Katie Albert
Flight School Manager CFI
Katie has been flying since 2019 and has been working as a CFI since 2020. She proudly holds a Gold Seal instructor certificate and finds great fulfillment from instructing and watching her students learn, innovate, and challenge themselves while becoming pilots. She is also a Professional Pilot with Phoenix Air, where she works as a First Officer on an Embraer Brasilia, for the U.S. Navy. While she is not flying for the Navy or teaching our CFI program she remains as the Flight School Manager here at CIA. Katie is a dual citizen of both the U.S. and the U.K., which brought her passion in aviation as she has traveled to England her entire life. She grew up near Van Nuys Airport where she trained and taught hundreds of students. She is a soon to be graduate from Liberty University, where she will hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation.
Abe Milad
Chief Flight Instructor CFI
Abe is our Chief Flight instructor here at Channel Islands Aviation. He has been flying since 2018 and has been working as a CFI since 2019. Through his extensive knowledge, he has been able to acquire a skill set that allowed him to seek out a variety of different ratings. These include CFI, CFII, MEI, ATP, and ASES. When Abe is not acting as the Chief Flight Instructor, he professionally flies for a company known as Phoenix Air. There he works as a Captain on an EMB-120, for the companies DOD contract with the U.S. Navy. Ever since Abe was little, he always dreamt of becoming a pilot. His family has been traveling around the world with him since his youth which aided in his passion and love for flying. He hopes to share that passion with all pilots and intends to help other aviators reach their aviation goals.
Anneliese Tomlinson
CFI/CFII/MEI/ATP
Anneliese started flying at the age of sixteen when she was inspired by her father, who was an airline pilot, to learn to fly. She received all of her ratings locally and completed her CFI during college. After graduating from the University of California Santa Barbara with a degree in Marine Biology she began teaching and later worked for SkyWest Airlines. After seven years as an airline pilot and continuing to teach part time on her days off, Anneliese returned to Camarillo to pursue a career as a flight instructor. She has been with Channel Islands Aviation since 2005 and is CIAs on staff Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot (CSIP). Anneliese has found the perfect profession that combines her dad’s love of aviation and her mom’s passion for teaching.
JB Drake
CFI/CFII/MEI
JB’s fascination with flying began in his 30’s when he earned his private pilot certificate in Long Beach, CA. Drawn to the challenge and adventure that aviation offered, he quickly realized that the skies would become an integral part of his life. Before becoming a flight instructor, JB traversed through various careers, starting with an enlistment in the U.S. Army with 2nd Ranger Battalion, to orthopedic medical device sales, and entrepreneurship. Fueling his ambition to soar even higher, JB took advantage of his GI Bill benefits to continue his flight training and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in aviation along with his CFI certificate with Instrument and Multi-engine ratings. For JB, instructing is not just a profession; it’s an opportunity to continue to learn as well as mold, guide, and mentor the next generation of pilots.
Noah Pitones
CFI/CFII/MEI
Noah took his first ever flight when he was just 19 years old. From there, he knew he needed to fly as a career. Two years later he joined a rigorous course where he went from not knowing anything about aviation to becoming a Multi Engine Instructor all in just one year. He has dedicated countless hours to both air as well as ground work. He will push you to become the best pilot you can be while offering an enjoyable experience in the world of aviation. On his free time outside of aviation, Noah enjoys riding motorcycles, building home projects, and playing sports. He is available to teach Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multi-engine, MEI, and CFII.
Brandon Matthews
CFI/CFII
Growing up in Ventura CA in a family of aviation, Brandon was always surrounded by planes. He remembers going to the Camarillo airshow as a kid and being obsessed with all the planes that he got to see. By the time high school came around, Brandon was able to get his private pilot’s license and it began to further his love for aviation. He then went off to college shortly after at California Polytechnic University where he was able to continue training throughout the pandemic. By the time he graduated, flying was not just a hobby, but a passion and something he wanted to make a career out of. In July of 2022, Brandon was lucky enough to move back home where he began to work and teach at Channel Islands Aviation as well as give back to the Aviation community that started it all.
Cecilia Magnani
CFI/CFII
The summer after graduating high school, Ceci took her first flight right here in Camarillo and absolutely fell in love with it! Knowing this passion was more than just a hobby, she pursued a degree in aviation at a small university in Arkansas. Being born and raised in Ventura County, she returned to her home airport to give back to the local aviation community where she first discovered her passion. She has been instructing at Channel Islands Aviation since August 2022 and is so excited to help our clients realize their full potential as pilots.
Rick Juarez
CFI
Rick has harbored an unwavering passion for aviation since his early childhood, likely stemming from accompanying his father, an A&P Mechanic at Point Mugu Naval Air Base, during his 30+ years of service. In 2018, he commenced his aviation training at Channel Islands Aviation and successfully obtained his private pilot certificate in 2019. At that pivotal moment, he made the decision to transition from his existing career path and transform his passion into a full-fledged profession. Diligently pursuing his goals, he completed all requisite certificates and ratings at Channel Islands Aviation, culminating in his achievement of becoming a Certificated Flight Instructor in early 2023. A native of Ventura County, Rick holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Cal State Channel Islands. Presently, he resides in Camarillo with his wife and two young sons. When not soaring the skies, he finds delight in outdoor pursuits, traveling, fishing in the Channel Islands, and cherishing quality time with his loved ones and friends during delightful barbeque gatherings.
Travis Seidel
CFI/CFII
Travis grew up in western Washington wanting to fly from a young age. After spending six years in the Air Force, Travis went to the University of North Dakota to study commercial aviation. He started flying there in 2019 and soon after received all of his certificates. Travis moved to Camarillo, CA in February 2023 to work and build hours to fly for the airlines one day.
Justin Gilstrap
CFI/CFII
Justin has been involved in aviation over the past 10 years with the Marine Corps. There he served as a Crew Chief Instructor on the UH-1Y Huey helicopter. Since 2021, he has applied his passion of flying to becoming a pilot. Justin recently received his Instrument Instructor rating which allowed him to expand his knowledge base for teaching. He has been teaching for several years and is an active member of the Marine Corps Reserves. He executes those duties once a month. Additionally, he is studying at Liberty University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Aviation.
Matthew Chane
CFI
For as long as he can remember, Matthew has been infatuated with aviation. After taking his first flight in Santa Paula in 2019, he was beyond hooked. Aviation became a passion that has fueled his life ever since. While completing all of his flight training with Channel Islands Aviation, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Aviation from the Liberty University School of Aeronautics. After spending several years flying in the local area, Matthew has a strong grasp on our training environment and can aid students in working with the challenges it presents. As your flight instructor, his goal is to use his own experience to guide you through the training process to help you become a safe and proficient pilot.
Andrew Shack
CFI
For as long as he can remember, Andrew has had a love for aviation. After taking his first flight in Camarillo during high school, he knew that becoming a professional pilot was meant for him. In 2019, he would achieve his Private Pilot License from Channel Islands Aviation. In 2022, he would achieve a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Flight with a minor in Business Administration from California Baptist University. He then returned for his CFI rating and begin instruction in 2023. When Andrew is not flying, he enjoys playing golf and cooking new recipes. For him, instructing is not just a profession; it is a passion and a means to positively inspire the next generation of aviators.