ABOUT US

A LITTLE ABOUT US

We started First Team Pilot Training to combine our passions for aviation and education into a world class flight school.  But we aren’t simply teachers, or marketing professionals or pilots, we’re individuals who want to learn from one another to create a better flight school experience that brings the entire aviation community together.

By combining our separate backgrounds in management, operations and training, we will communicate effectively as a team and provide positive leadership and reinforcement, so you succeed in obtaining your chosen rating or certificate.  Whether you’re just learning to fly for personal enjoyment or want a career in aviation, you will find us to be engaging and empathetic towards your goals of flying for fun or for a career.

OUR GOALS & VALUES

First Team Pilot Training generates world-class pilots and flight instructors by promoting a positive inclusive atmosphere, leadership and excellence in flight training which exceed your expectations and create successful outcomes for everyone.  All done in reliable aircraft with modern avionics for safe flight operations.

Bailey Smith

CFI, CFII

Jacob Gill

CFI, CFII

Josh Watts

CFI, CFII

Vic Rather

CFI, CFII, MEI

Joseph Walton

CFI, CFII, MEI

Certified Flight Instructor

Shanna Lyles

CFI, CFII

Eric Bucks. Certified Flight Instructor

Eric Bucks

CFI, CFII

lorenzo pugh, certified flight instructor

Lorenzo Pugh

CFI, CFII

luke patterson. certified flight instructor

Luke Patterson

CFI, CFII, MEI

emma montilla. certified flight instructor

Emma Montilla

CFI

jordan knight. certified flight instructor

Jordan Knight

CFI

Logan Harrah

CFI

Larry Kampa

CFI, CFII, MEI, IA

Barry Gee

General Manager

More about Barry

Barry Gee

Barry started First Team Pilot Training because the world needs more people excited about flying and the airlines need more pilots.  By sharing his aviation passion with people of all backgrounds, he hopes to build an enthusiastic community of pilots willing to help lead, mentor and train others to reach their goals.

Barry has lived in Memphis since the age of 3, with layovers in Seattle WA, Newport RI, Chicoutimi QC and Montpellier France.  He received his B.S from Christian Brothers University and International MBA from the University of Memphis.  Barry worked 19 years in all areas of marketing at FedEx where he helped many others achieve their goals. 

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flight instructor mentor

Keith Asbury

Flight Instructor Mentor Commercial Airline Pilot

More about Keith

Keith Asbury

Keith grew up building and flying model airplanes, collecting airplane art, and hanging out at airports to watch and photograph planes.  In 2002, he became a private pilot and started on an incredible journey of discovery.  Now, after two decades of aviation adventure which has taken him around the world several times with over 2 million miles flown and covering every continent but Antarctica, he is still fascinated by the magic of flight and enjoys sharing what he’s learned along the way with others. 

Keith holds multiple FAA and international flight and type ratings and has worked as a flight & ground instructor, search and rescue instructor, Civil Air Patrol check-airman, bush pilot in Alaska, First Officer at 3 airlines and Captain at 2 airlines.  He currently flies for FedEx on the Boeing 757, but regularly enjoys flying smaller airplanes and helping others learn to do the same.

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Eugene Jones

Senior Advisor

More about Eugene

Eugene Jones

Growing up with a desire to learn to fly and ultimately journey into aircraft ownership, Eugene Jones, a Memphis native, aviation enthusiast and photographer was able to do just that. His career as a software consultant allowed him to achieve his and expand his passion for aviation.  
 

 

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Why Choose First Team Pilot Training?

Our flight training programs are built on thirty years of experience within the aviation industry. Best practices from both civilian and military flight training are incorporated into our training methods, generating repeatable and successful results.

Our courses provide the structure to accomplish your flight training goals efficiently and are built upon the specific knowledge and skills required by the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airman Certification Standards (ACS) to pass your chosen practical exam.

The syllabi are complemented by free, source document, PDFs downloadable at the FAA’s online library further reducing the cost of training. No expensive “training systems” or textbooks are required! Each lesson contains specific tasks and study assignments guiding you to prepare in advance of your next lesson, reducing confusion and holding both you and your instructor accountable to the training requirements.

COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING

First Team Pilot Training offers self-paced and structured programs for private pilot, instrument, commercial pilot, and flight instructor (CFI) certificates and ratings. We take pride in our pilot programs and training methods, incorporating traditional methods such as utilizing paper charts and maps for navigation together with new technologies in the digital age of GPS navigation, glass panels, ForeFlight, podcasts and YouTube videos.

QUALITY INSTRUCTION

After completing our course, your competency will remain well beyond the day you passed a test or checkride.  For example, as a Private Pilot student, you’ll be able to teach us the inner workings of a gyroscope and then demonstrate how it functions during flight.  Understanding they ‘why’ and ‘how’ leads to knowledge you’ll remember and builds a stronger foundation for future certificates and ratings as you progress toward flight instructor. Expect a fun and enjoyable atmosphere as you learn promoting memorable experiences you will have for a lifetime.

PROVEN PIPER TRAINING AIRCRAFT

We spent nearly a year selecting our Piper Cherokee aircraft for your training.  Then we spent additional time updating their avionics so they all have GPS navigation and modern avionics.  Although you will not find vacuum pumps in our planes, you will thoroughly understand how they function, along with magnetos, EFIS, PFDs, MFDs, and more topics required by the FAA ACS and industry standards. There are subtle differences among our Cherokees but they are all PA-28s with similar flight characteristics.

TEAM APPROACH TO PILOT TRAINING

You will have one primary flight instructor and every instructor is here to assist you, answer questions, and understand your goals and communication style.  As a team, we focus on CRM – Crew Resource Management – inside and outside the aircraft.  Our team meets regularly to share knowledge and experiences so we can learn from one another, provide a consistent training experience and successful outcomes for everyone.

CONTACT US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR TEAM

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