


Our Team
Our team at Aviation Academy of Louisiana are hand selected commercial pilots, CFI/CFII's and licensed mechanics to ensure the highest level of training proficiency, safety and professionalism

Manager, ATP/CFI/CFI-I
Craig Simon
Craig has 2 decades of experience in aviation. ATP, CFI and CFI-I (certified flight instructor instrument) in helicopters. Commercially rated in single & multi engine airplanes, as well as CFI-I. He is honored to be certified by the FAA as a Gold Seal Instructor. McNeese State University has also awarded him a bachelors degree.

Assistant Manager, Commercial Airplane CFI
Kale LeBlanc
As a lifelong aviation enthusiast, and over 16 years in the oilfield industry running high paced around the clock operations, Kale supervises the behind the scenes happenings at Aviation Academy.

Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic
Matt Prejean
Matt is a licensed A&P (Airframe & Power Plant) mechanic. He was the 1st employee of Aviation Academy of Louisiana which goes to show, MAINTENANCE IS OUR TOP PRIORITY!

Commercial Helicopter CFI/CFI-I
Kade Guidry
Kade is a commercially CFI and CFI-I pilot.

Commercial Helicopter CFI/CFI-I
Ryan MacLaren
Ryan is a retired Army Veteran and commercially rated CFI pilot.

Commercial Helicopter CFI
Bill Pitre
Bill is a critical care paramedic and commercially rated CFI pilot.

Commercial Airplane CFI, CFI-I, MEI
Nick Manning
Nick is a commercially rated CFI, CFI-I and MEI. Formerly a paramedic, Nick brings a wealth of skills to his flight training.

Commercial Helicopter CFI, CFI-I
Carson Noriega
Carson is recent college graduate and a helicopter flight instructor. He is also an instrument instructor.

Commercial Airplane CFI, CFI-I
Andrew Broussard
Andrew is an airplane flight instructor, instrument flight instructor, and holds a bachelor degree from The University of Louisiana Lafayette in business.

Customer Experience Coordinator
Marlene Breaux
Meet Marlene Breaux, a native of South Louisiana with a heart as warm as our Southern hospitality. As the Customer Experience Coordinator at the Aviation Academy of Louisiana, she's more than just a receptionist. Marlene is your first point of contact, ensuring your journey with us takes off smoothly. Always ready with a friendly greeting and a helpful hand, Marlene is the smiling face that makes every visit a memorable one.

Commercial Airplane CFI, CFI-I
Drake Schexnaider
Drake's aviation journey began when he was a junior in high school. At a young age, he developed a passion for flying and decided to pursue it as a career. Despite being the first in his family to venture into aviation, Drake successfully obtained his certification as a Flight Instructor. This accomplishment marked a significant milestone in his career, allowing him to share his knowledge and love for flying with others. Drake is currently a commercial rated CFI and CFI-I flight instructor.

Commercial Airplane CFI, CFI-I
Zachary Hanks
Zachary is a first generation pilot who grew up in Alaska until his family moved back to Lafayette where they are originally from. Going to air shows at a young age sparked his passion for flying, and he began his aviation career in 2019 at Louisiana Tech University. There he would go on to graduate with a degree in Professional Aviation. Zach loves getting to share the joys of flying with others and watching people achieve their dream of becoming pilots.

Mechanic Helper
Aaron Mouton
Aaron is a recent SLCC aviation maintenance technician graduate, pursuing his Airframe & Powerplant certifications. With a keen eye for attention to detail his main goal is to provide the highest quality maintenance to ensure a safe and fun flying experience.

Commercial Airplane CFI
Claire Posey
Claire’s journey into aviation began at 16. As a first-generation pilot and flight instructor, she is deeply committed to imparting her knowledge and inspiring others to pursue their dreams confidently. Claire is in her senior year at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, pursuing a bachelor's degree in Business Studies.

Commercial Airplane CFI, CFI-I, MEI
Ian Greene
Ian is a first generation pilot who is a local native to New Iberia. He began his aviation career right out of high school where he attended University of Louisiana at Monroe and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Aviation Management. He then attended flight school where he got all his ratings including his CFI,CFI-I, and MEI. Ian is passionate about being a part of making the next generation of pilots and hoping to inspire many people to follow their dreams of being a pilot.