Flight School Pilots

Teton Aviation offers a wide variety of professional flight instruction services. Whether you’re a new student pilot looking to get your private pilots license, or a professional airline pilot wanting to get into a glider, we’ve got it all! If you are a new prospective student, ask one of our instructors about a discounted “Introductory Flight”. Please feel free to contact Teton Aviation for more information about our training programs.

Private Pilot ASEL
Instrument Rating
Commercial ASEL
Tailwheel Rating
Complex Rating
Aerobatic/Unusual Attitude courses
Glider Private License
Glider Commercial License

	Randy Hughes Randy’s interest in aviation stems from a childhood in rural southeast Alaska, where float planes were the main source of supplies and transportation to the nearest town almost 100 miles away. He began taking flying lessons in ’98, earned his private certificate in 2000 and an instrument rating and commercial certificate in 2001. While earning a Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management and Spanish, Randy continued on to add a commercial glider rating, tailwheel endorsement, and flight instructor certificate. Stories of Jackson Hole and the Tetons brought Randy to the area in 2004, and he joined Teton Aviation Center as a flight instructor in the spring of 2006. Now a CFII and MEI, he continues to provide instruction and manages the flight department at TAC.
	Lisa Pierson Lisa began flying in 1991, and started working for Teton Aviation in customer service in 1996. She completed her instructor certifications in 2005, and has been instructing for Teton Aviation since then. Lisa enjoys teaching at all levels, from beginner to instrument, and everything in between, including recurrency and step-up training.
	Kristine Ciesinski Kris started flying Gliders in 1998. Having flown as a passenger all over the world pursuing her career as an international opera singer, Kris moved to Teton Valley to enjoy the mountains and a different quality of life. After getting her private pilot’s license in the glider, her commercial rating, and becoming a Glider instructor, Kris has since added private single engine and commercial ratings to her repertoire. She also tows gliders, participates in the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) as a Search and Rescue Mission Pilot, commands the Teton Valley CAP squadron, and belongs to the Grand Teton Soaring Club.With over 1000 hours of soaring these mountains, she still loves every flight and loves to show others the Tetons from the eagle’s perspective!
	Ryan Mrozinski Ryan has been flying actively since 2001 after being introduced to a flight instructor at the Salt Lake City Olympics who jump started his career in aviation. Ryan worked on obtaining the ratings necessary to work as a professional pilot while earning a B.S. in Psychology from Southern Oregon University. In addition to Teton Valley, he has flown out of the Lake Tahoe area, San Francisco Bay Area, and Southern Oregon. Ryan truly enjoys flight instructing and caters instruction to each individual student. Flying in the Tetons offers its own unique challenges and Ryan is ready to show new students as well as accomplished pilots the skills necessary to safely fly and navigate in this area.


	Spike Minczeski Spike is from the mountainous playground of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where he works and flies for Teton Aviation. Spike’s grandfather was a B-24 and PB-Y instructor during WWII and both his father and mother were civilian pilots, instilling in him a passion for aviation. His parents gave him the callsign “Spike” when he was one day old, and no one has been able to top it yet.

	Sam Lea One of the most recent additions to our Teton Aviation staff is Sam Lea. Sam is one of our commercial glider pilots as well as a glider instructor. He first acquired his (airplane) private pilot rating here in Driggs in 2003 and in 2005 began flying gliders. Although Sam owns his own airplane, has worked in Teton Valley for 14 years as a real estate professional, and has visited numerous glider ports around the U.S., including Marfa, Texas- Ridgeland, South Carolina and Logan, Utah, he would much rather be flying gliders right here in the Tetons. Sam is available to introduce students and visitors to the unparalleled experience of soaring. Sam prioritizes safety and an understanding of the principles of soaring so that visitors and students alike will leave the airport with great memories and further promote the sport by telling friends and family about the experience.

Blake Chapman
Blake Chapman began flying at Teton Aviation in 1991 and joined the staff as a Lineman in 1997. Blake traded his line duties for towing gliders and giving airplane tours of the Valley the following year. A native of Jackson, Wyoming, Blake has spent hundreds of hours in his own Husky exploring the area from above. Blake also enjoys back-country flying and has extensive experience navigating the area's mountains.

Mark Hervig

Mark Hervig is one of Teton Aviation’s scenic glider pilots. Mark has been flying gliders for over 15 years in the Tetons and other mountain ranges in the west. In addition to his commercial glider rating, Mark has his private pilot’s license. A resident of Driggs, Mark works as a contractor for NASA when his is not flying over or recreating in the Tetons.