Not Your Average Flight School

About Berichi Aviation
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Flying is your passion.

You deserve a school that honors that.

Too many flight schools treat flight training as a pilot assembly line. You deserve more than that.

At Berichi, we prioritize safety and skill to ensure every pilot that graduates is successful, confident and exceptionally employable the moment they graduate.

About Berichi Aviation

Berichi Aviation, a fully accredited FAA Part 141 flight school, is the exclusive Cessna Pilot Center at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. We are focused on producing the best and safest pilots, which is reflected in our 100% safety record and 100% job placement rate. We have never had an accident. We are also Veterans Affairs approved and Florida Department of Education approved.

The Flight Instructors at Berichi Aviation are comprised of former U.S. Military, Charter, and the top Professional Flight Instructors in the training industry. The team at Berichi Aviation has created a successful corridor for student pilots to enter a career as a professional pilot with the best training possible, at an affordable cost.

We are partnered/approved with over 50 colleges and universities on handshake throughout the United States, posting jobs and internships for qualified college students and alumni. We are also partnered with two financial institutions that provide loans for our students for all ratings, including housing and living expense stipends.

We are currently the highest paying flight school in South Florida. Thus, after completion of flight training, students are able to work as flight instructors and usually pay back their principal investment in less than 18 months, working as a full-time flight instructor, which is also when they usually reach the 1500 hours of flight time they need to apply to regional airlines.

Berichi Aviation has been featured on the Science Channel flying our Cessna Station Air and on Textron’s Instagram in our new Skyhawks.

Let’s fly!

What You Get with Berichi Aviation

Skyrocket your career with the expert training, facilities, and curriculum at Berichi

State-of-the-art
Fleet

Expert Instructors

Real-World Experience

Personalized Approach

Fly with Experts

Meet Your Instructors

Charlie Berichi

President/Chief Flight Instructor

Charlie Berichi founded Berichi Aviation in 2016 and is still actively involved in the daily operations. He is also currently a PhD candidate at Florida International University (FIU) with a focus on Aviation Security. Outside of Berichi Aviation, he teaches Comparative Criminal Justice Systems and Introduction to Criminal Justice as an Adjunct Professor at FIU in Miami, FL. Charlie is a member of AOPA, MMOPA, TBMOPA, and HJOPA, speaking at flight instructor safety seminars, and providing mentorship pilot services in the Honda Jet, TBM, and PA46. Berichi completed his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Master of Public Administration degree at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL, where he was elected Student Body Governor of the Boca Raton Campus. Berichi also actively instructs in the Honda Jet, DA62, PA46, and TBM.
  • Honda Jet Instructor
  • TBM Instructor
  • Piper PA46 Factory Instructor Pilot
  • Cirrus Instructor Pilot
  • Type Ratings: C/G-1159 (G3 Gulfstream Jet);
  • Honda Jet
  • FAA Ratings Held:
  • Airline Transport Pilot (AMEL & ASEL)
  • Instrument Airplane
  • Certified Flight Instructor ASEL
  • Certified Flight Instructor MEL
  • Certified Flight Instructor-Instrument Airplane

Elise Harrison

Executive Assistant to the President 

Elise started at Berichi Aviation in 2023 as the Executive Assistant to the President. She is originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan, and after graduating high school moved to Southern California before moving to South Florida in 2019. While living in Florida, Elise graduated from Keiser University in West Palm Beach with an associate’s degree in Physical Therapy. During her schooling, she worked at a Performance and Wellness company where she started her administrative career and has since decided to shift her focus to executive assistant duties back in 2020. Elise enjoys the fast-paced and ever-changing environment of working in administration as well as traveling around the US and finding the best new food spots. Having friends and family in the aviation industry, Elise was excited to start with our company to expand her aviation knowledge. Her grandfather was a hall-of-fame military pilot & flight instructor for the Tuskegee Airmen in Michigan.

pilot in red shirt next to small berichi airplane
pilot standing by private jet
two berichi pilots smiling by airplane
vintage photo of air force pilot

Donnie Ditty

Assistant Chief Flight Instructor

Donnie Ditty has been working on and around aircraft since 1967. He served as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician in the US Marine Corps and a Pilot in the US Army. Donnie has his Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics.

  • Airline Transport Pilot (AMEL)
  • Commercial Pilot Airplane Single Engine
  • Commercial Pilot Airplane Multi Engine
  • Instrument Airplane
  • Certified Flight Instructor ASEL
  • Certified Flight Instructor MEL
  • Certified Flight Instructor-Instrument Airplane

David Scranton

FAA Certified Flight Instructor

David Scranton has always had a passion for teaching — from instructing flights to teaching consumers about the importance of investing as a Financial Advisor. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a Master of Science in Financial Services. David now accumulates his hours of flight time jetting back and forth to manage his companies in Connecticut and Florida.

  • Commercial Pilot Airplane Single Engine
  • Commercial Pilot Multi Engine
  • Instrument Airplane
  • Certified Flight Instructor Airplane
  • Certified Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane

Natalie Dixon

FAA Certified Flight Instructor

Natalie completed all her training at Berichi Aviation and was amongst the top 10% of her graduating class. She received a full-time job offer after graduation from Berichi Aviation Flight Instructor School. Natalie also teaches US Navy Cadets, annually at Key West Naval Base. Natalie has conducted flight training courses at Auburn University and has taught “Florida Keys” flying courses. Natalie is now completing an International Business degree from Florida Atlantic University and teaches at Berichi Aviation, full-time.

  • Certified Flight Instructor
  • Certified Flight Instructor –  Instrument Airplane

Maxx Dixon

FAA Certified Flight Instructor

  • Commercial Pilot Airplane Single Engine
  • Commercial Pilot Multi Engine
  • Instrument Airplane
  • Certified Flight Instructor Airplane
  • Certified Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane
  • Cirrus Training Center Instructor (TCI)
  • TBM Instructor

Francisco Lopez

Instructor In Charge (INC)

FAA Certified Flight Instructor

Francisco Lopez developed his passion for flying as a teenager and did everything he could to be around airplanes. He became a Certified Flight Instructor at the age of only 19 and has been teaching full-time since 2019. Lopez teaches all ratings at Berichi Aviation, 5 days a week.

  • Commercial Pilot Airplane Single Engine
  • Commercial Pilot Multi-Engine
  • Instrument Airplane
  • Certified Flight Instructor Airplane
  • Certified Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane
  • Cirrus Aircraft Flight Instructor

Demterios Makris

Assistant Instructor In Charge (AINC)

FAA Certified Flight Instructor

  • Commercial Pilot Airplane Single Engine
  • Commercial Pilot Multi-Engine
  • Instrument Airplane
  • Certified Flight Instructor Airplane
  • Certified Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane
  • Cirrus Aircraft Flight Instructor

Dr. Thomas Correa

Progress Check Instructor

  • CFI/CFI-I/MEI/ATP
  • Learjet Instructor
  • 135 Charter Captain

Daniel Diamond

Progress Check Instructor

Daniel Diamond has loved flying since he was a teenager, flying remote control planes and helicopters as a hobby. He started training in college, and shortly after received his wings. Daniel has a Bachelors in Business Administration with a specialty in Aviation Management.

  • ATP
  • CFI/CFII/MEI
  • AGI/IGI
  • ADX
  • A&P/IA
  • sUAS
  • Certified Flight Instructor Airplane
  • Certified Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane

Richard Sack

Fort Lauderdale Tower Manager

Richard Sack has been flying safely since 1985 and is a Commercial, CFI, CFII, MEI, and a Cirrus Standardized instructor pilot CSIP. Rich has type ratings in the CE500 series, C525, CL30, and LRJT. He joined the FAA in 1989 and has worked for 33 years as an Air Traffic Control Specialist in South Florida, including PMP, FXE, and MIA ATCTs, and is presently the Air Traffic Manager for FLL ATCT.

Hunter Ells

FAA Certified Flight Instructor

  • Commercial Pilot Airplane Single Engine
  • Instrument Airplane
  • Certified Flight Instructor Airplane
  • Certified Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane
  • Cirrus Training Center Instructor (TCI)

Luke O’Keefe

FAA Certified Flight Instructor

  • Commercial Pilot Airplane Single Engine
  • Instrument Airplane
  • Certified Flight Instructor Airplane
  • Certified Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane
  • Cirrus Training Center Instructor (TCI)

Berichi Aviation in Fort Lauderdale, FL is the best commercial pilot training school in the USA—hands down. Berichi Aviation is the only school in South Florida that I could find with a 100% safety record. When you get there, you quickly see why. When I was there, they had 8 airplanes and 10 instructors. The operation is not too big so it doesn’t have the faults that large corporate schools are like factories where every student is just a number. Berichi Aviation has a solid reputation of new aircraft and “cream of the crop” flight Instructors that provide tons of individual attention. Highly recommended, check them out.

– Liane M.

Everyone at Berichi was 100% professional and ready to make my experience the best it could be. I flew from moments after takeoff till base to final. I definitely got my money’s worth and I would do it again in a heartbeat. If you’re looking for an awesome atmosphere to train in with professional pilots around you then there’s no other place you need to look. Fly Berichi!

– Dooder P.

I found Berichi after another flight school had issues scheduling me within my time frame. I’m glad I did! I was able to start immediately. All of their instructors are career CFI’s, and this was appealing to me as you are learning from high time pilots with real-life experience, not pilots looking to build time. All of the costs were initially outlined before I started the training and I was happy with how close we came to the estimated cost of training. I highly recommend training at Berichi Aviation. I plan to complete my instrument rating with them and will rent their aircraft.

– Matthew G.

Grow a successful career in aviation.

Move your future forward in three simple steps:
1. Book A Discovery Flight

Our friendly staff is here to answer your questions so that you can make the right decision when it comes to selecting the right flight school for you.
2. Get a personalized training plan

Our dedicated instructors work with your schedule so that you can reach your goals on time and in your budget. You’ll go from 0 hours to ATP and beyond in no time.

3. Start your career with confidence

Become a safe and proficient pilot. With our 100% placement rate and airline connections, we’ll help you take the stress out of landing your first airline job.

Your future in aviation starts here.

Book a Discovery Flight