Instructors
Andrew Tiemersma
Certified Flight Instructor
Andrew started flying in 2019 and was one of Visalia Flyers' first students. He earned his Certified Flight Instructor certificate in early 2022 and is now one of Visalia Flyers instructors. Before starting his career in aviation he worked in agricultural banking and still works on the family dairy farm when he is not flying. During his flight training he has flown with many different instructors with different backgrounds and has flown to many different areas around California. No matter what your goals are in aviation, Andrew will help you to meet them and train you to be a safe and competent pilot.
Nick Johnson
Certified Flight Instructor Instrument
Nick grew up surrounded by aviation, with his father serving as a Navy fighter pilot. From a young age, Nick was captivated by the world of flight, inspiring him to pursue his own journey in aviation. Now, at 18 years old, Nick is a commercial pilot and dedicated flight instructor, committed to providing safe, enjoyable flying experiences. With a strong focus on professionalism, Nick is passionate about helping others achieve their aviation goals while maintaining the highest standards of safety and instruction.
Max Leisten
Certified Flight Instructor
Max started flying when he was 17 and got his private pilot's license when he was 18. He continued with his flight training, working through the remainder of his licenses and getting his Certified Flight Instructor's license in 2023. I knew I wanted to become a pilot when traveling to Sweden to visit family, and I knew I wouldn’t stop until I achieved that goal. While my aviation career so far has had its ups and downs (mostly ups), I can’t imagine doing anything else. Teaching has been such a rewarding experience so far, and I am eager to continue to meet and teach new students.
Kevin Thompson
Certified Flight Instructor Instrument
Aviation has been a third career for Kevin. After college he worked as a kayak instructor and fly-fishing guide all over the world. He then went into the industrial rope access industry working on MegaWatt wind turbines. Kevin’s first interest in flying started with him becoming a paragliding pilot. He later purchased a Vans RV-4 and got his pilots license. He has always enjoyed sharing flight and introducing people to a whole new dimension of experiencing the world. It’s very rewarding to help people through a challenging commitment like learning how to fly.
Alex Wilson
Certified Flight Instructor Instrument
I'm a first generation pilot who has been obsessed with aviation since I can remember. I spent most of my free time growing up outside of airports watching airplanes takeoff and land. I decided to pursue flight training upon graduating from college, and it was the best decision I have ever made!
Lance Aytman
Certified Flight Instructor Instrument
Brian Pozar
Certified Flight Instructor
Brian grew up watching Top Gun every day after school. By the fourth grade, he was reading every aviation book and ground school manual he could get his hands on. He solo'd at 16 in 1994 at the Visalia airport and has been flying here ever since. Brian has a successful career as an executive at a multi-national manufacturing company and now teaches flying for the shear enjoyment of sharing aviation with others and watching people achieve their dreams. Brian values safety, professionalism, and fun! He believes the entire flight training process should be enjoyable and rewarding.
Joseph Jolliff
Certified Flight Instructor Instrument
As a child, Joseph dreamt of traveling the world and flying airplanes. His dreams felt out of reach when considering the expense of flight school and lack of job prospects in 2008, which led him to various jobs across the globe. Traveling became a large part of his lifestyle as he taught English and explored Africa, Asia, Europe, Central America, and Australia. His sense of adventure flourished, though his dream of flying freely across the skies remained. As news of a pilot shortage spread, Joseph decided to return to the USA in 2016 to pursue his dreams. Through dedication, hard work, and long nights studying, his dreams were realized. After training in Seattle, WA, Dallas, TX, and Livermore, CA he is now a qualified Commercial Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor capable of teaching instrument flying and multi-engine airplanes. He takes pride in his work and enjoys sharing his passion for aviation with others.
Tanner Herman
Certified Flight Instructor Instrument
Tanner is a 23-year-old, passionate aviator and has gained immense experience over the last three years. Tanner completed a Private Pilot ground school class that was a requirement for his degree at the University of Southern Illinois. Once the semester ended he decided he wanted to become a professional pilot and fly for a living, starting as a Certified Flight Instructor. In three years, Tanner has received his Bachelor’s in Aviation Management and all of his certificates from Private Pilot to CFII. Tanner is very excited to share information about aviation in a safe and professional manner and help grow the industry in Visalia, CA.
Lloyd Fries
Certified Flight Instructor Instrument
Lloyd has been a flight instructor since 1977. He started flying in 1975 at the Visalia Airport. Since then he has accumulated a little over 8,600 hours of flight time with over 7,250 hours of flight instruction given. He was active teaching ground schools in Visalia and Tulare when there were Flight Schools at each airport. His primary goal is guiding students to become Safe and Competent Pilots.
Scott Mill
Certified Flight Instructor
Originally from Monterey, Scott spent seven years in the Navy as an Instructor Flight Engineer accruing over 2,500 hours operating the systems of the P-3 Orion Maritime Surveillance aircraft while deploying all over the world. He earned his Private Pilot Certificate in the Central Valley before completing his additional ratings in Southern California. Now he’s back in the skies over Visalia, teaching safe and smart pilots!
My aviation career began in August of 2018 at the ATP flight school in Sacramento, CA. By September of 2019, I earned my Private Pilot Certificate, Instrument Rating Certificate, Commercial Single Engine Certificate, Commercial Multi Engine Certificate, CFI (Certified Flight Instructor) Certificate, and CFII (Certified Flight Instructor Instrument) Certificate. Since completing an accelerated program, I can provide high quality instruction to accommodate those who wish to finish quickly or those who wish to take their time. I look forward to meeting and joining you on your path to becoming a pilot.
*All instructors are independent contractors and are not employed by Visalia Flyers, LLC.