David Bloomberg

David is a part-time flight instructor here at Northampton Aeronautics, and has been instructing at the airport since becoming an instructor in 2000. He specializes in tail-wheel flying. He has his ATP certificate, and holds a CFI, CFII and MEI ratings.

David owns two airplanes of his own that he keeps here at the airport, a 1946 Taylor Craft Airplane Tail-Dragger and a Cherokee 180.

Mark Grella

Mark started flying at Northampton in 2003 where he received his Instrument, Commercial and CFI ratings with NAI. Flying during the pre-dawn and dusk hours where he can catch sunrises and sunsets and enjoy smooth, clear flying is his favorite time to be in the air.

Currently Mark is a part time instructor here with hopes of moving into corporate flying in the future.

Rich MacIsaac

Rich is the manager of the airport and flight school. He is also an instructor. He has been working here since August 2004. Rich has been flying since 1997 and has been instructing since 2001. He has his CFI, CFII and Multi-engine rating.

Vinnie Melling

Vinnie has been a licensed pilot for fifteen years and a Flight Instructor for the past twelve years. Vinnie has his Flight Instructor, Instrument Instructor, Multi-engine and Ground Instructor ratings.

Vinnie's favorite part of flying is that teaching an individual a skill like flying, and helping that person realize a dream that has often been with them since they were a child is as exciting and rewarding as it gets.

Mike Mosher

Since obtaining his Private Pilot Certificate with Northampton Aeronautics in 2005, he has obtained his Instrument Rating, CFI and CFII.  He is currently a full time instructor at the airport.

Nelson Reticence

Nelson grew up in the Pioneer Valley and always wanted to fly from a young age. He used to watch the C5’s fly overhead every day and was mesmerized by them. One day, after thinking that becoming a pilot was beyond his abilities he walked through the door at 7B2 and the rest is history! Two years later he is a commercial pilot and a flight instructor, working at the very place he learned to fly.

Nelson loves to fly because it is very challenging and an ever changing discipline. He loves teaching because he enjoys sharing that challenge with other people and watching them attain their own pilot's license.

Currently a student at UMASS, Nelson's plans are to finish his requirements for medical school and join the Army Guard to fly helicopters. His future goal is to become an airline pilot and a neurologist.

Mary Shea

Mary Shea is the most veteran flight instructor at the airport, and has been instructing here since 1974. Northampton Aeronautics, Inc. is excited to have her knowledge and expertise on its staff.

Mary began flying in 1958, obtained her private pilot's license in 1966 and then her commercial license in 1970. Not many pilots can claim they've taken their license test in a Piper Colt, but Mary can.

Her favorite part of flying has been establishing herself as a distinguished and experienced female pilot, in a profession that was once largely dominated by men.

John Smith

John has been working as a part-time flight instructor for Northampton Aeronautics since 2005, and prior to that served as a flight instructor at Turners Falls for eight years. He has his ATP certificate, CFI, CFII and MEI Ratings. He also specializes in Tail-wheel transition.

John has over 7,000 total flight hours and over 5,000 hours of instructor time. His favorite part of flying is that he enjoys helping people achieve their goals and getting them to the next level.

Paul Venskus

A flight instructor here since 2007, Paul actually learned to fly here! He has been flying since 2001 and has his ATP certificate, and holds a CFI, CFII and MEI ratings.

After receiving his bachelor's degree in history at St. Thomas Aquinas College in New York, he feels he is doing what he always wanted to do, teach here. Paul enjoys the experience of teaching and finds it greatly rewarding helping students attain their goals.

Future plans... pursuing a career in the airlines!