Our Team
Norm Utech
Chief Flight Instructor and Co-Owner
ATP - CFI/CFII
BE400 and LR60 Type Ratings
Former USAF C-130 pilot
High School Science teacher
“I’m so excited to be a part of a new and different kind of flight school! Falcon Aviation is not just a place to come learn to fly in a professional flight school where safety and best practice come first, but also to be part of a community that shares in the fun and joys of aviation. Our hangar door is always open!!”
Jeff Carrick
CPL
MEL
ASEL,ASEA
CFI/CFII,SEAPLANE CFI
SIC TYPE RATINGS— KING AIR 90/200, CITATION 650, CITATION 525 ENCORE, LEAR 40, LEAR 45XR , KING AIR 350
Growing up as the son of a US Navy Master Chief based on an aircraft carrier, I knew right away I wanted to be a pilot. My first plane ride was in an airliner at 6 weeks old and have been flying ever since. I Started flying gas and electric model airplanes before taking flying lessons. I Learned to fly out of Akron Aiport (9G3) for my private pilot license, then went to Dunkirk (KDKK) for the Commercial single and multi Instrument Commercial as well as my CFI. My first job was flying a Cessna 206 for the traffic reports and then flight instructed in the WNY area to build time. This lead to getting hired at Prior Aviation where I started my professional career in the part 135/91 charter world. I love being a flight instructor and so glad to be part of Falcon Aviation!
Carly Phelka
Administrative Assistant
Private Pilot
Instrument Student
Corey Fields
CPL/IFR/HP ASEL
CFI
Former Precious Metals Technician
“As with most of us, I’ve been enamored with the concept of flight since I was little. After many years of dreaming (and saving), I decided a career change was in order and dedicated my life to becoming a professional aviator. A recent transplant to Western New York, I look forward to all this amazing area has to offer. I strive to embody the adage that a good pilot is ALWAYS learning.”
Melanie Georger
CPL/IR/TW/CPX ASEL
PPL ASES
CFI/CFII
"I am incredibly excited to be flying with Falcon Aviation! I am originally from the Buffalo area, but moved to Massachusetts to work as an engineer and complete my flight training. While I always knew I wanted to be a career pilot, I was able to discover my passion for General Aviation in MA. Now that I have moved back, I am thrilled to be part of the WNY aviation community. "
Ryan Neuner
CPL ASEL/AMEL IRA -
CFI/CFII, AGI/IGI
Falcon Social Media Manager
“I began flight training at 16 years old and passed my private pilot checkride on Independence Day of 2019. Afterwards, I earned my advanced ratings while pursuing a degree in Aeronautical Science with minors in Airline Operations and Psychology from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. After returning to the Buffalo area to be near my family and hometown, I obtained my CFI rating on National Aviation Day with the goal of soon becoming a regional airline pilot. I am so excited to be part of Falcon and help grow our community of safe, professional aviators!”
Drew Krause
CMEL, CFI, CFII
Falcon Safety Officer
I am a Technical Sergeant in the Air Force Reserves on top of being a flight instructor and doing what I absolutely love. In the reserves I load planes and watch them fly away, this of course inspired me to make aviation my career. After I put on many different hats job-wise through my early twenties, I decided it’s time to do something I actually would love to do. Fast forward to today, and I am excited to be part of the Falcon team and ready to inspire people that love aviation as much as I do back in my hometown!
AJ Alvarez
CPL, Instrument rating
CFI - Falcon Sim Manager
Senior Product Manager - Disney Parks & Entertainment Products
"My passion for flying started at a young age. Due to life events, I took a 15-year hiatus from the cockpit. Recently, I started flying again and decided to continue my training in the field.
I’m excited to be a part of Falcon Aviation. I’ve looked at other schools and I felt this was the best fit for me. My goal as an instructor is to share my passion for aviation with my students and help them to succeed in their goals."
Tom Chirayath
Human Resources and Co-Owner
CFI
CPL/ASEL
High School History and German teacher
"I first had the chance to fly when cutting lawns in college of all things. One of the property owners ended up being a Navy Carrier pilot and offered to give me a lesson! Our first flight was over Niagara Falls so it is nice to be back where I started. Flying has been an incredible adventure and opportunity for me to learn. Our operation exists to provide those same things to all interested in aviation at whatever level!"
Evan Carmello
Certified Flight Instructor
CFI/CFII
DA2-EASy SIC type rating
Currently a pilot for Rich Products (Part 91 operation)
“I am thrilled to be a part of a great team and I am looking forward to continuing to teach students how to fly. I have been very blessed to have great mentors in my life that have helped me get to the current point that I am at in my career. I hope that I can become a mentor for the future generation of pilots to come.”
Justin Hannan
CPL/IFR/ASEL/AMEL
CFI ASEL
The first time my uncle took me on a flight I knew it was what I wanted to do for my career and have loved every minute of my aviation journey since. I completed my private, instrument and commercial single/multi training at Bowling Green State University and then got my instructor rating after graduating. I am very excited to be apart of Falcon Aviation's team and get to share my passion for aviation with others and help them to achieve their goals in aviation!
Jenn Prutsman-Pfeiffer
ASEL CFI, CFII
AGI/IGI
A long time ago, in a place not that far away, our 7th grade Cattaraugus Central School science teacher (who was also a pilot), taught the class a mini ground school and then we took a field trip to the Jamestown Airport…where I flew a Piper Tomahawk. I loved it! Life took me in a few different directions until 2018, when I decided to get my pilot certificate. I have been an instructor of anatomy and forensic science for a long time and morphing into a flight instructor is a natural progression. I am ‘rapturous’ to be part of the Falcon Crew and train aspiring pilots of Western New York!
Isaac DeRego
CFI/CFII
Commercial ASEL/AMEL
"A husband and father of six children, I moved to the Buffalo area in summer of 2022 after transitioning out of the Navy. I served for eight years as a Submariner. Born and raised in Hilo, Hawai`i, I grew up with a love for airplane noise and looked forward to a career in the family profession. Although God had a different plan, or at least a detour, He allowed me to train with my younger brother and use the GI bill to complete flight training in Chesapeake, VA before completing my time in the Navy. I work as an Assistant Plant Manager for DTE Tonawanda LLC. and currently reside in Ransomville, NY (right under our practice area).
I have been very blessed to have been given the opportunity to fly and teach as part of the team at Falcon Aviation. It is not just instructors and their students here, it is a community, and that is very special. I look forward to seeing you at The Falcon's Nest."
Rich Middaugh
CFI/CII
COMMANDER USN (retired)
Richard Middaugh entered the U.S. Navy through the Aviation Officer Candidate program in 1973. He was designated a naval aviator in June of 1975. During training he flew T-34B, T28B/C, H57 Jet Rangers and H1 Hueys.
Fleet tours included Helicopter Combat Support Squadron One flying Sikorski SH-3G and HH-3A helicopters in San Diego, California where he completed a Mediterranean cruise on the U.S.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV42) and Patrol Squadrons 8 and 26 flying P-3C Update II (Lockheed Electra) with deployments to Rota, Spain, Lajes, Azores and Keflavik, Iceland.
Instructor assignments included VT-6 at NAS Whiting Field, Milton, Florida as a basic, instrument, aerobatic and standardization instructor in the T-34C and standardization/safety pilot for Recruiting Area Three, Macon, Georgia inspecting and training recruiting command pilots flying the T-34B mentor. For the past 10 years, Commander Middaugh has served as the chief flight instructor for Prior Aviation and as a corporate pilot flying the Lear 31A and Lear 60XR. Since the closing of Prior Aviation, Commander Middaugh has continued to serve Falcon Aviation as a certified flight instructor.
Joe Roland
CFI/CFII
Craig Cousins
CFI - ASEL, ASES
Commercial, Multi
SIC CE-500
Retired RCAF
Craig has been involved in aviation for most of his life. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force at a young age and spent 20 years in engineering including a tour as an engineering instructor. During that time he had many opportunities to work on some very interesting projects such as the modernization of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) line and spent considerable time in the Canadian Arctic (in the back of C130s). As often happens, family life certainly impacted personal flying for quite a few years. Craig jumped back in during the early 90s and in that decade built his first airplane, a Zenair CH300 (Chris Heintz version of a Piper Cherokee). He retired from the Air Force in 1995 to pursue a career in Facilities Engineering with a focus on critical systems within data centers. Moving to Florida for his company in 2013, Craig thought it was time to add some ratings to his pilot's certificate so he converted his Canadian certificate to the USA and completed his instrument, commercial, multi and instructor ratings (along with single engine seaplane).Craig has many tailwheel hours in his RV6 and other aircraft. During the COVID pandemic, he decided to build his second plane and now is the proud owner of a very nice Vans RV14A.
Craig and his wife will be moving to the area in the near future as they are building a house in Youngstown.
Jon Snell
Business Manager and Co-Owner
Student Pilot
Flight & Travel Enthusiast
Local Business Owner / Entrepreneur - Amherst Automotive LLC
Mechanical Engineer
“From the first time I flew I knew General Aviation was for me. As a travel enthusiast I was enthralled with how it makes the world smaller and how weekend trips are easily within the realm of possibility. It is our hope that Falcon Aviation becomes a community of people that, together, bring a passion for safe flying, informative aviation discussions and opportunities that are full of fun and adventure for all of us!"
Joe Rizzo
CFII, ATP, MEI
EMB-145, ERJ-170/190, Boeing 757,767 and the Airbus A300/310
I learned to fly at the north Buffalo suburban airport in 1996. I attended Embry-Riddle and graduated in 2002 with a BS in Aeronautical Science. I’ve been flight instructing since 2001. I’ve flown for a few regional airlines and currently fly for a large cargo carrier.