Instructors

After graduating from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Computer Science and Math, he earned his pilot’s license in the Boston area and has had the privilege of flying out of Leesburg since 1997.

Charlie holds an Airline Transport Pilot license, is a Gold Seal CFII and MEI, and also teaches tailwheel flying for Aero Elite.  In his spare time, Charlie enjoys hiking, cycling, and annoying his family members with his genealogy studies.

Mr Hertz is a 5,000 hour commercial pilot and instructor with instrument and multi engine privileges. He previously served as a Part 135 Captain. He provides tailwheel instruction as well as private, commercial, instrument, and multi engine training at Aero Elite. He teaches a mountain flying course for both the Aero Elite Flight School and the Civil Air Patrol. Steve currently serves as the Wing Standardization and Evaluation Officer for the Civil Air Patrol. He is a Check Pilot Examiner for the Civil Air Patrol and flies various search and rescue missions for them. He is the current Safety Director for the Grumman Owners Pilots Association (GOPA).  Mr Hertz’s primary residence is in Leesburg Virginia with a second home in Littleton CO. When in Colorado he flies primarily out of KAPA. He has an undergraduate degree in Physics and a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering. Prior to retirement he worked in the aerospace industry on large complex military, space, and intelligence programs.

Chuck Purcell is a 4,000+ hour commercial pilot and instructor with instrument and multi-engine privileges. He is a retired US Air Force Command Pilot serving for 21 years in multiple flying assignments. He flew A-37Bs in Combat and the F-5, F-4 D&E, F-15 C&D, and F-111 D&F. He has instructed for multiple local area flight schools since 2000. Currently he provides private, commercial, and instrument training at Aero Elite. He has extensive experience instructing in Cessna, Piper, and Cirrus aircraft. Chuck and his wife reside in Reston, Virginia with a summer home in Lansdowne, Canada. He earned an undergraduate degree in Mathematics, and Master’s Degrees in Mechanical Engineering, in Systems Management, and Education. After retiring from the Air Force, he became a Senior Scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Currently he is a Principal Senior Engineer with Noblis Inc., focusing on Energy Resiliency and Sustainability for the Department of Defense (DoD).

David Cecchino is a 2000 hour commercial pilot and instructor with over 1300 hours of instruction. He holds both instrument and multi-engine instructor privileges. David grew up in Virginia Beach near Naval Air Station Oceana hearing the thunderous roar of F-14s and the Blue Angels rocket across the sky was intoxicating and pivotal event that inspired his love for aviation at such a young age. The bumper sticker “I LOVE JET NOISE” was ubiquitous in his hometown in the 1980s and still the same today. David began flying in Manassas, VA while working as a systems engineer in 2003. He taught private pilot ground and instrument ground schools in 2006 and earned his CFI in 2011.  David has a degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Worldwide (2016) . David enjoys family trips with his wife and four children. His hobbies include Astrophotography and playing around with old school Unix computing.

David started flight training in 2019 out of Greenville Downtown Airport in a personally owned 152, until getting accepted into American Airlines Cadet Academy. He then pursued his aviation career flying out of Fort Lauderdale FL executive airport, acquiring his CFI and CFII. In his free time you can find him either traveling or gaming.

Neil Weston is a CFI with seaplane and multi engine ratings. Neil is also a flight mechanic in the US Coast Guard on MH65 helicopters. He is a graduate of Indiana state University’s Professional Aviation program. He started his aviation journey by earning his private pilot license in high school before leaving for Indiana State University. He was an active Cadet in the Civil Air Patrol during his high school years. In this time he participated in search and rescue and summer programs such as Air Force UPT familiarization. As an Avionics Technician 2 nd class in the USCG Neil has continued his passion for aviation by serving as a hoist operator aboard search and rescue helicopters in New Orleans before moving to Virginia, where he continues his USCG service while teaching at Aero Elite.

Ram Srinivasan began his aviation journey in 1999 out of the Canadian Flight Academy. After completing commercial training he switched careers to become a physician, specializing in critical care medicine. He continued to fly, as a physician, via volunteer medical missions through Angel Flight. Along the way, he became a CFII and has helped many students with both primary and instrument training. A lifelong General Aviation enthusiast, he is also well versed in Technically Advanced planes, most notably Cirrus Aircraft.

Roger came to the D.C. area in 2001 as a result of his father’s reassignment. After earning a degree in economics from George Mason University in 2012, Roger pursued work in finance, hospitality, and finally in luxury sales. Roger worked in luxury for approximately six years, during which time he married his beautiful wife and became a father to his two amazing children. It was also in this period that Roger attended The College of William and Mary, from where he earned an MBA in 2021. Unsatisfied with the career options which resulted, Roger committed to earning his pilot certificates in order to help himself and his family to embark on a new, lifelong adventure. Roger first attended flight school at ATP in Leesburg, VA, and then finished his ratings at Blue Line Aviation in Smithfield, NC. As an instructor, Roger’s first priorities are safety and sound aeronautical decision making. Roger’s goal is to provide empathetic and effective instruction to students seeking their first certificate, or any certificate thereafter. Roger values good working relationships and emphasizes positivity as a means to encourage learning and student progress; he looks forward to meeting you!

Ted learned to fly in 1972 while at Georgia Tech where he became a flight instructor and president of their flying club. He also ferried airplanes for dealers and the factories and repossessed airplanes for a bank in Atlanta. He was only shot at twice, but once was his fault. After graduating Ted moved to Connecticut for job as an engineer, where he flew part-time for a small air service under Part 135 and as an instructor. He moved to Virginia in 1978 to take a position with the Federal government and instructed for a flying club at Dulles airport. After leaving the government in 1984, he founded a boutique, forensic-science and engineering firm. He is now semi-retired. He has a commercial pilot license (2,000 hours) for airplanes, single and multi-engine land, single and multi-engine sea, with an instrument rating and a fondness for vintage airplanes. He is a CFI/CFII/MEI and also does multiengine and tailwheel instruction for Aero Elite. Ted tested experimental parachutes in the late 1960s, but that ended badly with a protracted residency in hospital and a medical-disability discharge from the military. Ted’s undergraduate degrees are in Engineering Science and Industrial Engineering. He has an M.S. in Ocean Engineering and an MBA in Business – Corporate Finance. He holds a Professional Engineer license. He is a passionate fan of opera, chamber music, Victorian theater, ballet, The Moody Blues, and dark, odd comedy.

Flew F4s and F-15Es for 22 years in the USAF accumulating 5000 hours in various theatres of operation. Over 2500 hours in GA including Part 135 and Part 91 operations as well as Parts 61 and 141 flight schools. Prior owner of DA40XLS. Experience in all Aero Elite aircraft as well as Cirrus SR22.

David started flight training in 2019 out of Greenville Downtown Airport in a personally owned 152, until getting accepted into American Airlines Cadet Academy. He then pursued his aviation career flying out of Fort Lauderdale FL executive airport, acquiring his CFI and CFII. In his free time you can find him either traveling or gaming.

Born in Lakeland, Florida, Skyler’s passion for aviation took flight at a young age, thanks to annual visits to the local Sun ‘N Fun Fly-in with his parents. At just 13, he was already behind the controls as a result of a gifted discovery flight from his parents, and by his 17th birthday, Skyler obtained his private pilot certification. Shortly after, he earned his instrument rating while attending the University of Florida where he graduated in 2020.

Fueled by his love for aviation and the connections made within the close-knit community, Skyler later advanced his skills with his commercial pilot and flight instructor certifications. He moved to Virginia in 2020, where he works for an aviation consulting firm in Alexandria and shares his wisdom as a flight instructor at Aero Elite. In his free time, Skyler enjoys tinkering with his car, cycling, and hiking with his girlfriend Rebecca.

Srini is a Navy Pilot with 8 years of flying experience. He loves flying and looks forward to helping you achieve your goals!

Hey, my name is Gabe Malate! I’ve been flying as a Naval Aviator in the MH-60R for the past 4 years. I’ve spent the better half of my life pursuing all things aviation and aerospace, both as a pilot and as an aerospace engineering student, and I am currently pursuing my MS in Aerospace Engineering at ODU. I look forward to sharing that passion with all those I fly with.

I earned my PPL in 2004, my Instrument and Commercial in 2014/2015, my CFI in 2021 and CFII in 2022. I have close to 2,000 hours of flight experience including high performance, complex, and tailwheel endorsements.

When not working as a CPA, I enjoy cross country flying (FL, New England, southwest) and aerobatics (IAC competitor). I own an interest in a Piper Arrow and a Christen Eagle aerobatic bi-plane. Additionally, I volunteer as a search and rescue pilot for the Civil Air Patrol and am an active member of the Experimental Aircraft Association.

Born and raised in Vermont, I currently live in Alexandria VA.

Sam has been an instructor for more than two years and holds her Flight Instructor (CFI) and Instrument Flight Instructor (CFII) licenses. An avid flyer, she did all her flight training, zero to hero, at CAE Oxford Academy at Falcon Field, Mesa, AZ. She loves teaching and has taught elementary and middle school kids math, English, and science. She is also a Business Management major at GMU, an artist, and a dog lover.

I was born and raised in Silver Spring, MD. I taught English in Thailand for one year, before pursuing my childhood dream of being a pilot. My passions outside of aviation include traveling, baseball, tennis, and cooking.

Shaun Collins is a 2,500+ hour commercial airplane single, airplane multi, and helicopter pilot and an instructor with instrument privileges in single engine airplanes. He holds his CFI, CFII, AGI, and IGI privileges, while pursuing his MEI. He is an active-duty Army aviator and has served for over 15 years. He has flown numerous helicopters including the Bell Jet Ranger as well as the AH-64 D/E “Apache” and MH-47G “Chinook” in combat. Shaun has been instructing since 2019 with experience in Mooneys, Pipers, Diamonds, Cessnas, and Beech aircraft. He holds an undergraduate degree in Mechanical (Aeronautical) Engineering from the United States Military Academy and Master in Business Administration from Trident University. He has been a member of Civil Air Patrol since 2014 and serves as a CAP Instructor in addition to conducting Search and Rescue missions. Shaun has experience with military funding programs, and established a military knowledge testing facility to allow servicemembers to take knowledge tests for free. He has a particular passion for training prior military rotary wing aviators to become fixed wing pilots.