JB
Janis Blackburn
Independent CFI
By arrangement
Student pilotsReviews & 6-moAircraft checkoutsNight checkouts
Varies — contact by text
Instructors
Taught by people who fly with you afterward
Every instructor on this roster is an independent, FAA-certificated CFI — vetted by the Chief Flight Instructor and approved by the Board of Trustees to teach in club aircraft. They charge $50–$75/hr — well below school rates — and many are actively welcoming new students.
✓ 16 approved CFIs available✓ Instruction arranged directly with your CFI✓ Only Board-approved CFIs teach in club aircraft✓ No packages, no pre-pay, no contracts
The roster
Find the right instructor for your situation
Filter by what you need and when you can fly, then come to a meeting and introduce yourself. Members reach instructors directly through Flight Circle; prospective members connect at any monthly meeting or through the Membership Officer.
What do you need?
When can you fly?
All 17 approved instructors
MB
Matthew Bonwell
Independent CFI
By arrangement
Reviews & 6-moAircraft checkouts
Contact before scheduling — please don't book a slot without reaching out first
CC
Collin Cassarini
Independent CFI
WeekdaysWeekends
CFICFII
Teaches through the Private, Instrument, Commercial, and instructor certificates in the Cessna 172. Newer to the club's roster with 600 hours of dual given — equally happy with students training daily or those flying every now and then.
Student pilotsAdvancedIFRReviews & 6-moAircraft checkoutsNight checkoutsGround
Instructs in: Cessna 172s
Saturday–Wednesday all day; Thursday & Friday after 1 PM
MH
Mark Herega
Independent CFI
WeekdaysEveningsWeekends
Student pilotsAdvancedIFRReviews & 6-moAircraft checkoutsNight checkoutsGround
Early mornings, late afternoons & evenings, weekends
EJ
Emily Johnson
Independent CFI
By arrangement
ATPCFICFIIMEITailwheel
Instruction toward the Private, Instrument, and Commercial certificates, plus checkouts and flight reviews — with tailwheel experience in the bargain.
Student pilotsAdvancedIFRReviews & 6-moAircraft checkoutsNight checkouts
Call/text to schedule
AJ
Alejandro Justo
Independent CFI
EveningsWeekends
Student pilotsAdvancedIFRReviews & 6-moAircraft checkoutsNight checkoutsGround
Evenings and weekends
CM
Chuck McKelvey
Independent CFI
Anytime
CFICFIIAGIIGI
New students through Private, Instrument, and Commercial, plus checkouts, IPCs, and flight reviews — with advanced and instrument ground instruction to match. Instructs in every aircraft in the fleet.
Student pilotsAdvancedIFRReviews & 6-moAircraft checkoutsNight checkoutsGround
Instructs in: All club aircraft
Retired — text or call anytime
DM
Darren Mattos
Independent CFI
By arrangement
Club checkouts, 6-month checks, flight reviews, and FAA Safety WINGS credit.
Reviews & 6-moAircraft checkouts
Upon request
PM
Patrick Milando
Independent Chief Flight Instructor
WeekdaysWeekends
ATPCFICFIIMEISeaplane
The club's Independent Chief Flight Instructor — all levels of instruction, from first lessons to IPCs and currency work, with single-engine and seaplane instruction experience.
Student pilotsAdvancedIFRReviews & 6-moAircraft checkoutsNight checkoutsGround
Free most weekdays during the day; weekend mornings
NO
Navin Ohri
Independent CFI
WeekdaysEveningsWeekends
Private, Instrument, and Commercial instruction, ground training, flight reviews, and checkouts in the Cessna 172.
Student pilotsAdvancedIFRReviews & 6-moAircraft checkoutsNight checkoutsGround
Instructs in: Cessna 172s
Monday–Friday 6:30–8:30 AM or after 7 PM; Saturday & Sunday anytime after 9 AM
JP
Javier Perez Hernandez
Independent CFI
By arrangement
Ask at a club meeting about current instruction offerings.
Call/text to schedule
JR
Joseph Ranauro
Independent CFI
By arrangement
ATPCFICFIIMEI
Club aircraft checkouts, flight reviews, currency work, BFRs, and IPCs.
AdvancedIFRReviews & 6-moAircraft checkoutsNight checkouts
Schedule varies week to week — reach out for availability
JS
Joseph Shimak
Independent CFI
By arrangement
Student pilotsAdvancedIFRReviews & 6-moAircraft checkoutsNight checkouts
Call/text to schedule
KS
Kaushal Soni
Independent CFI
By arrangement
Student pilotsReviews & 6-moAircraft checkoutsNight checkoutsGround
Call/text to schedule
JW
Jeffrey Wasserman
Independent CFI
Anytime
CFIAGIIGI
MAFC checkouts and FAA flight reviews, advanced and instrument ground instruction, and a reliable fill-in when other CFIs are booked.
Reviews & 6-moAircraft checkoutsGround
Instructs in: Cessna aircraft only
Text or call anytime
AW
Adria Wentzel
Independent CFI
WeekdaysEvenings
Student pilotsAdvancedIFRReviews & 6-moAircraft checkoutsNight checkoutsGround
All day Monday; most Wednesdays; after hours other days
DS
David Shields
Independent CFI
Temporarily unavailable
Student pilotsAdvancedIFRReviews & 6-moAircraft checkoutsNight checkoutsGround
Temporarily unavailable for instruction (airline training, as of July 2026) — by request only
Instructor contact details are shared with members in Flight Circle and with applicants through the Membership Officer — the best first contact is a handshake at any monthly meeting.
How instruction works at MAFC
The club itself doesn't operate a flight school. It maintains a roster of independent, Board-approved instructors — and you arrange lessons directly with the one who fits you. Your instructor isn't a stranger at a school building hours on your dime; they're a familiar face around the clubhouse, approved by the Board and held to the club's checkout and currency standards.
New students
Start from zero with a mentor and an instructor who'll still be at the clubhouse when you're a private pilot. Most members earned their certificates exactly this way.
Checkouts & reviews
Initial aircraft checkouts, night checkouts (one covers the 172s, one the Diamond), 6-month club reviews, FAA flight reviews, and instrument proficiency checks — all in-house.
Ratings & transitions
Instrument ratings in the 530-equipped cruisers, FITS-standard G1000 transitions in N61WT, and commercial-certificate prep with seasoned independent CFIs.
Find your instructor over coffee, not a contract.
Come to a monthly meeting, meet the CFIs in person, and pick the one you click with. That's the whole enrollment process.
Questions? Call Mark Sheprow, Membership Officer — 732.685.3473