Flight Training Specialists
Ari Hovnanyan
Chief Operating Officer
CFI-I, ATP
Email: ari@activepilot.us
Ari grew up in Woodland Hills and attended Cal State LA where he completed his master's degree in aviation management. He earned his private pilot in 1994 and has worked as a flight instructor and also as an operations specialist at Burbank Airport. Ari now flies the Embraer E-175 as a captain for a major airline and is based in Los Angeles. He has a passion for flying and enjoys helping develop the next generation of professional pilots. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, traveling, sailing and of course flying.
Leonardo Aristizabal
Chief Training Officer
CFI-I, ATP
Email: leo@activepilot.us
Leo was born in Cali, Colombia, and was accepted to the Colombian Naval Academy where he graduated as an officer and earned a bachelor’s degree in Naval Science. After 11 years of service in the Navy, he moved to California in 2009 and served in the US military. Leo now flies the prestigious Boeing 737 as a captain for a major airline. Leo wants to combine his life experiences and knowledge to help others achieve their passion for flying. Leonardo enjoys running, hiking, going to the movies, and spending time with family and friends.
Chief Pilot
Ryan Sharp
Chief Pilot (CFI-I, MEI)
Ryan is a Southern California native who is passionate about flying. Having achieved many certifications such as Commercial Pilot Multi-Engine (CMEL), Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), and Complex Endorsement, Ryan excels at all aspects of pilot training. In his free time, Ryan likes to go out with friends, build engines and race cars, and do computer-aided design. Ryan has been flying for over 10 years and is ready to give you world-class pilot instruction.
Assistant Chief Pilot
Mitch Rittenhouse
Assistant Chief Pilot (CFI-I, MEI)
Mitch grew up on Long Island, New York and lived there for 25 years. He completed his training in New York earning before moving to California. Mitch has a passion for aviation but also loves to be on the water and sailed his boat all the way from New York down to the Bahamas and back. In his free time you can catch Mitch sewing making clothes, hanging with friends, and playing video games. Mitch strives to provide quality instruction and above all make learning aviation a fun experience.
Office Management
Jean Diaz
Office Manager
Email: jean@activepilot.us
Jean is the muscle of operation at ActivePILOT. While being a student pilot, Jean oversees the day-to-day operations of the school, and nothing gets passed him unchecked. His love for flight training and bright thinking has made him a valuable asset to our team and his generosity to help newcomers into our flight training programs has made him a devoted resource to his fellow students.
Connor Linn
Pilot Liaison, CFI
Email: connor@activepilot.us
Connor is an avid aviator who obtained all his pilot certificates with ActivePILOT including instrument rating (IFR), commercial pilot (CPL), and certified flight instructor certificate (CFI). His good disposition and readiness is always reflected anytime you have a chat with him. Connor’s passion to help up and coming students receive the assistance they need to start flight training has gotten many to take the first step in their flight training career.
Flight Instructors
Sevak Sarkissian
CFI-I, MEI, & CFI Course Instructor
Sevak started his pilot career at an early age and soloed by the time he was 16. He graduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Aviation Maintenance Technology, became an Airline Transport Pilot, and earned his certificate as an Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) mechanic before starting his career as a flight instructor. Sevak has been a Certified Flight Instructor, Instrument rated, and Multi-Engine Instructor for the past 25 years offering extensive knowledge and experience under his name.
Zachary Jbara
CFI-I
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Zachary “Zach” Jbara’s passion for aviation ignited at the tender age of 15 when he began flight training. While he initially envisioned a career in the performing arts, earning his Private Pilot certificate opened his eyes to his true calling. He pursued his dream at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Arizona, earning his commercial flight training certification and an FAA air traffic control collegiate training institute certificate. Returning to Southern California, Zach completed his flight instructor training with ActivePILOT, making him ready and eager to share his love of flying with others. When he’s not in the air or instructing, Zach enjoys flight simulation, travel, motor racing, and music. His ultimate goal is to inspire others to achieve their aviation dreams, proving that the sky is truly the limit.
Roman Delgado
CFI
Growing up in the Los Angeles area, Roman was passionate about sports, particularly basketball. After college, he began a career in the medical device industry, but always felt drawn to something different. That shift came when he took a discovery flight with ActivePILOT. The freedom and excitement he experienced during the flight ignited his interest in aviation. From that moment, he fully committed to the field, completing his private, instrument, commercial, and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) training with ActivePILOT. In addition to his passion for flying, he enjoys training in Jiu-Jitsu, staying active with workouts, and exploring new adventures with his dog. He is excited to share his love of aviation with others and help them achieve their flying dreams.
Devin Courson
CFI-I
Devin grew up in Lake Havasu City, AZ, and began his aviation journey straight out of high school. Obtaining his Private Pilot Certificate at the age of 18, Devin went on to pursue the rest of his career at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Upon obtaining his masters degree, he relocated to Southern California, where he finished his Commercial Pilot License (CPL), Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) , and Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII). Devin now offers 10 years of flight experience and is very knowledgeable about the industry making him your go-to for any questions. When he’s not flying, you can find him at the lake riding jet skis, wake surfing, and enjoying most action sports. He is very passionate and thorough when training the next generation of pilots and is sure to make your flight training experience an enjoyable one.
Joe El Sokhn
CFI-I, MEI
Joe is a seasoned pilot and Certified Flight Instructor with extensive experience and certifications form both EASA and FAA. Passionate about aviation, he dedicates his time to ensuring that students not only learn the skills they need but also enjoy the journey of the flight. Fluent in four languages, Joe effectively communicates with a diverse range of students, making the learning accessible and engaging. Joe enjoys teaching performance and limitations the most, as well as IFR flying. When not instructing, he loves to fly in his free time, continuously honing his skills.
Gian Caterina
CFI
Gian, originally from Brazil, brings his lifelong passion for aviation to the classroom. Though he spent 20 years building a successful career in the restaurant industry, the call of the skies proved too strong to ignore. He’s now living his dream, sharing his enthusiasm for aviation with the next generation of aviators. When he’s not teaching, Gian cherishes time with his family, especially watching his son dominate the basketball court. He’s also an avid cook, surfer, sports enthusiast, and passionate soccer fan.
Caelia Moore
CFI
Caelia was born and raised in the San Fernando valley. She first discovered her love for flying with her grandpa, who built and flies his own experimental. She began training after graduating from college, where she then decided business wasn’t nearly as fun as flying. After earning her Commercial Pilot license (CPL) and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) with ActivePILOT, Caelia is excited to now form a part of the team. Still passionate about numbers, weight and balance is her favorite ground lesson to teach. When she isn’t flying, you can find her doing yoga, swimming, or hanging out with her dog!