James Young

James began his aviation journey at age 16 when he started his flight training. He completed his Private Pilot license and Instrument rating while in high school. To save money he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and worked on various airframes as an aircraft mechanic to include 6 years as a Flying Crew Chief on the C-5 Galaxy. While serving he completed his bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and completed two associates degrees in Avionics Technology and Human Resource Management. He also completed his Commercial Pilot license in ASEL, ASES, AMEL along his CFI, CFII, MEI ratings, and Airframe & Powerplant. His last four years in the Air Force he worked in Quality Assurance for the C-5B/C/M, C-17, and KC-10 and in his free time worked as a flight instructor at Nuttree Airport in Vacaville, CA. James was accepted into the Department of Defense’s Career Skillbridge Program which allowed him to intern as a Seaplane pilot in Florida for the last six months of his service before retiring in 2020. Upon leaving the Air Force he continued to work in the seaplane industry and completed a double master’s degree program with Everglades University in Aviation Operations Management and Aviation Security. He also has been factory trained by Continental and Lycoming with additional factory training schedule with Cirrus and Rotax. He has maintained a flight instructor success rate over 95% throughout his teaching career.