Check Out Our amazing CFI's
Bill Jones - Chief Flight Instructor
Call Sign: Bill
Why I'm a Pilot: I grew up around aircraft; my grandfather and father were both pilots. I was hooked at a very early age! With my father and grandfather being pilots, I spent very little time in daycare as a child. Instead, my summers were spent at the airport hanging out at the hangar, flightline, pilot's lounge, and flight planning rooms. My father and grandfather were both A&Ps, so I witnessed many airframe related repairs and lots of engine work. I spent my first two years out of college as a software engineer before I began flying. Since then, I have amassed time in single engine, multi-engine, and turbo. Next on my list is tailwheel and seaplane! I am passionate about flight instruction and sharing the magic of flight with others.
Favorite Plane: DA-40
Occupation: CFI, CFII, MEI
Favorite Aviation Experience:
Flying with my family
Christian Keyston - Assistant Chief Flight Instructor
Call Sign: Kilo
Why I’m a pilot: I've always loved airplanes and wanted to fly them! I started my journey at Meadow Lake Airport where I earned my Private Pilot certificate. From there, I went on to Centennial Airport and earned my Instrument, Commercial, Multi-Engine, and CFI certificates. I have been blessed to have experience in a range of environments, from the coast of California, to weaving in the clouds over the Rockies.
Favorite Plane: B-25 Mitchell
Occupation: CFI, CFII, MEI
Favorite Aviation Experience:
Weaving through the clouds over the Rockies in a Saratoga.
Zach Perry-Perkins
Call Sign: Z
Why I’m a pilot: I knew that I wanted to have a job that I am
excited about everyday!
Favorite plane: Piper J-3 Cub
Occupation: Airline Pilot and CFI
Most Exciting Aviation Experience:
Flying to Leadville, Vail, and Glenwood Springs for the first time.
Justin Lukasavige
Call Sign: Luke
Why I’m a pilot: It's been my dream
since I was 6 years old and I love teaching!
At 6 years old my dream was to become a pilot. I accidentally fell into that when a friend's dad offered me a ride in his airplane and I logged my first flight before I could drive a car. I attended Purdue University, majoring in Aviation Technology, and instructing while in school. I've always loved being a teacher and was able to train many pilots for their Private, Commercial, and Instrument ratings. I also gained valuable experience as a ferry pilot, moving aircraft around the country for owners, maintenance shops and sales departments. University led me to the airlines, until I tired of seeing my toddlers taking their first steps via video from my wife while I was stuck in a hotel. I left the airlines and brought their professional, structured training with me. Now I'm instructing once again and truly doing what I love. I have over 6,000 hours of experience and I'm excited to fly with you!
Favorite Plane: From single engine
two seaters to multi-engine jets, I love
them all!
Occupation: CFI
Favorite Aviation Experience:
Ferrying new and old aircraft around the US
Jacob Glenn
Call Sign: Jake
Why I’m a pilot: I don’t remember a time when I wanted to do anything else! I started flying in high school and went on to earn a degree in Aviation in 2017. I then commissioned into the Army and went through initial entry rotary wing training and the UH60M Course at Fort Rucker, AL. I love everything about general aviation, from airport management to the sense of community, and of course, flying.
Favorite Airplane: DC-3
Occupation: Pilot
Most Exciting Aviation Experience:
Island Hopping in Hawaii
Jessica Meiris
Call Sign: Anything but Jessie!
Why I’m a pilot: Like most things in my life, the choice to become a pilot was very practical! After 16 years as a mountain guide and rock climber I needed a new career that was physically easier, kept me in the mountains, and was still very mentally engaging! Helicopter pilot fit the bill perfectly since helicopters are challenging to fly and are capable of accomplishing many tasks, especially in the mountains, that planes cannot. My ultimate goal is to combine flying skills with mountain and rock-climbing knowledge to rescue injured people in high angle terrain using a technique called short haul. I love how aviation keeps you a lifelong student, there's always opportunity to contribute to what inspires you, and sharing aviation with others never gets old!
Favorite Aircraft:
AS350 "AStar" Helicopter
Occupation: Commercial Helicopter Pilot, CFII, Public Speaker
Most Memorable Aviation Experience:
Flying up close and personal to the mountains in a helicopter is an unbelievable (and humbling) experience. Also, the pride I feel when others excel (for example in a flight lesson, solo, or check ride), or when I see people get excited about helicopters and overcome their biases or fears about them, which are typically unfounded!
Brian Monroe
Call Sign: Money
Why I’m a pilot: For the love of flight of course! Aviation is also a very rewarding career in the fact that you can continually learn and grow regardless of how long you’re in the industry.
Favorite Aircraft: Bell 407
Occupation: Med Evac helicopter pilot, helicopter flight instructor
Most Memorable Aviation Experience:
Every flight is unique. Landing above 14,000’ or Landing at the bottom of the Grand Canyon when the sun hits the canyon walls just right are two of my favorite experiences. Seeing a student grasp a concept for the first time is something I never tire of either.
Let’s go FLY!
Mike Deniston
Call Sign: Deni
Why I’m a pilot: Like most of Arapahoe’s instructors, my fascination with airplanes goes back as far as I can remember. Two of my great-grandfathers flew in the WWI era, and my grandfather had a military flying career that spanned the P-51 to the F-4.
My determination to fly led me to the University of North Dakota’s John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, and then into a career with the airlines. I have always enjoyed flight instruction and have been a pilot mentor and instructor at two different airlines. The pandemic provided the opportunity for me to reconnect with general aviation and become active as a Civil Air Patrol orientation pilot and an instructor at Arapahoe.
Favorite plane: The one I happen to be flying at the moment! (I am partial to air conditioning on a hot day :) Declaring a favorite airplane is like picking a favorite kid, you just love them all and appreciate their uniqueness.
Occupation: Pilot Instructor
Most Exciting Aviation Experience:
Seeing the things that you can’t behold from the ground, soaring
free above the earth, and the times that I’ve been with my family
are my favorites!
Gary Reynolds - Currently only scheduling for DA40 flights
Call Sign: Taz
Why I’m a pilot: It's in the family.
Favorite plane: Piper PA-18 Supercub
Occupation: Flight Instructor
Most Exciting Aviation Experience:
It's a long story - ask me about it sometime!
Dustin Ringdahl
Call Sign: Specs
Why I'm a Pilot: I have wanted to be a pilot since as long as I can remember. I have always been a fan of big jets and have been working towards the goal of flying heavy metal for around 10 years. I currently work as a First Officer for SkyWest Airlines flying CRJ aircraft and flight instruct as much as I can in my free time because I love teaching and keeping my stick and rudder skills sharp!
Favorite Plane: Cessna 206 Amphibian
Occupation: Airline Pilot and CFI
Most Exciting Aviation Experience:
Cloud hopping and mountain flying no matter what I’m in!
Brandon Meyer
Call Sign: B
Why I'm a Pilot: I’ve always had a passion for aviation; I was one of those kids that always had to look up when I heard anything flying overhead!(still am) I joined the Army as a UH-60 Blackhawk mechanic and after a few years of turning wrenches, I decided that I wanted to be the one on the controls. All of my flight training has been in Colorado!
Favorite Plane: Maule M5
Occupation: CFI, UH-60 Repairer USAR
Most Exciting Aviation Experience:
Flying near glaciers and doing touch and goes on gravel bars
in Alaska!
Kim Gutierrez
Why I'm a Pilot: Learning to fly was the most challenging and rewarding thing I've done, that is, until I learned how to be a CFI. Teaching others to achieve their dreams in aviation is such a rewarding experience and has to be one of the coolest jobs out there.
Favorite Aircraft: A320
Occupation: CFI
Favorite Aviation Experience:
Teaching my first student a land a plane.
Victoria Lawrence
Call Sign: Tailor
Why I'm a Pilot: I realized at 19 years old this is what I want to do!
Favorite Aircraft: The cute ones!!
Occupation: CFI,CFII & MEI
Favorite Aviation Experience:
Watching others discover the joy of flying.
Stephen Vaughn
Why I'm a Pilot: I found my love for flying at a young age. My dad was a pilot in the Air Force, and some of my earliest memories are from flying the C-17 simulator when I was between the ages of 3 and 5 years old. I took my first real flight in a glider on the north shore of Hawaii, and since then I knew I wanted to fly. I got my private certificate after graduating high school and before leaving for college. I attended Kansas State University in Salina, Kansas where I continued my flight training and learned to be a flight instructor. I love being given the opportunity to introduce people to the world of aviation and prove that really anyone can be a pilot.
Favorite Aircraft: C-17 Globemaster III
Occupation: CFI
Favorite Aviation Experience:
Flying gliders on the north shore of Hawaii.
Jesse Harden
Call Sign: Burro
Why I'm a Pilot: I grew up around hot air ballooning from a very young age taking my first flight when I was 8 years old. From this, I discovered my love for being in the air! When I started to think about what I wanted to go to college for as a senior in high school I settled on going to flight school! Ever since becoming a CFI I have fallen in love with teaching and sharing my love for aviation with people who share the same passion!
Favorite Aircraft: Would have to be My Balloon named "Fool's Gold"
Occupation: CFI
Favorite Aviation Experience:
Every day I get to fly!
Austin Wade
Why I'm a Pilot: I always wanted to be a pilot growing up but never made it happen. A few years ago I ran into an old friend who ended up taking me flying in his C182 and that one flight sparked the fire for me to get into aviation. Today, I find sharing my passion with others through instruction brings me a fulfillment I had not experienced in my life before Aviation.
Favorite Plane: G650ER
Occupation: CFI, CFII, MEI
Favorite Aviation Experience: Teaching my dad how to fly!
Isabella Whitmore
Why I'm a Pilot: Aviation found me and I'm so glad it did! After my first solo I knew the skies were where I wanted to be. I seek to find adventure in all things and flying helicopters has opened my world to limitless possibilities. I am passionate about sharing the freedom of the skies with others and helping them become successful in their aviation endeavors.
Favorite Aircraft: Kaman KMAX
Occupation: CFI,CFII
Favorite Aviation Experience: Landing in a waterfall in one of my favorite places in Southern Utah. Unmatched beauty.
Our instructors are experienced pilots with a passion for teaching. They bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to every lesson, and are committed to helping you reach your full potential as a pilot.