Instructors

Quality training from exceptional instructors

In addition to providing the most up-to-date course material in a professional presentation, our instructors’ experience and dedication set them apart. They are good at what they do, not only because of their incredible knowledge base, but because they enjoy it. Our instructors are dynamic and enthusiastic, creating an enjoyable learning environment and are professional pilots with thousands of hours experience both in the air and groundschool training.

Aerocourse_Rick_HeadshotRick Stevens

Rick has been a professional pilot for over 35 years. His experience includes instruction at all levels with over 30 years’ experience conducting ATPL/IATRA and IFR courses. He currently is Captain on A330 with Canada’s largest airline. He has also held several positions over the years including Ground School Instructor, Line Captain and Chief Pilot. He has thousands of hours of flight experience on jet and large turbo-prop aircraft. Rick is one of the founders of AeroCourse and the president of the company.

Robert Apolito

Robert is currently a first officer on the B787 at Canada’s largest airline. He holds a bachelor’s degree in aviation technology and has worked with AeroCourse since 2017 both in an instruction role and providing technical writing support. He instructs ground schools and also privately for student tailored learning programs. Robert is a frequent contributor to AeroCourse’s pilot training materials and exam question creation. Robert greatly enjoys teaching and presenting information in relatable ways in a stress free setting for students to learn.


MarkMark Auerman

Mark is currently flying for Canada’s largest airline holding the position of Boeing 777 Check Pilot. He has extensive experience flying and is currently a pilot development instructor and has held the position of training captain. He has a varied background from regional carriers to corporate flying. He loves to teach and frequently students comment on his enjoyable style and presentation. Mark has been teaching with AeroCourse for over 30 years.

David Babirad

David has a background in flight instruction and 705 airline operations. He has instructed for many years and is a certified Class 1 flight instructor. He is currently a first officer and flight instructor on the Boeing 737 for Canada’s largest airline. David has a passion forteaching and enjoys hosting student-centered seminars with a focus in developmental instruction.

 

Sean Brown

Sean is currently a Captain on the Airbus 330 with Canada’s largest airline with over 30 years of flying experience.  He has been training pilots for many years in human factors and as an advanced aviation ground school instructor.  Sean has extensive global flight experience.  He has been part of the AeroCourse team for several years facilitating ATPL/IATRA and IFR courses.  Students will benefit from his thorough knowledge of the course material.  Prepare yourself to enjoy his energetic presentation style while gaining a deeper understanding of all aspects of aviation procedures, rules, regulations and other relevant topics. 

Robert Carney

Rob has been training pilots full-time for more than 20 years. He is both a class one instructor and a pilot examiner (PE) holding accreditations for various licenses and ratings including the instrument rating. Rob has been a CFI for one of the country’s largest flight training schools and he currently is a college professor training students within an aviation degree program. 

Damon Crane

Damon is a First Officer at one of Canada’s leading airlines. He accomplished his flight training in an Integrated Airline Transport Pilot License (IATPL) programming in Ontario. Throughout his training, he received multiple awards including the flight school’s Private Pilot of the Year, Commercial Pilot of the Year  and more. Further, Damon was selected to compete at the Webster Memorial Trophy Competition as one of the top 6 General Aviation Pilots of that year. One month after graduation, he was hired as a First Officer and his career began. Damon’s leadership and his love for aviation made him naturally want to hand down opportunities to future aviators with AeroCourse.

Jessica Enke

Jessica has extensive experience in aviation domestically and internationally. She currently flies the Boeing 767 for Canada’s largest airline. Jessica not only has extensive experience but she has a large knowledge base, contributing to the writing of AeroCourse aviation manuals. Her passion for aviation is evident in her seminars.


Rob Helfenstein

Rob has over 25 years of aviation experience including developing and teaching both in the classroom and in the air. Rob has worked with a highly regarded flight school, a regional airline and presently employed at Canada’s largest airline. He is type rated on DHC8-100/300, ATR42, F28, A320, B777 and various other types, and currently on the A330. He has held training captain positions and has instructed IFR and ATPL ground schools with AeroCourse for many years. Rob is a frequent contributor to AeroCourse’s pilot training materials. Rob gets immense satisfaction in being able to help old and new pilots alike attain their aviation goals whether it be to pass a Transport Canada exam or just to increase their knowledge level.

Stu Loney

Stu has been with Aerocourse since he started flying over ten years ago. With many years of teaching experience, both in-flight and on-ground, he brings a student-focused style of teaching to pass along aviation knowledge. He teaches both IFR and ATPL courses, plus is involved in the development of manuals and workbooks. Stu studied Commercial Aviation Management and Psychology at Western University. He is currently a First Officer flying the B737 on the west coast of Canada.


NeilNeil Mitchell

Neil currently is captain on the Q400 aircraft for Canada’s largest regional airline and has over 25 years’ experience in the aviation industry. He has been training pilots as part of a corporate CRM team for over six years and has been instructing with AeroCourse, for many years. Neil brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the AeroCourse seminars he instructs.

 

 

Francis Yannuzzi

Francis is an Aerospace Engineer with extensive flying and flight-training experience. He has been instructing for most of his career and enjoys sharing knowledge with his students.  Francis is a key contributor to many of the AeroCourse manual and technical materials. Francis is currently a Training Captain on the Boeing 737 and a key member of the AeroCourse team. He has been actively teaching and contributing to AeroCourse ATPL courses for many years. 

Daniel Zombori

Daniel has been flying since 2019. He graduated from an Integrated Airline Transport Pilot License (IATPL) program in Ontario. In 2021 and soon after started his career flying Medevac on the East Coast of Canada, which later brought him back to Ontario as a Corporate and then Airline pilot. He currently flies the E195-E2 as a First Officer and has been involved in technical writing and teaching with Aerocourse since 2021.