Ignite Flight Academy

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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, ENABLE 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.

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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 

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RICH BATES
Chief 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

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Jacob Wilson
Assistant chief Flight Instructor

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.

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Greg love
Certified Flight Instructor

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

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Sydney Paulson
Certified 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.

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Jon Lawson
Certified 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 

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Hunter Hoscheit
Certified Flight Instructor

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

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Juliana Yaacoub
Certified Flight Instructor

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

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Alix beatty
Flight Training 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,

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kyle soto

Certified Flight Instructor

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

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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

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sarah heckathorn
controller

sarah@igniteflight.com

Sarah has been part of the Ignite Flight family since its founding in 2004. She is an integral part of the team as she is equipped with an extensive understanding of how the company operates behind the scenes. She handles all of Ignite’s accounting and manages various other administrative tasks.

 

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Travis Schmid
Certified 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

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Madison Parde
Certified Flight Instructor

Madison Parde was born and raised in Ceresco, Nebraska. A small town fifteen minutes North
of Lincoln.
She recently graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a degree in aviation with
a concentration in professional flight. She plans to pursue a career as an airline pilot.

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Torrey Wilson
Certified 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

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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

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Molly heckathorn
Admissions Representative

Raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, Molly has grown up to love the charm and culture of the Midwest. From a young age she has been immersed in the world of aviation, experiencing the thrill of flight through countless adventures with her dad. After a year of studying in Kansas City, she returned to Lincoln, where she joined the Ignite Flight family.

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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.

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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?

get in touch with us

Talk to our ADMISSION REP

Learn more about flight training Programs, costs, timelines, application process and more…