Meet Our Pilots

Shawn Mullin – Chief Flight Instructor

Shawn has been looking at the clouds for as long as he can remember. With a unique opportunity to attend the Rancho high School Aviation magnet program and become immersed in aviation at an early age, he never looked back. After High School Shawn attended Spartan College located in Tulsa, OK. In 2003 Shawn became a Certified Flight Instructor and began instructing eventually becoming the Assistant and Chief Flight Instructor of a Part 141 school. Shawn found his passion for aviation had many paths and he made his own becoming an expert in Technically Advanced or Glass Cockpit Aircraft and since has become a Platinum Cirrus Instructor Pilot and developing the latest training programs, this distinction has Shawn called upon often by the FAA and manufactures alike to conduct specialized training. Since then Shawn has accomplished numerous achievements including: Part 141 Chief Flight Instructor, Certificate, Platinum Cirrus Standardize Instructor Pilot, Corporate Pilot and Co-Owner of Elite Flight Training & Management. Over the years, Shawn has accumulated over 5500 flight hours with experience in over 62 different aircraft, including the Extra 300, Cessna 414A, King Air, Citation, Lear 25 and the Pilatus PC12. Shawn is a unique business owner, not only being the co-founder of the operation, but he is responsible for maintaining the training standards within the organization as the Chief Flight instructor. “I constantly strive to produce the safest and most proficient pilots that I can. I have produced the first and currently only scenario based training program for private pilots in Las Vegas. This allows our students to excel on their schedule and learn what it is like as a “Real Pilot” from day one” Shawn

Erik Valente – Assistant Chief Flight Instructor

When I started flying when I was 17 years old, I have been flying for eight years. The aircraft that I have flown include the Cessna 152, 172, 172RG, 182, 210, Piper Cherokee, Arrow, Seminole, Cirrus SR-20, SR-22, SR-22 Turbo, both Avidyne and Perspective and Flight Design CTLS & CTSW. My Certificates and Ratings include a Bachelor’s of Business Administration with a degree in Aviation Management Commercial-instrument:  Single and Multi-engine Certified Flight Instructor, Certified Flight Instructor-Instrument, I decided when I was in middle school that I wanted to become a pilot instead of having a desk job.  I always thought that flying to a different destination everyday miles above the surface was one of the greatest jobs in the world. I applied and was accepted to the Aviation Academy Magnet Program at Rancho High School.  I started flying during my senior year in high school when I was 17 years old and received my Private Pilot Certificate while in the program.  I continued with my education career by going to the University of North Dakota and received my bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a degree in Aviation Management. I received my commercial and Certified Flight Instructor certificates through the University of North Dakota Aerospace program.  I worked as a flight instructor for another company but found my home at Elite Flight Training and Management.  The way that Elite approaches flight training with the utmost professionalism and safety made it a great fit for me.  Elite is one of the few flight training schools that cares about the performance of the student to produce an absolute safe and proficient pilot and I believe that Elite’s safety record reflects that.

Jason Duncan – Assistant Chief Flight Instructor

As a child I was completely fascinated by flight. Birds, airplanes, helicopters, space ships, if it flew I wanted to fly it. I began flight training in Long Beach, CA in 1989 but was not able to finish before moving to Las Vegas to attend UNLV’s Computer Science program. In 1997, I competed my Private Pilot Certificate at First Flight Aviation in North Las Vegas. In 2003, I made a career move and decided to complete my Instrument, Commercial Single and Multi-Engine Land Ratings as well as my Certified Flight Instructor Single, Multi & Instrument, Advanced/Instrument Ground Instructor. In 2005, the Las Vegas Flight Standards District Office awarded me “Flight Instructor of the Year”. In 2006 I became one of the first Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilots in Las Vegas. In 2010, I earned my Commercial Rotorcraft-Helicopter Certificate and in 2011 my Certified Airframe & Powerplant License. Since I began flying I have accrued over 5000 flight hours and flown more than 60 different make and model aircraft from the Piper Cub to the Learjet 20/30 Series. As you can see my passion for flight never ends and I plan on continuing my flying education as long as I am allowed to fly. Civilian Astronaut anyone?

Jeremy Capurro

I think most little boys dream of being a pilot at one point or another. For me, growing up within walking distance of the local general aviation airport made that desire a little more palpable than most. But it wasn’t until the beginning of 2009 that I finally took a leap of faith, and left the information technology field to pursue my dream of flight. I presently hold a commercial single and multi-engine certificate with instrument rating, as well as a CFI certificate, and tailwheel, high performance, and complex endorsements. I am currently working toward a CFII and would also like to complete seaplane and glider ratings at some point in the near future. I have flown a number of small planes including Cessna 172′s & 182′s, Piper Tomahawks & Arrows, Diamond DA-20s & DA-40s, an Aeronica Citabria, and a Beachcraft Travelair. Eventually, my goal is to fly for a corporate flight department flying multi-engine turboprops and light jets.

Ron Fishman

I originally obtained my Commercial, Multi-Engine, and Instrument Ratings in Toronto, Ontario Canada in 2005. I moved to Las Vegas in Oct 2007 and quickly converted my Canadian Licenses and ratings to the American equivalent. I became a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), Certified Instrument Instructor (CFII), and Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI) in 2008. I started my flying career for Elite Flight Training as a news reporter pilot, where I flew a news reporter around Las Vegas. I currently work Full Time for Scenic Airlines, and Part-Time at Elite.  I have flown over 30 different types of aircrafts including: Twin Otter (DHC-6): Pilatus (PC-12NG): DC-3: Cessna 150, 152, 172, 182, 206, 207, 210, 310: Piper Aztec, Navajo, Seminole, Cherokee, Archer: Cirrus SR-20, SR-22, SR-22T: Beech Baron. Just to name a few. I have accumulated over 1600 hrs of flight time. I currently hold FAA: Commercial, Multi-Engine, Instrument, CFI, CFII, MEI as well as TCCA: Commercial, Multi-Engine, Instrument.

Kris Krie

As a child, I regularly flew on the commercial carriers to visit my family and dreamed of jet setting around the world. My grandfather also helped give me the aviation bug by taking me to museum after museum during our summer stay. Ever since then, I have been looking up. My aviation training started in highschool. I recieved my private pilots license in 2008 and my flight instructor certificate in 2010. I have flown a wide variety of Cessna, Piper, Grumman, and Diamond aircraft. The majority of my flight experience was gained at home in Salt Lake City, UT prior to moving to Las Vegas. Elite Flight Training and Management was the first school I stepped into when I came down to Las Vegas and it didn’t take long to realize that they were the best. The training methods here are very standardized with a special emphasis on safte. This can be seen in every student that graduates. This is how I knew Elite was right for me. I enjoy as much as anyone at Elite passing on the information and adventures that I have obtained through my flight career and I look forward to hearing about the adventures you have in yours.

Ned Hoogland

I started my flight training at VGT in 2004.  I became a CFI in 2007 and was hired to instruct at the school I trained at.  All of my time so far has been in either the Robinson R22 or R44.  I have a Commercial Rotorcraft Helicopter certificate with Instrument rating as well as my CFII Helicopter.  I am also a FAASTeam representative.

I was born and raised in Las Vegas.  I graduated from Bonanza High School and attended CSN, UNLV, and am currently pursuing a BS in Aviation Science from Utah Valley University.  I am married and have two kids.  My pursuit of aviation is the result of a lifelong fascination with helicopters.  I absolutely love flying helicopters and am passionate about passing on the knowledge and skills I have acquired on to the next generation of pilots.

Collin Hughes

When I was a child I had two dreams of what I wanted to do when I grew up. I wanted to be a cowboy and I also wanted to be a pilot. I rode bulls for 18 years and I also have my Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. I actually got the idea to proceed with obtaining my pilot certificate while I traveled to rodeos with a traveling partner, Wayne Hall, who owned a Cessna 210. I thought it was amazing that we could just go to the airport jump in Wayne’s airplane and get to the rodeos we were going to so fast.
I obtained my private pilot certificate in 1980. However, for many different reasons I did not fly much for the next several years. In 1999 I decided that I loved flying and that I should take that love and turn it into a career. By February 2000 I had my instrument rating, Commercial Pilot Certificate and was also a Certified Flight Instructor. For the nest few years I managed a flight school and then started my own business providing instrument flight training in the clients’ aircraft. At that time obtaining multi engine time was important to me so I would focus on finding customers who owned twin engine airplanes. In 2004 I had a temporary job providing flight instruction working with Korean Airlines in Florida and California.

In 2005 I was offered a job flying a CitationJet 2. The company I worked for sent me to FlightSafety International for the type rating course where I obtained a CE525 type rating on my pilot certificate. Later that year my company sent me back to FlightSafety so I could obtain my Airline Transport Pilot certificate. I flew the CitationJet series airplane until the company I was working for sold the airplane and I then took a job with FlightSafety International Cessna Learning Center in Wichita, KS. During my time FlightSafety I was a simulator and ground instructor. I instructed at FlightSafety for one year until I realized I missed being in the air too much. I then found a job flying a new CitationJet 2+.

I flew the CJ2+ for nearly one year until I lost my FAA Medical Certificate and was grounded in April of 2008. I was able to have my medical reinstated in July of 2011. Shortly after receiving a valid medical certificate I was hired by Elite Flight Training and Management. I am excited to be a part of the Elite Team. This company has a great deal to offer the aviation community in Las Vegas. Since part of what Elite does is work with Rancho High School Students in the aviation program we are able to help young people realize their dreams of becoming pilots. Working with these kids makes me feel as if I am giving something back to the thing that I love so much.

Richard Ramirez

I’ve been flying since 2003. Cessna 172/182, Piper Warrior/Arrow, Diamond Star DA40, Bell 407/Huey, MD 530F ASEL/Helicopter Commercial/CFII, I’ve been a Police Officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for 17 years.  I started flying to become a helicopter pilot for the Police department’s Air Support unit.  I’m currently CFII for helicopters and ASEL and do instruction at work in MD530s, Huey, Bell 407 and a Cessna 182 RG .  I’m also a night vision goggle instructor and rescue pilot certified for sling loads/short haul operations.  I teach at Elite part time for the joy of it and the experience.

Cole Payne

Cole Payne has been flying for over 9 years. He is commercially rated in both airplanes and helicopters. He has taught private, instrument, commercial, and multi-engine students for four different flight schools in multiple states. He especially enjoys teaching aerobatics. In 2010 Cole spent 6 months flying a helicopter for a rancher to eradicate coyotes in northern Nevada. In his years of flying, Cole has accumulated over 2,000 flight hours, including over 1,000 hours of instruction given in 40 different types of aircraft.

Steven Thompson

I am a US Army verteran, who’s passion for aviation came from having friends that are pilots who introduced me to the freedom of flight.  What really got me into aviation as an instructor was a much needed career change.  I have over 1600 hours of part 135 operations, corporate flying and flight instruction.  I have flight time in the Cessna 152, 172, 172RG, 182, 206, Cirrus SR20, SR22, Piper Archer, Arrow, Lance and Mooney M20.  I have been a flight instructor for two years.