Quick Navigation to Epic Buzz September 2026
Epic Now Accepts Payments From 529 Education Plans
We are happy to announce that Epic Flight Academy is now accepting payments from 529 education savings plans for qualifying educational expenses in eligible aviation training programs. If you or someone you know has this type of plan, you may be eligible to use it for flight training or aircraft mechanic training.
Aircraft Mechanic Graduates
Congratulations to our newest aircraft mechanic graduates! Last month students at both our Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) campus and New Smyrna Beach (EVB) campus graduated after completing their FAA Part 147 airframe & powerplant (A&P) training. We celebrate their hard work and wish them all the best on their new careers.
As the aircraft mechanic shortage continues, we look forward to welcoming new students to our FAA-certified Part 147 program. This hands-on training takes 15 months to complete.
New Flight Students
Welcome to our newest flight students who are pursuing all types of certifications. This group at our New Smyrna Beach campus is already well underway in their training. They came from around the U.S. and the world, and we are proud to welcome them to the Epic family!
Alumni Career Updates
Sharing career updates about our graduates is always exciting. When you’re in school, you may wonder if this day will ever come. Here’s to everyone who puts in the work and makes it happen! If you’re an Epic graduate, send us an update about your career!
Aaron Sherman and Anthony Cooney
Epic alumni Aaron Sherman (L) and Anthony Cooney (R) are now FAA-certified aircraft mechanics working at FEAM Aero at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
Our Career Services Advisor, Tyren Wilson (center), recently stopped by to see them on the job.
Ranvir Israni
Ranvir Israni graduated from Epic in 2021 and is now a First Officer with Air Canada Express (Jazz Aviation LP). He files the Bombardier Q400. Well done, Ranvir!
Abdulrahman Ragban
Tom Adams and Emily Pollard
Two Epic alumni on one flight deck! Captain Tom Adams and First Officer Emily Pollard are now flying the CRJ-550 together at GoJet Airlines. We love seeing Epic pilots cross paths in their airline careers!
September Specials
Do you see yourself as a future airline pilot? If so, we invite you to look over our flight school specials this month and choose the one that’s right for you. We’ve even got a special for our brand new Danbury, CT campus! (Stay tuned for details about our grand opening event in October.)
We look forward to watching your aviation career take off!
Top Prop Award at CVG
Congratulations to Macie Griffis for earning the highest overall score in the propellor class at our CVG campus! Great job, Macie!
Highlights
There is so much happening at all of our campuses, it can be hard to keep up! Here are a few highlights from last month to give you an idea of life at Epic! You can also keep an eye on our events to make sure you don’t miss something.
NKY Spotlights Epic
The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce interviewed recruiter Kayla Blankenship and Tyren Wilson for a recent podcast about preparing the next generation of aircraft mechanics at our CVG campus.
United Aviate Career Seminar
Thanks to our partners at United Aviate for visiting flight students last month at our Centennial Airport campus near Denver, Colorado to share career opportunities. We’ve had many Epic pilots follow this pathway to fly for United.
New Article & Video: High-altitude Airports
As a pilot, you never know where you’re going to fly. Chief Flight Instructor Ray Altmann has shared a new article and video about flying in and out of high-altitude airports. Check it out and share your thoughts!
MSU-Denver Outreach
Ella Woodruff (L), Peyton Rose (not pictured), and Tyler Prenesti (R) had a great time representing Epic and connecting with students at MSU-Denver. Our partnership with the university allows students to transfer flight training as college credit.
Pass Lists
Aircraft Mechanic Passes in August
Airframe (CVG)
Blaike Daugherty
Brenden Dominguez
Jacob McDonald
Joshua Overdorf
Jesse Tenkman
Katie Tolson
Powerplant (CVG)
Rowan Ross
Pilot First-Attempt Passes in August
Private Pilot
Blake Jeffrey Morris
Connor Ferrell McPhee
Christian Jaylen Demond Sprayberry (ADS)
Vance Russell Richter
Chayden Alpine Jones (SGU)
Elisabeta Anne Plourde (OCF)
Isabelle Gilles
Joshua Makoto Yoshizawa (PVU)
Zevin Jedediah McKenzie Varnau (APA)
Samuel Nicholas Carollo
Wade Ryan Kolasinski (TCL)
Darren Reece Corosanite
Instrument Rating
Quentin Charles Millar
Lilian Kay Kirkland
Faysal Nifemi Oketaolegun
Bilegt-Ochir Purevsuren
Bronson Aiden Myers
Joel Micah Marovich
Joel David Taipe Quispe
Gael Jorge Perez Morales
Clark Davis Felvus
Jeremiah Ainsley Ricketts (OCF)
Colin David Beverly (TLH)
Jose Ramon Rentas Morales
Holden Cruz Lagos
Jehoshua Christopher LaFontaine (HEG)
Joseph Matthew Cannon (HEG)
Commercial Single-Engine
Joseph Cooper Fox
Dean Patrick Altshuler (TUS)
Jorge Jared Serrano Martinez
Paul Travis Clary
Jesse James Bobeck
Justin Chimun Yuen
Jack Allen Wetzel
Jackson Grey Basford (TLH)
Abigail Emily Holmes (TUS)
Batmunkh Batbayar
Sebastian Edward Jacobson (TUS)
Ian Crawford-Mendoza
Magnolia Ann Lemelin
Thomas William Winegardner III
Commercial Multi-Engine
Sage Dalta Sweatt
Ricardo Gabriel Moraga Amador
Kert Michael Scheimreif
Brayden Zachary Brothers
Jaden Bruno John Pinto
Mauricio Jose McDougal Gonzalez
Katie Clairene Murphy
Riley Travis Williams
Tutu Muturi Maina
Certified Flight Instructor
Eliana Marie Enners
Jacob Todd Fuhrmann
Kishankumar Jitendra Patel
Jeffrey James Brooks
Jerrett Randall Gregory
Naomi Bizen
Brett William Postula
Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument
Sebastian Maurente
Jonah Robert Simons
Lauren Nicole Fuller
Derrick Chavarria Fuentes
Tyler Michael Conti
Christopher Scott Moon
Caley Marie Halloran (APA)
Javier Enrigue Rodriguez Guilarte
Multi-Engine Instructor
Isaac Eli Ribar
James Octavius DeMarco
Jeremy Alan Daubner (GYI)
Nevada Pierce Randall (GYI)
Seth Christopher Whidden (GYI)
All pilots passed their checkrides on their first attempt at New Smyrna Beach (EVB) unless otherwise noted.
Make sure you never miss the Buzz!
Sign up to have it delivered to your inbox every month!