Our team
Arno Hess
Certified Flight Instructor CFI/CFII
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Arno is a FAA Certified Flight Instructor, Commercial Pilot, and IFR/Multi Engine rated. He started his flying career in 2012 in St Thomas. After his certification as a Private Pilot, he very fast decided to buy his own airplane, a Cessna 172 and discovered the Caribbean and the Bahamas from the air.
A different perspective after being a Yacht Captain/Owner and Engineer since 1993 and running Charter Yachts in the region!
In 2016, he and his fiancee rebuilt the family beach houses in the Dominican Republic and converted them into Vacation Rental units.
Now the offer two gorgeous houses and an apartment to their flying friends and students. Check it out: Playa Bonita Beach Houses, listed on Airbnb.
Nik Verecchia
Certified Flight Instructor CFI/CFII
Nik has been flying for 20 years and teaching for more than 10 years. He has worked with students from various backgrounds and from multiple countries.
He specialises in teaching instrument and Garmin glass cockpit, but also has private, commercial, CFI and CFII student passes. Nik also enjoys teaching ground as much as he likes teaching in the airplane, and is available for scheduled ground schools at our beachfront location in the Dominican Republic, or one on one lessons anywhere in the world.
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He is from New Hampshire, USA, so he loves teaching in the Caribbean with us, especially in the winter months. Nik has experience teaching all over the United States, Mexico, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, the Virgin Islands, and St. Martin. Nik also has extensive ferry flying experience across the United States, Mexico, and Guatemala.
Ariel Weiss
Certified Flight Instructor CFI/CFII
Ariel is a commercial pilot, certified ground instructor-instrument and advanced and certified flight instructor: single and multi-engine-instrument airplane.
He has FAA and UK certificates and owned and operated a flight school, sightseeing tours and an aerial photography operation in Los Angeles.
He personally taught flight instruction and piloted noteworthy individuals and organisations, appeared in television interviews, including CNN, NBC, KTLA and KIRO Radio, a CBS affiliate in Seattle Washington. His flying experience includes the USA, Mexico, UK and the Caribbean.
His travels and background have honed him to be multi-cultural. His experience and vast knowledge are an asset to our flight school.