a non-exhaustive list of flight instructors that regularly use our facilities and aircraft to teach their students. To schedule a lesson with an instructor, please contact them using the contact information they provide below.
Daman Chalal
ATP,CFI,CFII & MEI
Damanpreet is one of the youngest flight instructors at Cal Air. He started to learn how to fly when he was in high school. Since he walked through the front doors of our school his dream was always to be an airline pilot. Now he is a pilot at Skywest Airlines. He also shares a passion to teach and has been a phenomenal flight instructor. He loves to travel and sees Hawaii as his future home. Captain Chalal can be reached at 510-708-0006 or dschahal777@gmail.com
Damien Ware
Commercial Pilot, CFI-A, CFI-IA, Remote Pilot
Damien is an FAA certified flight instructor for Private, Instrument and Commercial students. He has been a member of California Airways family for three years. He gets great enjoyment out of teaching students with no knowledge of aviation to see them pass their checkride with flying colors becoming experts in their field. Damien contracts as a corporate pilot flying King Air's and Citation Jets. In addition Damien is a remote pilot consultant for many companies and individuals providing advice, training and operations for Unmanned Aircraft. He has 4 years of Unmanned Aircraft experience operating under some of the first FAA 333 Exemptions and Part 107 Waivers. You can contact Damien at (408) 307 2305 and visit his website at http://mienware.com
Keith Medeiros
Commercial Pilot, CFI-IA
Keith likes long walks on the beach eating chocolate. Been flying for 6 years and an instructor for 1.5 years. Takes flying to a fun level while maintaining safety as his number one priority. Currently employed as an airline pilot in the Bay Area.
Briano Santos
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
Ben Brillo
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
Ian Carisi
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.
Chris Silva
Commercial Pilot, CFI-A, CFI-IA
Chris is living his dream job as a full-time flight instructor at Cal Air! He’s not interested in joining the airlines so he wont bail on you in the middle of your training. His goal is to work on mastering the art and science of flight instruction and to help you achieve your aviation dreams. He’s available for training 7 days a week and will do his best to work around your schedule. Call him any time at 209-534-5102 or email at chrissilvacfi@gmail.com to talk about what aviation goals he can help you achieve.
Nacho Soto
Commercial Pilot, CFI-A
Nacho is an FAA certified Flight Instructor for Private and Commercial students. He enjoys teaching students with no flying experience, helping them become safe and proficient pilots. He also offers instruction for transitioning to Complex, High Performance, or G1000 aircraft. He is available daytime or evenings, Monday through Saturday. Cell: 415-690-6402. E-mail: cfi@nachosoto.com.