The People Behind Every Great Flight
Across 600+ reviews, our students keep returning to one thing — the instructors. Here is the full roster, in our customers' own words.
A- 20+ years in the cockpit
- PPL → Commercial & multi-engine
- Praised by a retired 787 captain
- Calm, patient, deeply trusted
Alex
Alex is the heart of Essence Flight School and the name that appears in more reviews than any other — well over a hundred students have written about flying with him. He founded the school on a simple belief: that world-class flight training should feel personal, honest, and free of the sales pressure so common elsewhere. With more than twenty years in the cockpit and experience flying across the country, from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles, he brings a depth of knowledge students notice within minutes.
He personally guides aviators through every stage — from a first nervous discovery flight to the Private Pilot License, Instrument Rating, Commercial certificate, multi-engine training and high-performance endorsements — in the school's Diamond, Cirrus SR22 and Piper Seminole aircraft and the Redbird simulator. Students describe him as patient, calm, endlessly knowledgeable and genuinely passionate. One passed their checkride on the first try under his instruction; a retired Boeing 787 captain called him ‘a fantastic flight instructor.’ What unites every review is trust.
J- Calm & confident with first-timers
- Sunset coastal flights
- Flies the Diamond
- Makes flying genuinely fun
Joseph
Joseph — ‘Joe’ to many of his students — is one of the most requested instructors at Essence, and his reviews explain why. First-timers describe walking in nervous and leaving exhilarated, thanks to a calm, confident, deeply professional manner that puts people at ease the moment they reach the ramp. He's a favorite for golden-hour discovery flights up the coast in the sleek Diamond.
Beyond the views, students praise how much he teaches without ever overwhelming them — explaining the controls, the aircraft and the airspace in a way that's genuinely fun. More than one reviewer said the flight ‘lit a light inside’ them for aviation. For many, Joe is the reason a one-time discovery flight becomes the start of real training.
A- Builds confidence fast
- Great with teens & first solos
- Genuinely loves teaching
- Keeps it completely safe
Anthony
Anthony is the instructor students mention when they talk about confidence. Caring, knowledgeable and reassuringly calm, he has a particular talent for first-timers, teenagers and students approaching the milestone of their first solo. Reviewers describe how he hands over the controls early and encourages them to truly fly, all while keeping everything feeling completely safe.
One physician, wary of upselling common at other schools, wrote that Anthony was genuine and structured from day one — and credited him with the confidence that carried him to his first solo. Parents single him out for how he connects with younger students. As one reviewer put it, ‘you can tell he genuinely cares about teaching and loves flying.’
N- Buttery-smooth landings
- Best scenic routes over LA
- Safe & easy for beginners
- Warm with couples & gifts
Noah
Noah makes flying feel effortless. His reviews are full of the words ‘safe,’ ‘easy’ and ‘smooth’ — students love how he guides them through every step while picking the very best vantage points over the Hollywood sign, downtown LA, Dodger Stadium and the Malibu coastline. Engaging and kind, he's especially good at reading a passenger's nerves and turning them into pure excitement.
Several students called their flight with Noah one of the best experiences of their lives, and his smooth landings get their own shout-outs. He's a popular choice for couples and special-occasion flights, where his easygoing warmth makes the day feel personal.
F- Instrument & multi-engine
- Makes complex controls easy
- Patient & supportive
- Builds real understanding
Francis
Francis is the instructor students lean on when training gets technical. He guides aviators through instrument work and multi-engine flights — including the school's twin-engine aircraft — with a style built on patience and clarity. Reviewers note how he makes ‘difficult-looking controls feel manageable and easy,’ walking through each maneuver until it truly clicks.
Students working toward advanced ratings praise how supportive he is, making sure they fully understand one concept before moving to the next. He's equally at home with first-timers: families describe him flying their children over their own neighborhood and encouraging kids to take the controls, all while keeping everyone comfortable and safe.
K- Patient & encouraging
- Malibu sunset flights
- A students' favorite
- Champions women in aviation
Kayla
Kayla is the instructor students fall in love with aviation alongside. Patient and endlessly encouraging, she's known for keeping passengers informed and comfortable through every moment — and for unforgettable routes through Los Angeles out to Malibu, often timed for sunset over the ocean. Reviewers describe their flights with her as both calming and genuinely thrilling.
Her students become loyal fast: more than one calls her their ‘favorite instructor,’ noting she always makes time and treats every learner as an individual. She's a frequent choice for birthdays and first-time flyers, and holds a special place among the women who write that they love seeing female instructors leading in aviation.
A- Calm & precise
- Crystal-clear instructions
- Smooth, well-organized flights
- Perfect for first-timers
Adam
Adam pairs a calm, friendly temperament with real precision in the cockpit. His reviews highlight clear, easy-to-follow instructions and flights that feel smooth and well-organized from start to finish — exactly what a first-timer hopes for. Students describe him as highly professional yet approachable, explaining everything clearly so nothing ever feels intimidating.
For many, a flight with Adam is their first time ever at the controls, and they consistently come away thrilled, safe and eager to return. International visitors and nervous beginners alike single him out for making the whole experience exciting and comfortable in equal measure.
R- Professional & passionate
- Comfortable for all levels
- Clear, detailed teaching
- Exceptional pilot & teacher
Ralph
From the moment the wheels leave the ground, students say Ralph's professionalism, expertise and passion for aviation are unmistakable. He's described as an exceptional pilot and an exceptional teacher — a rare combination — who creates a comfortable learning environment for students of every experience level, from absolute beginners to those pursuing serious training.
His reviews emphasize clear, detailed instruction and a friendly, patient manner that puts people instantly at ease. Several booked their flight as a gift for a partner and watched the recipient light up; others simply call him ‘the best.’
L- Answers every question
- Iconic LA tour routes
- Thorough & fun
- Hands-on freedom to fly
Logan
Logan is the instructor for the curious — the one who welcomes every question and answers it thoroughly. Students describe him as super helpful and knowledgeable, explaining each part of the flight in detail so they understand not just what's happening but why. He balances that teaching with real fun, giving students the freedom to fly the plane themselves.
On his discovery flights he takes passengers past LA's greatest hits — Universal Studios, the Hollywood sign, the Santa Monica Pier and downtown — turning a first flight into an unforgettable tour of the city from above. Reviewers routinely say they ‘will do this again.’
A- Instantly trustworthy
- Confidence to take the controls
- Hands-on from minute one
- Patient with the nervous
Alexis
Alexis is the instructor students describe as someone you can fully trust — and that trust is exactly what gives first-timers the courage to take the controls for the very first time. Patient and knowledgeable, he answers every question and keeps the experience hands-on, so students feel like real pilots rather than passengers from the moment they sit down.
Reviewers consistently mention how safe and supported they feel in his care, and several credit him with sparking a desire to keep flying. His encouragement lands especially well with newcomers who arrive unsure and leave genuinely confident. As one student summed it up: ‘If you're on the fence, do it.’
S- Effortless scheduling
- A warm first welcome
- Flexible around your life
- Organized end to end
Sophia
Sophia is the warm first voice nearly every student meets — and reviewers make a point of thanking her by name. She handles scheduling and the front desk with a calm, can-do attitude, making the booking process simple and easy even for people who have never set foot in a flight school before. Students mention how she bends the calendar around their busy lives to fit in as many lessons as possible.
From the first phone call to the post-flight celebration, she keeps everything organized and welcoming, and many reviews credit her as a key part of their aviation journey.
M- Office manager & finances
- Keeps the whole office flowing
- Friendly, warm welcome
- Makes paperwork painless
Mona
Mona is the steady hand behind everything that makes Essence run. As office manager she keeps the whole operation moving — managing the finances, coordinating the day's schedule, and directing the constant flow of students, instructors and visitors in and out of the office with a warmth that puts everyone at ease the moment they walk in.
Friendly, organized and endlessly patient, she's the person who makes the paperwork painless, the payment plans clear, and the front office feel like a welcome. If a flight gets off the ground on time and a student feels taken care of from the first hello to the final invoice, chances are Mona made it happen.
“It's rare to encounter a company that's both professional and genuinely friendly, but Essence is exactly that.”
“I'm a retired 787 Captain and I was very impressed with the quality of the instruction. Alex is a fantastic flight instructor.”
“Kayla is an amazing instructor to fly with. We had the best time flying through Los Angeles to Malibu.”
“Anthony was super calm and provided great instruction. He also made me feel very safe!”
“CFI Joseph was fantastic — getting to fly the Diamond was the best part. Ask for Joseph!”
“This was the best experience ever — not only did I get to sightsee, I also got to take control of the plane.”
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