Who we are, What we do & Why we do it

Air Ventures Flying School was founded in 2010, from a desire to teach flying differently. All too often flight schools are either cold, uninviting places that may not want you there unless the walled is open, or a good old boy network where outsiders who find their way through the door are met by scowling looks and silence.

 

At Air Ventures Flying School we support a positive educational environment and active pilot community where pilots learn from each other and grow, no matter if they are in one of our wildly popular ground schools, taking a lesson with an instructor, or just hanging out on a rainy day. We love to be here, and we want you to love to be here too!

The people behind the props.

Doug Auclair | Master Flight Instructor

 

Doug started flying in 2005 when he decided that a life chained to a desk in an office cubicle just wouldn't suit him. He started working as a flight instructor in 2008 and has been able to fly throughout the country making friends and spreading his enthusiasm for all things aviation.  As an avid member of the Rhode Island aviation community, Doug can be spotted at the monthly meetings of the Rhode Island Pilot Association, the RI General Aviation Working Group, and monthly FAA Safety Seminars, for which he has also served as a guest speaker.  He is the President of the Rhode Island chapter of the IMC Club, and hosts monthly meetings at Air Ventures Flight School. 

 

Doug has the distinction of achieving the NAFI Master Flight Instructor designation from the longest running and most prestigious FAA accredited program in the industry. He is also a CSIP (Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot) and an avid skydiver.

Makayla Davis | Director of Operations/Future Mrs.Airventure

 

Makayla fell in love with Aviation when she fell in love with traveling the world. She spent a good amount of time in the Army National Guard, and when her contract ended she took a year long hiatus in Asia to explore what other parts of the world had to offer. After returning home from travels, that's when she knew she wanted to be a pilot, as that would give her the ultimate freedom of travel and life! 

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Makayla works at Air Ventures Flying school as Doug's co-pilot (in everything), and future Mrs! She loves to get new students involved in aviation, create community events and make sure everyone is happy, healthy and pursuing their dreams too! She's a strong advocate for women in aviation, and encourages all women who have dreams of travel, flying and freedom to book an Intro flight and experience what a mile of runway can offer!

 

Sammy 9s | Main Man

 

Bio coming soon! Keep posted, because he's awesome!​

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Ziad Abdallah | Flight Instructor

 

Bio coming soon! Keep posted, because he's awesome!​

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Eli Mitchell | Flight Instructor

 

Eli Mitchell started his flying career with Air Ventures in 2014 and successfully completed his Private Pilot Certificate, Instrument rating, Commercial rating and Certified Flight Instructor ratings all under the tutelage of Master Flight Instructor Doug Auclair.

 

Eli is a great good pilot, but he's also an accomplished cellist and preforms in cello quartets! Now he's here and available to teach YOU how to fly and make your dreams a reality!

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John Martorano III | Flight Instructor

 

John's story started at a young age when he became fascinated with flight. At age 13 he was lucky enough to start his flight training, and he has never looked back! After earning his private pilot certificate John took a break from flying attended Purdue university where he earned a degree in Aeronautical engineering. After college he moved to Alaska and earned his instrument rating flying the wild country surrounding Anchorage. John moved home after his training in Alaska and completed his Commercial and Flight instructor certificates.

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Deeply passionate about aviation, it is Johns goal to share the joy of flight and inspire everyone he can to become involved in the amazing world of aviation!

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Alex | Ground Instructor

 

John's story started at a young age when he became fascinated with flight. At age 13 he was lucky enough to start his flight training, and he has never looked back! After earning his private pilot certificate John took a break from flying attended Purdue university where he earned a degree in Aeronautical engineering. After college he moved to Alaska and earned his instrument rating flying the wild country surrounding Anchorage. John moved home after his training in Alaska and completed his Commercial and Flight instructor certificates.

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Deeply passionate about aviation, it is Johns goal to share the joy of flight and inspire everyone he can to become involved in the amazing world of aviation!

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Nuggy & Piper | Security Chows

 

Nuggy is a 7 year old chihuahua/corgi mix who LOVES a good bite of chicken, or perhaps whatever food you might be currently eating at the time. He may bark a little bit at first upon meeting, but he's only requesting your attention when he does!

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Piper is our 1 year old baby girl! Shes the most sweet, loving and affectionate little gal! She loves to play, snuggle and will gladly let you pick her up, and carry her around!

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Both chows play a crucial role in making the Flight School a fun, warm and inviting place =) Be sure to play nice, and they will love you with plenty of licks in return!

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Frank Sherman | Flight Instructor Extraordinaire (RET.)

 

Mr. Sherman has been at the North Central State Airport since it opened in 1951. He has been a pilot since he was 15 years old, and now boasts more than 10,000 hours of flight time exclusively in single engine general aviation airplanes. As a well respected member of the aviation community Mr. Sherman can often be found teaching FAA Safety seminars throughout the region. He has been working at Air Ventures Flying School since 2012 and is a key part of the operation, bringing industry expertise and a tremedous amount of flight experience to the table.

 

Mr. Sherman has been in love with aviation since he saw his first airplane. He still holds the same enthusiasm for flight now as when he took his first lesson.

Nemo | Vicious Guard Dog (yes he's people too)

Rest in peace

Dec 18th, 2002 - Dec 27th, 2015 (13)

 

Nemo was a fixture, and big part of our flight schools community. He traveled to work with Doug almost every day for his 13 year life. He was a work dog.

 

 He passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 27th, 2015. He was loved by many, and is greatly missed. We will always remember him.