Volume 5, Issue 11 | November 2022

NBAA Honors Epic COO Josh Rawlins

It’s not every day that an Epic employee receives national recognition, but where Josh Rawlins is concerned, it should be. The National Business Aviation Association recognized Josh as the 2022 Business Aviation Top 40 Under 40 Award Recipient in the Maintenance category. Josh is a legend at Epic. Hired when still a teenager, he began his career at Epic sweeping hangars and doing whatever was needed. He soon apprenticed as an A&P mechanic, launching him on a path of distinction. Today, Josh serves as Epic’s COO and Director of the Aircraft Mechanic Program. We celebrate his achievements and are grateful for his dedication to Epic students. We congratulate him on receiving this prestigious award.

Aircraft Mechanic Program Video

Check out our new YouTube video showing our A&P students in action! Students from all around the world are training in our Aircraft Mechanic Program. The next class starts Jan. 30, 2023. We invite you to enroll!

New Flight Students

Look at these smiling faces! Welcome to our new class of Epic pilots. They are from all around the world and are actively flight training. We will keep you updated on their progress as they earn their stripes!

Epic at RTAG

Epic representatives Jon Luck, Tyren Wilson, and Mike Thompson (not pictured) attended the RTAG National Convention in Texas and met with veterans who are interested in attending Epic. Vets can use their benefits under the GI Bill to attend our FAA Part 147 school and train as an aircraft mechanic.

Air Cargo Carriers Career Seminar

Thanks to Air Cargo Carriers for visiting Epic last month! Representatives shared career opportunities with our flight students and aircraft mechanic students. Pictured L-R: Epic Senior Recruiter Haley Konfrst, ACC Chief Pilot Trey Moore, and ACC Director of Operations James Nizinski.

7th Annual Scholarship and Career Fair Event

Join us on Saturday, November 5th to congratulate our newest scholarship winners and visit with representatives from these sponsoring airlines and aviation companies at our career fair. This is our favorite event of the year! 

November Special for International Flight Students

Are you and a friend thinking about attending flight school together? International flight students receive a special discount when they enroll with a friend. In November, we are offering our most popular special: “Bring a Friend to Flight School!” Both students will receive a $5,000 credit and free Private Pilot Ground School. International students who enroll with a friend, with both paying their application fees between November 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022, are eligible for this special. You must enroll and begin training no later than February 1, 2023.

Epic Alumni News

We have several exciting career updates to share this month. Clockwise, from top/left: Shawn Cross is a First Officer at Pacific Coast Jet. Shawn flies the CJ1+, CJ2, CJ3, CJ3+, and PC-12. Isah Yunusa came from Nigeria to train at Epic in 2018, and he has been flying the B737 for Azman Air since 2019. Andre Marcel Kakou trained at Epic in 2020 and is now a First Officer flying the PC12NG in West Africa. Sean Beattie was recently hired as a First Officer at United Airlines. William Wong is a CFII, Cirrus Training Center Instructor in Palm Beach, Florida. Felipe Reyes earned his PPL through commercial-multi ratings here at Epic in 2013. He was recently promoted to Captain for VivaAir in Colombia!. Captain Samuel Restrepo Trujillo also flies in Colombia and recently earned his A320 type rating. Felipe Zambrano Grosso is a First Officer flying the Learjet 45XR for SARPA in Colombia. And, last but not least, Alexandra Orr has been promoted to Captain at Republic Airways.  

We send our heartfelt congratulations to these Epic graduates on their career achievements and wish them blue skies every day! Are you an Epic graduate? If so, send us an update.

Employee News

Look at that! We hired 10 new flight instructors in October, and they are all busy teaching Epic’s students to fly. Welcome to Andrew Baker, Ben Fariss, Elliott Kelly, Ethan Miter, Patrick Schroeder, James MacArthur, Maxim Tiokhin, Allison Tiano, Alex Shoemaker, and Pavan Chaudhari. Our students are benefiting from their expertise, and we are glad to welcome them to Team Epic!

Captain Judy’s Corner

Check out Captain Judy Rice’s latest article about Epic’s involvement with the FAA’s EZ-WINGS program. She discusses flight training safety factors and Epic’s safety culture.

Trunk or Treat

We were thrilled to welcome parents and students from the Upward Trend Academy for a field trip last month. Since their visit coincided with the Halloween season, we stashed some treats inside the aircraft, and everyone had a great time. If your school would like to plan a field trip, we would love to welcome you!

AMT Exams

Congratulations to these aircraft mechanic students who passed FAA exams!

Airframe Exam   

Kevin Dubreuil
Freeman Ip  

Check Rides

These flight students passed check rides on their first attempt in October!

Private Pilot   

Ibukunoluwa Iyiola Kofo-Abayomi
Tobais Buckley Pardey
David Michael Hartung
Leah Denise Jaicks
James Stephen Kwan
Dominic Francis Movizzo
Agasthian Sundaram    
David Panchoosingh Johanis

Instrument Rating   

Mohamed Hmeyada
Adam Almahdi Haiboub
Jarrett Robert Prince
James Randal Boman
Robert Thomas Brooks
Brett Daniel Hilton
Raad Adam Barnawi
Jerry Wade Jacobs II
Kendal Lynn Koblik
Daiana Ayala Morales

Commercial Single-Engine

Lisa Foegen
Davis Marshall Pittenger
Evan Joseph Ventura
Hozaifa Rahman Rafa
Alexander William Corkery
Andrea Grace Stewart
Robert Lee Sharp
Sebastien Caron
Kevon Jaundoo

Commercial Multi-Engine

Jeremy Baran
Bryce Cameron Dawson
Manasseh Yoseph Girmay
Thomas J Larmena Jr
Lisa Foegen
Kyle Steven Giusti
Palden Tshering

Certified Flight Instructor

Saul Ramos Jr
Andrew Michael Anderson
Ruth Zepheniele West Phillips
Helen Alexandra Carey
Dylan Ehon Moon
Roberto Tomas Ruales
Sheldon Addington Morris Jr

Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument

Kasey James Herring
Michell Arthur Kihm
Brandon Cole Rollins
Brice Christophe Grubb
Carlos Daniel Cabrera
Alexandra Claire Penton

Multi-Engine Flight Instructor

Matthew Wheeler Rippy
Michael Alexander Brooks