Our Instructors

James Manages Pinnacle Aviation Academy's Flight Training Department and is PAA’s Chief Instructor of Private Pilot Training.  With his Bachelors degree in Business Administration and his extensive management back ground, he is excellent at mentoring and coaching Pinnacle Aviation Academy’s team of Instructor Pilots.  He leads our instructor team with new ideas and teaching methods for our rapidly changing aviation environment.  In addition to mentoring students and instructors, James provides 141 check rides and stage checks.   

James is a highly experienced Instructor, as he has found his passion in aviation - teaching.  James reflects outstanding customer service, quality instruction, dedication, and a love of aviation.  James enjoys instructing and loves doing it for a career.  He loves flying and enjoys seeing the excitement in new pilots’ faces.

Dougal is currently working on his Aviation Degrees while flight instructing a Pinnacle Aviation Academy.  He is a CFI and also an AGI (Advanced Ground Instructor).  Dougal loves flying and teaching runs in his family.  

As an instructor, he enjoys sharing his passion for flying with others.  Dougal provides Private Pilot, Instrument Pilot, and Commercial Pilot training, as well as, Flight Reviews and Aircraft Checkouts.  Dougal is checked out in the C152, C172M, C172R, Piper Arrow and the G1000 Glass cockpit.

Dave graduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in 2006 with a Bachelor's Degree in Aeronautical Sciences and a minor in Business.  He has previous instructing experience as well as airline experience!   Dave is an excellent instructor, available for Private, Instrument and Commercial Instruction.  His specialty is Airline Interview Training prep on our Simulator AST 300 - if you are interested in an Airline Career, this is the Instructor to prep with! 

He is currently checked out in our C152s, C172s, including the Garmin G1000, our 182s and the Piper Arrow. He is available 5 days a week.