Not Your Average Flight School
Accelerate your career
Get real-world experience
Access our aviation network
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 a PhD candidate at Florida International University (FIU) with a focus on Aviation Security. Outside of Berichi Aviation, Berichi has taught Comparative Criminal Justice Systems and Introduction to Criminal Justice as an Adjunct Professor at FIU in Miami, FL since 2017. 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, Vison Jet, Phenom 300, TBM, and varies other types. 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 actively instructs and has over 8,000 hours of logged flight time as of 2024.
Certificates:
- ATP (AMEL & ASEL)
- CFI/CFI/MEI Gold Seal
- Commercial ASES
- A&P Mechanic
Type Ratings:
- EMB-505
- HA-420
- SF50
- G-1159 (SIC)
Razi Mahdavi
Executive Assistant to the President
Razi, a seasoned law firm administrative assistant, has enhanced our pilot training programming with her inventive project management abilities. Razi is extensively traveled, having lived in Iran and New Zealand prior to relocating to the United States. Her expertise includes anti-money laundering analysis and senior consultancy in the banking sector.
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
Chris Atkins
Certified Flight Instructor
Chris Atkins has always had aviation in his blood. When he was 9 years old he first took the controls of his Dad’s Bellanca Super Viking. He officially started flight training when he was 16 years old while attending a military boarding high school in Front Royal, Virginia. Upon graduating high school he was recruited to play baseball at The Citadel in Charleston, SC where he got the chance to play for a nationally ranked Division 1 baseball team winning the Southern Conference Championship 2 times. In military college he developed leadership skills with strong abilities in self discipline, honor, time management, organization, and teamwork.
Chris has an extensive background in aviation. He achieved his ATP and served as a First Officer at Envoy Airlines, navigating the skies aboard the Embraer 145. His experience extends beyond the airlines and into the private sector where he has contributed his skills to Part 135 operations. As a seasoned pilot Chris has logged flight hours on 4 continents and in 36 different countries. One of his most remarkable flights was a transatlantic crossing in the single engine Cirrus SR22, embarking from Cape Town, South Africa, continuing through all of Africa, Europe, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, before concluding the journey in West Palm Beach, FL. Outside the cockpit, he enjoys boating, scuba diving, snowboarding, and any outdoor activities. Chris resides in Fort Lauderdale, FL with his wife and 2 Frenchies where he continues to explore the skies and pursue his passion for adventure.
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)
Grow a successful career in aviation.
Move your future forward in three simple steps:
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.
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.