The JA Flight Team

Owner/General Manager - Scott Fank

Scott started with JA Air Center in 1985 as the Manager of ground services operations working his way up to Vice President of Sales in charge of the aircraft sales department in 2001.  Together with business partner Bruce Jacobs, JA Flight Services was founded in 2007  as a leasing business adding the flight school in 2009.  Scott credits having a a "great staff of people" for the continued success of JA Flight Training.   When not not working he enjoys spending time with his wife of 30 years, five children and six grandchildren as well as playing golf.

Eric Swanberg - Chief Pilot - CFIA/CFII/MEI

Erik started flying when he was 15. Graduate of Liberty University. His career has seen him as a Chief Pilot, Director of Operations, OCONUS Flight Department Manager, Designated Check Airmen, and Lead International Jet Captain. Erik is type rated in the Citation 500, Citation 525, King Air 300, Gulfstream IV, and Dassault Falcon 7X. Erik has a keen interest in motorcycles and not only has more miles on two wheels than 4 but have ridden on 4 continents as well.

Bill Seith - Assistant Chief Pilot - CFIA

Bill has over 40 years of experience in aviation with much of that time devoted to single-pilot IFR operations and aviation safety. Bill is an avid student of aviation safety who believes strongly that when it comes to aviation, you can never stop learning. Bill serves JA Flight Training as a CFI and Assistant Chief Flight Instructor. Bill also has 7 years of Part 135 experience in Cessna Caravans, Hawkers, and Phenom 300s. He brings all of that experience to the classroom at JA Flight Training.

Gautier Laude - Assistant Chief Pilot - CFIA/CFII/MEI

Gautier is a flight and ground instructor for airplanes and has CFI, CFII and MEI certificates.He teaches on various models with round dial instruments or screen PFD displays.  As a software engineer, he worked on engine systems for airplanes and other projects.
International students are welcome; he also holds a European Part- FCL license.

Joe Rand - Student Program Director

Joe Rand is a retired Air Traffic Controller, spending his entire 28 year career at Chicago Center. Joe earned his Private Pilot Certificate in 1991, and is currently an Advanced Ground Instructor and Student Program Director at J.A. Flight Training. Joe has been teaching for over 30 years in the areas of aviation, piano, and music theory. 

Through a partnership with J.A. and the Indian Valley Vocational Center, Joe teaches a Private Pilot Ground School for Junior and Seniors from ten high schools in the area, allowing students to learn about the vast career opportunities available to them in aviation.

Joe Cordigan - Check Instructor - CFIA/CFII

Joseph learned to fly at JA and has a passion for instructing. He is a Gold Seal CFI and CFII. An ATP rated pilot and airline first officer; he holds a CL-65 type rating. His special interest is instructing airplane owners transitioning into owned HP aircraft.

Dennis Stehlik - Check Instructor - CFIA/CFII

Dennis is an Information Technology business owner with an aviation and aviation education passion. Dennis began flying at age 16 (before that if you consider Line-Control and Radio-Control airplanes) and received his Airplane Single Engine Land rating in 1984. Dennis is an Instructor in Airplane Single Engine (Land and Sea), Instrument, and Glider. He also holds Commercial Single-Engine Sea, Multi-Engine Land, and Glider ratings. Beyond instructing, Dennis owns and operates a V-Tail Beechcraft.

Ben Allison - Instructor - CFIA/CFII

Ben has been a longtime employee of JA, working on the maintenance side of the house while simultaneously working towards all his ratings. After receiving his CFI certificates, he was brought on as an instructor in 2023. He is currently a Team Lead instructor at JA on his days off from flying a Citation.

Onsy Fahmy - Instructor - CFIA/CFII/MEI

Onsy has taught taught initial, intermediate and advanced training; hold a a Commercial Single/Multi Engine Land as well as his CFIA, CFII and MEI. He has experiance flying C172, C182, C310, PA-24, PA-28, PA-34, PA-44, and Beech Baron 55. "Aviation has been an old passion of mine, love teaching and introducing people to aviation."

Riley Andersen - Instructor - CFIA/CFII

After playing D2 college football in Arkansas, Riley's dream of traveling led him back home and into a career in aviation. Riley trained at a couple different flight schools in the area before finding his place at J.A. "I am excited to be working at the same place I did a majority of my training and am passionate about helping students reach their aviation goals."

Caden Sell - Instructor - CFIA/CFII

Caden began his career in aviation at J.A Flight Training in 2020. He is current and proficient in both the Cessna 150 and Cessna 172 aircraft we have on the fleet. He also has a great understanding of the simulators that we incorporate into our training programs. "I love meeting new people and helping them reach their aviation goals. Happy Flying!"

Ryan Hauge - Instructor - CFIA

After serving 6 years with an overseas deployment in the Army, Ryan opted to utilized his VA benefits on flight training. Ryan came to J.A as one of our Liberty University students, working on his online bachelor’s degree while flight training through us. After receiving his CFI certificate, Ryan was brought on as one of our flight instructors in 2023. “Ryan is a great resource for our veteran students, especially those who are going through the Liberty Program.”

Kennn Richmond - Instructor CFIA/CFII

Born and raised in the Philippines, Kenn relocated to the United States in 2018. From an early age, Kenn developed a deep fascination with aviation, though opportunities to pursue it were limited in the Philippines. He began his flight training at JA in January 2021 and successfully completed the entire program, earning his CFI and CFII certifications while simultaneously gaining experience as a flight instructor at JA.