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About Us

About Florida Flight Center – Serving Pilots Since 1996

Our Story

Founded in 1996, Florida Flight Center has grown into a trusted name in professional pilot training. From jets and turboprops to piston aircraft, we specialize in personalized and flexible training options that are conducted in your aircraft.

What makes us unique is our personalized and family-driven approach. Every pilot is more than just a student — you’re part of our aviation community. With a focus on clarity, confidence, and safety, our training is designed to help you succeed while making the experience enjoyable.

At Florida Flight Center our first priority is SAFETY. Our second is YOU!

Luis Savigne

Founder

Why Us

At Florida Flight Center, pilots choose us for four key reasons:

Personalized Training

Tailored programs that combine the structure of large schools with the one-on-one attention of a specialized provider.

Flexibility

Options for training on-site at our Sarasota base or at your home airport. Flexible schedules, including weekends, are available.

Expert Instruction

Active professional pilots with thousands of flight hours bring real-world experience into every lesson.

Safety First

All training is conducted in the actual aircraft, ensuring maximum proficiency and safe operations.

Add to this our location at Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport (KSRQ) — a year-round flying destination with ideal weather, multiple runways, and access to Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast. Many of our students combine training with a mini-vacation getaway.

About Florida Flight Center
Our Team

Leadership in Aviation Training

Florida Flight Center is guided by experienced aviation professionals dedicated to pilot success.

Luis R. Savigne

Director of Training

Luis Savigne
Luis Savigne Jr.

Director of Sales & Marketing

Erik S. Aibel
Erick S. Aibel

Assistant Director of Training

Robert Martyn
Robert Martyn

Instructor

Kyle Falwell
Kyle Falwell

Director of Operations – Lynchburg, VA (KLYH Training Center)

Nick Barrows
Nick Barrows

Instructor

Joshua Marius
Joshua Marius

Program Director — Flight Simulator

Phillip Reed
Phillip Reed

Instructor in KY

Business Partners

At Florida Flight Center, we believe in building strong relationships with our business partners. Our goal is to create win-win scenarios that provide value not only to our partners but also to their clients.

Phenom 100

Insurance Brokers & Underwriters

  • Personalized training tailored to your clients’ needs
  • Training on their specific aircraft model, including modified avionics common in legacy aircraft

Aircraft Sales Brokers

  • Relocation and acceptance flights for new aircraft owners
  • Immediate training available after closing to ensure a smooth transition

Fixed Base Operators (FBO)

  • On-site training that increases fuel sales
  • Personalized training solutions for your clients

Take Your Flight Training Further

Join pilots from across the U.S., Latin America, Europe, and Asia  who trust Florida Flight Center for their training.

Explore Training Programs
Luis R. Savigne

Director of Training

With over 20 years as a professional pilot and instructor, Luis has logged more than 10,000 flight hours, including 8,000+ as a flight instructor. He is type-rated in Citation aircraft and instructs across Citation jets and turboprops. Recognized as a community aviation expert, he brings unmatched knowledge, professionalism, and bilingual fluency (English/Spanish) to the center.

Luis Savigne
Luis Savigne Jr.

Director of Sales & Marketing

With a strong background in sales, management, and business operations, Luis Jr. ensures every pilot has a smooth and valuable training experience. Fluent in English and Spanish, he is dedicated to client service and making every step of the process exceptional.

Erik S. Aibel
Erick S. Aibel

Assistant Director of Training

Erik Scott Aibel is a graduate of Indiana State University with degrees in Aviation Administration and Professional Pilot Technology. With over 34 years as a pilot and 31 years as a flight instructor, Erik has accumulated more than 7,445 flight hours, including 2,430 as an instructor. His career spans roles as a flight instructor, airline captain, technology salesperson, and computer programmer. He has flown for American Eagle Airlines and served as Captain for Sun Air International. Erik currently provides advanced pilot training at Florida Flight Center and has been recognized by the FAA in its prestigious Airmen Certification Database.

Robert Martyn
Robert Martyn

Instructor

A highly accomplished aviation professional, he is a seasoned Instructor Pilot, business executive, and entrepreneur with decades of experience across military, civilian, and corporate aviation sectors.

With over 5,200 total flight hours—primarily as Pilot in Command—his expertise includes extensive time in high-performance jet aircraft, including the F-15 and F-16, as well as the Cessna Citation series. He has logged more than 1,200 hours as a jet instructor and brings deep operational knowledge from both single-pilot and complex flight environments.

Kyle Falwell
Kyle Falwell

Director of Operations – Lynchburg, VA (KLYH Training Center)

A third-generation aviator from Lynchburg, Virginia, Kyle Falwell began flying at age nine and earned his pilot’s license by seventeen. He holds Commercial, ATP, and Multi-Engine certificates, with several type ratings and over 5,000 flight hours. Kyle oversees operations at Lynchburg Regional Airport (KLYH) through a partnership between Florida Flight Center and Bon Air Brokerage, offering Cessna Citation CE-500 and CE-525 training. He is also co-owner and pilot in command of Central Virginia Aerial Solutions, continuing his family’s aviation legacy from his home at Falwell Airport.

Nick Barrows
Nick Barrows

Instructor

Nick discovered his passion for aviation early, earning his pilot’s license at 17 and later a B.S. in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. After obtaining his instructor certificates, he taught in Orlando and became Chief Flight Instructor for a Part 141 training facility in Clearwater, FL. With extensive experience managing and flying corporate aircraft in the Tampa Bay area, Nick combines strong academic and real-world expertise to deliver comprehensive pilot training. He joins Florida Flight Center as Assistant Chief Flight Instructor, overseeing the CE-500, CE-525, Turbo Prop, and Pressurized aircraft divisions.

Joshua Marius
Joshua Marius

Program Director — Flight Simulator

Originally from the Dominican Republic, Josh developed an early interest in aviation technology while building flight simulator setups for local instructors. After moving to the United States, he earned a B.S. in Computer Engineering from the University of South Florida and was inducted into the Order of the Engineer. Combining his technical expertise with aviation research, Josh has focused on improving simulator fidelity and training transfer to real aircraft. Now collaborating with Florida Flight Center instructors, he designs custom simulators that enhance pilot training while reducing costs and providing a realistic, hands-on learning experience.

Phillip Reed
Phillip Reed

Instructor in KY