Our Mission
Pacific Flight Aviation's mission is to provide each future pilot with the best flight instruction possible. Through a comprehensive orientation and custom flight training, Pacific Flight Aviation is designed to exceed expectations for any Orange County flight student. Every member of our team maintains the keystones of aviation: safety, quality, integrity and community.
SAFETY
Whether on the ground or in-flight, safety is our main priority. We will ensure that you not only feel safe but learn to fly safe. An instructor’s education is never over; neither is safety training. Our strictly maintained airplanes and adherence to standard protocol elevate safety above financial gain.
QUALITY
The quality of your training experience is paramount. We hold our flight instructors and the planes they fly to the highest standards. Experienced instructors use only the most consistent, up-to-date training materials to guide you through your flight training. Our organized facilities utilize the latest technology, including new, well-equipped airplanes.
INTEGRITY
One of the qualities required to become a professional pilot is good moral character. We will always practice what we preach, do what we say and advise honestly. Flight training should be an enjoyable experience as well as an educational one. Our instructors combine patience and positivity with expert transparency.
community
The aviation community is very important to us. We will always strive to be good stewards in our community of aviators. Truth, fairness and goodwill are cornerstones in any community. Our community deserves to be treated with these simple qualities. All pilots, instructors and staff associated with Pacific Flight Aviation will be good stewards in our community.
FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS AND STAFF
WELCOME TO PACIFIC FLIGHT AVIATION. WE ARE HERE TO EXCEED YOUR EXPECTATIONS AND GIVE YOU THE EXPERIENCE OF PERSONALIZED FLIGHT INSTRUCTION.
Wayne Hankins
president & CEO - CFI, CFIi, agi
Inspired by aviation as a child, Wayne knew he would become a pilot. His father, an avionics specialist for the Air Force, and his grandfather, a glider pilot for the Army Air Corp during World War II, both shared a passion for flying RC gliders. Wayne learned to fly at 18 and, after a career as a CTO and technologist, decided to earn his certification for flight instructing. Opening a flight school was the next logical step. An Orange County resident himself, Wayne chose to establish PFA close to home and the beautiful views of the Southern California coast.
jon hankins
VICE presidenT operations - CPL, CFI Candidate
Jay Mason
chief flight instructor - atp, cfi, cfii, mei
Jay’s Father learned to fly in the Philadelphia, PA area in 1963 and flew for his businesses and for fun off and on for more than forty years. After earning a music degree in college, Jay followed his Dad’s lead and earned his private license in 1988. He became a CFI in 1993, and has been instructing in addition to his musical career ever since. If you’ve watched movies, television or attended a live show or concert in the SoCal area chances are you’ve heard him play saxophone & woodwinds. Jay has been using GA airplanes to commute to various venues throughout the Southwest since he started flying, and enjoys passing along what he’s learned to help others achieve their flying goals. Fun fact: Jay was his Dad’s CFI-I for his instrument rating.
Jay Steffenhagen
Senior instructor and Flight School advisor
atp, CFI, CFII, MEI, AGI
Jay is a multiengine ATP and Instructor for Airplanes, Instruments and Gliders. Commercial Ratings include Single Engine Land and Sea and Glider. He has over 10,000 hours of flight time and more than 5,200 hours of instruction given in airplanes. He has Citation 500, 510 and 525s type ratings.
javier ruiz
flight instructor - CFI, CFII, MEI
Peter angelici
Flight instructor - cfi
STAFF ALUMNI
Summer Aleman
Asst chief flight instructor- CFI, CFII, mei
Summer’s flight journey began as a toddler, tucked in a car seat in the back of a Cessna 172. Her father, private pilot and A&P mechanic, encouraged her to fly her entire life. After earning her bachelor’s at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, she began her pursuit of an aviation career. Summer learned to fly with a seasoned pilot out of KTRM and had the opportunity to receive her tail wheel endorsement while learning to correctly “use her feet.” Before she knew it, she was hooked. She quickly worked through all of her certifications and continued to earn her CFI, CFII and MEI.'
HORIZON AIRLINES
whitney boes
flight instructor - cfi, cfii, mei
Whitney has been surrounded by aviation her whole life. Her grandpa & uncle were both airline pilots who encouraged her to go after her dreams. Once she graduated from University of California, Irvine, she jumped into the world of aviation and hasn’t looked back since. After receiving her MEI, CFI, & CFII she joined the PFA family. Her favorite part about being an instructor at PFA is watching her students achieve their goals and become great pilots with their hard work and dedication.
PIEDMONT AIRLINES
REGENCY AIR (KSNA)
Bre orr
flight instructor/check airman, CFi, CFII, MEI
Bre was introduced to the world of aviation at a young age, by her father who is a commercial helicopter pilot and business owner of AV8-ORR Helicopters. Her fixed-wing training began when she was 16 years old, in a mountainous valley in Montana. She then moved to Southern California to continue her training and procure her CFI, CFII, and MEI. Bre is currently continuing her training further to receive her rotorcraft add ons.
WEST COAST CHARTERS (KSNA)
Tyler Shields
Flight Instructor, CFI, CFII, MEi
Allured to the industry by military aviation, Tyler began flying in the summer of 2017. Now as a Gold Seal Flight Instructor he enjoys seeing students succeed while fostering a passion for flight. Tyler’s aviation goals include working for an airline as well as becoming an aircraft owner himself. He spends his free time surfing, playing piano, at the dog park, and fishing.
ENVOY
matthieu Tiberino
flight instructor - atp, cfi, cfii
Matthieu grew up in the south of France watching airplanes take off from the roof of Nice International Airport. After 12 years as a flight dispatcher, he moved to the United States to pursue his dream job of becoming a pilot. He earned all his ratings in Orange County, where he currently resides. Matthieu is a professional pilot flying corporate jets all over Northern America. One of his passions is flight instruction, where he found his aviation family at Pacific Flight Aviation. At 41,000 ft or 3,000 ft, he still loves the view outside the window.