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
- 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.
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)
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.