About - Ignite Flight Academy

about Ignite Flight

Ignite Flight, located in Lincoln Nebraska, is driven by a passion for aviation and a love for helping people achieve their aviation dreams. Our professional Pilot Academy offers pilot career training for airline, charter, corporate aviation, and more. We also provide recreational flight training.

We are truly honored to inspire and enable your aviation dreams.

our mission IS ALL ABOUT YOURS

Our Conviction

We were created with a love for people and a passion to serve.

Our Mission

WE INSPIRE, ENRICH, AND TRANSFORM LIVES THROUGH AVIATION, ONE RELATIONSHIP, ONE FLIGHT, ONE STORY AT A TIME.

We follow four simple core values:

Do everything with integrity

Innovate & improve

Invest in others

Apply truth & grace

meet our team

Bill Heckathorn
President/Founder

bill@igniteflight.com

Bill got his start in the aviation industry working at a flight school while working on his certificates and ratings. In 2000, he earned his CFI and worked for a university flight training program. After that, he managed an FBO and sold new/used aircraft. Bill has always had an entrepreneurial spirit to him, which led him to start Ignite Flight Academy in 2004.

Ignite Flight (then Performance Aircraft) started as an aircraft sales company and the flight school was added in 2006. In 2019, it transitioned to 100% flight training. Bill has a passion to help people succeed at following their aviation dreams, whether that is flying for recreation or making it a career.

Eric Hartwell
admissions / project manager

eric@igniteflight.com

Eric’s journey with Ignite Flight began as a customer back in 2008. He started flight training in a Cessna 172SP Skyhawk during his senior year of high school at Lincoln East and completed his private pilot certificate that July. In February 2011, Eric started an internship at Performance, which grew into a part time position.In 2012 Eric became the flight training manager

and then in 2020 moved into managing admissions and projects. Eric helps others understand the advantages of learning to fly at Ignite Flight.In his free time, Eric enjoys spending time with his wife Lauren, their cat Winnie, disc golfing, trap shooting, and (of course) flying.

RICH BATES
Chief Certified Flight Instructor

rich@igniteflight.com

Rich came to Lincoln from the Pacific Northwest where he previously served as a lecturer, flight instructor, and eventually as the chief instructor in a collegiate aviation department. The allure of a smaller, innovative, and relationship focused flight school is what drew him to Ignite Flight.A Gold Seal instructor who has taught instrument, multiengine, and

CFI Rich now enjoys mentoring and coaching young flight instructors so they can better teach their students.
Rich, his wife, and two kids used to enjoy the mountains and forests of the PNW, but now in Nebraska are open to suggestions for new activities.

Jacob Wilson
Assistant chief Certified Flight Instructor

jacob@igniteflight.com

In 1974, attending Oklahoma State University, Jacob’s interest in aviation took off. Now after 45 years in industry and counting, Jacob has been a Flight Instructor, Charter Pilot, Corporate Pilot, worked for over 5 different airlines, and so much more. Finally Jacob spent 23 years as an aviation safety inspector. Flew everything from small pistons to a Boeing 737.

Today Jacob is still the director of operations for the Missionary Aviation Foundation’s part 135 certificate. Still wanting to be active in the air, we are proud to have Jacob as a CFI at Ignite Flight.
Outside of aviation Jacob’s life is just as busy. Married, Jacob has 3 adult children all still close to home. He even helps his wife with show horses. Jacob is also the President of Fellowship and Haiti’s Children’s Hope Org.

Greg love
Certified Flight Instructor

greg@igniteflight.com

Aviation has been an enjoyable and challenging career for Greg since 1967. Flying allowed him to complete a bachelor’s and master’s degree. He has been fortunate to fly airliners and military aircraft, and has an ATP (Airline Transport Pilot Certificate).Greg is a gold seal flight instructor who is certified to teach instrument (CFII) and multi-engine

(MEI) ratings He is also an advanced ground instructor (AGI).He enjoys working with students at Ignite Flight on a part-time basis, and hopes to promote aviation to all interested future aviators.

tHIS COULD BE YOU
Apply today to join our team!

Interested in a career at Ignite Flight? We would still love to get to know you and learn about your experience and skills.

We’re growing quickly, and we could have a position for you. Tell us about your dream job and let us know what makes you good at it!

SEE CURRENT OPENINGS

Dennis churchin
Certified Flight Instructor

dennis@igniteflight.com

Dennis is from Springfield, VA. He graduated from James Madison University studying mathematic and biology. His love for aviation comes from his grandfather who served as a helicopter pilot for the marines. He decided to pursue his passion for aviation and moved to Daytona Beach, FL to start training and complete his CFI and CFII.

Dennis has a pet cat, Pixie. He likes hiking, kayaking and scuba diving in his free time.

Hunter Hoscheit
Certified Flight Instructor

hunter@igniteflight.com

Hunter grew up in Caledonia, Minnesota where he played football for a state championship team. After graduation from Caledonia he attended Winona State on a Football Scholarship and continued his football career. While attending Winona Hunter obtained his Private Pilot Certificate. Upon Graduation of Winona he attended ATP flight

school in Daytona Beach Florida, and earned his CFI, CFII, MEI. Hunter is excited to share his love for aviation and help the next generation of aviators.

Juliana Yaacoub
Certified Flight Instructor

juliana@igniteflight.com

Juliana grew up around the Chicago area where she played soccer, cross country, and track in school. She became interested in aviation when flying international to Europe and the Middle East to see family members. In college she decided to become a pilot because of her love for traveling and flying. She went to Lewis University where she did her

flight training and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Flight Management with a minor in Aviation Dispatch. Juliana is interested in gaining more pilot certificates in helicopters and seaplanes, and would like to end up flying in the airlines.Juliana likes to spend her time being athletic, enjoys all types of traveling, and likes to study different subjects.

Alix beatty
customer experience manager

alix@igniteflight.com

Alix joined Ignite Flight as an administrative assistant in 2018 to help us better serve our customers. She loves human interaction and customer service, and she exhibits impressive skills when it comes to scheduling flights and ensuring our customers stay on track to achieve their goals. Alix enjoys spending time with family and friends,

fishing, golfing, competing in just about any sport, and spending time outdoors with her dogs.

kyle soto
CFI/media coordinator

kyle@igniteflight.com

Ever since the young age of 4, Kyle has always wanted to be a pilot. At the age of 17, he made dreams become reality and earned his Private Pilot Certificate. Kyle has worked his way up in aviation and now has his CFI. Kyle originally joined the Ignite Flight family in September 2018 cleaning airplanes. Now you can find him teaching

others to become pilots as well as run our social media. Outside of his busy work and flying schedule, Kyle is a freshman at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln, majoring in Advertising and Public Relations with a minor in Communication Studies. He also has a heart for missions and works closely with The Hope Venture. Combining missions and aviation, Kyle’s career goal is to become a missionary pilot, flying oversees, and help those in need. For leisure, Kyle loves photography, working out, and spending time out in nature. You can also catch Kyle in a banana costume at the Husker Football games.

sam simoneau
administrative assistant

sam@igniteflight.com

Sam joins us from a small town in Kansas where she grew up near Wichita, the capital of aviation. Coming from a family full of military pilots, it was no surprise that she would want to follow in their footsteps. After graduating from the University of Nebraska with a degree in Nutrition, Exercise and Health Sciences, Sam aspires to

finish the remainder of her ratings and eventually become a professional pilot. Sam loves spending her time at the airport making relationships with other fellow aviation enthusiasts and taking Chuck, her Cessna 150, to grass strips and on long cross countries to see her family.

tHIS COULD BE YOU
Apply today to join our team!

Interested in a career at Ignite Flight? We would still love to get to know you and learn about your experience and skills.

We’re growing quickly, and we could have a position for you. Tell us about your dream job and let us know what makes you good at it!

SEE CURRENT OPENINGS

Brian Althouse
Flight Training Support

brian@igniteflight.com

Originally from San Gabriel, California, Brian attends the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, studying Political Science and Economics. He has always had an interest in aviation, and began his flight training at Ignite Flight in 2020. He has since received his private pilot certificate and instrument rating and seeks to pursue a career in

aviation, wherever that may take him.In addition to flying, Brian enjoys playing sports, going on hikes, and spending time with friends and family.

sarah heckathorn
controller

sarah@igniteflight.com

Sarah has been responsible for the company’s accounting since Ignite Flight was founded in 2004.In addition to working at Ignite Flight, Sarah has also been a registered nurse since 2001, serving as labor and delivery nurse for over 10 years.Whether she is taking care of a patient, communicating with a customer, or assisting with financial decisions for Ignite Flight, Sarah

brings a deep commitment to ensuring every individual receives an outstanding level of care. Since marrying Bill in 1998, Sarah has grown to avidly enjoy flying and aviation. Recently, Sarah and Bill took their three daughters (Molly, Jenna, and Jacie) in one of their aircraft for a fun family getaway to Branson, Missouri.Outside of work, Sarah enjoys reading, volunteering at school, and spending time with family.

Travis Schmid
Flight Instructor

A transplant from the Pacific Northwest, Travis started flying over the vast forests and the beautiful coastal regions of Washington State. He continued his passion for flying through Central Washington University, earning more certificates and ratings along the way, until settling in as a flight instructor. Travis’ favorite part of flying and instructing has been enjoying the

awesome mountain views and grabbing a bite to eat at the many restaurants located at airports around Washington. Travis comes to Ignite Flight Academy hoping to share his experience of flight instructing, create new memories and meet new people. Outside of flying, Travis enjoys hiking and camping along remote mountain lakes, or spending a day floating down a river in the summertime.

Sydney Paulson
Flight Instructor

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Sydney spent much of her time looking up towards the sky. Her passion for aviation grew while attending Central Washington University where she Majored in Commercial Aviation and trained towards her flight certificates. While not flying, Sydney enjoys being outside near the water with her dog Cooper. She is excited to share her.

knowledge and experience with new aviators so they may discover the joy in flying

Mason Pfeiffer
Flight Training Support

Mason is currently a senior at Lincoln Southwest High School and grew up in Lincoln. He has always loved aviation and at a young age decided he wanted to become a pilot. In school, he has always had a love for math and physics. Mason started his flight training at Ignite Flight Academy in June of 2022. He is currently working towards his

his Private Pilot Certificate and is seeking to pursue a career in aviation in the future. Mason also enjoys spending his time playing sports, running, and hanging out with friends and family.

Jon Lawson
Flight Instructor

Born at a very young age Jonathan grew up in sunny St. George Utah where he spent much of his youth weight lifting, running cross country and eating gratuitous amounts of food. After graduating from the University of Utah with a bachelors in kinesiology, Jonathan went on his very first flight at a local flight school in 2020. That flight would ignite his passion for aviation and lead

him to pursue it as a career. In addition to flying, Jonathan enjoys grunting at the gym, watching The Great British Bake Off, and catching critters with his four small children.Jonathan’s favorite quote is, “anything worth doing is worth doing well.”

joey heckathorn
team mascot

Hi, I am Joey Heckathorn. I am a dog. In this short time on earth, I have learned I really like a tug of war. I often win because I am smol but mighty. My legs are very short and I can’t climb over things well. However, it does not stop me from trying.

Flying is fun and I like to watch the planes. No one will let me outside though because they are scared

I will run towards the planes. You can find me behind the front desk. I will most likely be sleeping, eating, or playing with Alix.

about Lincoln, nebraska

Home to the Nebraska State Capitol and the University of Nebraska, the city of Lincoln is a Midwestern community that appeals to young professionals because of its trendy shopping, nightlife, affordable housing options, trails and recreational opportunities, and highly rated restaurants.

What more could you want, right?