OUR STAFF

Glen Buckley

Chief Pilot / Chief Flying Instructor (Co-Owner)

Glen operates as the Chief Pilot (CP) and Chief Flying Instructor (CFI) for Melbourne Flight Training. He has been flying for over 25 years throughout Australia, Asia and the Pacific Islands. He is a Grade 1 Multi Engine IFR Instructor.

Anthony Lee

(Co-Owner)

Anthony is a Grade 1 Multi Engine IFR Instructor with about 11,000 flying hours. He has worked as an instructor and has been a Chief Flying Instructor. Anthony has done bankrun flying, flown for a regional airline, and after 9 years flying the B737 for Virgin Blue is now a B777 Training Captain with V Australia.

Steve Galjar

Deputy Chief Flying Instructor

Steve is a Grade 1 Multi Engine IFR Instructor. Steve has approximately 4,000 hours flight experience. He was previously employed on coastal surveillance operations on the King Air 200 and Search and Rescue. He has also been involved at a management level providing flight training to various international airlines.

Melissa Miller

Melissa is our administration guru and looks after the book keeping, financials, and the myriad of paperwork that makes up a modern flight training organisation. Melissa is like a personal assistant to Glen and Anthony looking after their every whim - almost, but manages to keep them inline.

Jessica Neaves

Jessica is our Office Manager and looks after the day to day operation of the School and will be your contact person for most enquiries. Jessica holds a Bachelor Degree in Business and International Relations and is currently undertaking flying training with MFT.

John Paizis

John is a Grade 1 Multi-Engine IFR Instructor with over 6,000 hours. John is an ex CFI/Chief Pilot of one of Australia’s largest university aeronautical schools and has lectured in aeronautical subjects at university level.

Cameron Meyer

Cameron is a Grade 1 Instructor and has had many years experience in the industry. His forte' is our intensive Instructor Rating Course. Outside of flying Cameron enjoys chooks, long walks with his dogs and his beloved MG.

Dave Prossor

Dave is a Grade 1 Instructor with over 8,000 hours and 30 years of Aviation industry experience. Dave has experience in over 85 aircraft types including twins and float planes. He also writes two columns in a popular Australian aviation magazine.

Reinhard Looringh van Beeck

Reinhard has been working with us for over three years now and despite all efforts he still has a very long name.  His qualifications have advanced and now operates as an ATO conducting tests for GFPT, NVFR and PPL phases of training.  He also is primarily responsible for conducting most of the META training at the school and assists in supervising and further developing the skills of our more junior instructors.  In addition to conducting flight tests; he frequently helps send students on their first and subsequent solo sequences and conducting navigation training.

Graeme Hodges

Graeme is a Grade 1 Instructor and has 17,000 hours flying experience over a period of 40 years in the industry. He has worked in the role of Chief Flying Instructor and Chief Pilot and held testing approvals. Graeme is responsible for Instructor Rating training and company auditing.

Charles Hessmann

Charles has an Airline Transport Pilots License (ATPL), is a Grade 1 Multi-Engine IFR Instructor, and is a proud member of the MFT family since early 2009. Charles completed his training in Sydney and has a Bachelor Degree in Economics from Macquarie University. Charles is walking around gloating about his success!

Paul Ciocia

Paul Ciocia is a Grade 1 Multi Engine IFR instructor with over 7000 hours. He comes from a background in instructing, charter, and regional airline flying. Paul has held testing approval, has an interest in helicopters, and is learning to fly in his free time *wink*.

Kim Von Der Lippe

Kim Von Der Lippe is a Grade 1 Multi Engine IFR instructor with 4000 hours experience. He is a self proclaimed “really nice guy” Kim started flying at Moorabbin in 1972, spent 28 years in the Army and returned to instructing in 2005.

Nick Larnach

Nick is a Grade 1 Instructor with over 2,000 hours experience.  Nick is the International Student Manager and is responsible for all overseas student enrolments and enquiries.  Nick also holds the positions of Student Welfare Officer and Access and Equity Officer.  Nick has worked as an Instructor for the last 5 years and has also been involved in charter & Search and Rescue operations.

David Pilkington

David is a Grade 1 instructor specialising in tailwheel training, spinning and aerobatics. He was twice National Advanced Aerobatic champion and was a former test and demonstration pilot for the Pitts factory in the USA. His background is in aeronautical engineering having worked on many types from the Pitts S-2C to the JSF.

Peter Warnest

Peter has many years of aviation experience including Instructor, Charter Pilot, Aerial Surveillance, Fire Attack, and Personal Transport. As a Grade 1 instructor he also conducts the full time Instructor Rating courses at MFT.
Peter has been interested in flying from an early age, with the earliest memory being a photo of him at the age of three sitting in a wooden box with a piece of broom stick for the control and seriously telling his mother he was “busy flying”.
He loves tail wheel aircarft and aerobatics.

David Wright

David is a Grade 2 Instructor and first learnt to fly at Berwick in 1980. David comes from a business background heavily involved in customer service.

Andrew Pettman

Andrew began flying in 2003 while still in school and achieved his pilot’s licence before he could drive a car.  He has been a student with MFT since 2008 and has achieved both his Command Multi-Engine Instrument Rating with us and then his Instructor Rating in 2009.  Andrew’s interests and passions include the Melbourne Football Club, vintage airliners and travel.

Ian McOwan

Ian is our Ground Theory instructor. Originally learning to fly in the 70's, he has been flying recreationally for the last 17 years - here, there and everywhere! Involved in mainframe computing and eventually his own IT business, Ian is well versed in management and organisational skills and maintains our website. Ian completed a CPL several years ago and his Instructor rating recently. Passions include electronics, music, and being in the company of friends having a good time.

Annie Miles

Annie is a Grade 3 instructor. She completed her Commercial Licence in Christchurch New Zealand and completed her instructor rating with MFT. Annie is responsible for the MFT aircraft maintenance program and has a pet sheep "Doris" that is dear to her heart.

Darren Schmidt

Darren owned and operated a successful manufacturing business for many years before pursuing a lifetime passion for flying. He completed all his training at MFT and also obtained an instructor rating. Sporting interests include cricket, golf and football.

Arthur Krasicki

Arthur started flying in 2006 after completing high school.
He has also completed a Bachelor of Aviation and a Bachelor of Business (Swinburne University), a semester of which was completed at Western Michigan University in the USA.
An Instructor Rating was completed at MFT and is Grade 3.
Arthur has several interests in sport including snow boarding, eating and power lifting [we're not quite sure how eating fits in there!].

Kris Paine

Kris is a Grade 3 flying instructor who completed his Commercial Pilots Licence here at MFT.  When not flying, Kris loves going to the footy to watch his beloved Saints.  When not going to the footy, Kris loves watching any other sport!

Max Sereno

Independent CASA Approved Testing Officer (ATO)

Max has in excess of 6000 hours and had worked in a number of roles in the general aviation industry including time as a CFI in a large size school. He has also taught at many of the Melbourne universities in aviation theory classes. Max also has flown Metros in charter operations.

(Princess) Leia

Our always hungry, affectionate (except when she hasn't been fed), occassionally grumpy, mascot.

Not too pleased about the photo either :P