CP Aviation - Instructor Bios

Mark R King

Master CFI-Aerobatic, CFI, CFII, Gold Seal AGI

Mark King, Master Certified Flight Instructor with a Gold Seal-Aerobatic, CFI- Instrument, Advanced and Instrument ground instructor, is a southern California native who was born into an aviation family and began flying in 1974. Mark has extensive experience flying in Alaska in a turboprop Quest Kodiak, has over 1000 hours flying the Beechcraft Bonanza and is G1000 qualified.

He is a member of the Society of Aviation Flight Educators (SAFE) and the North American T6 formation group called the Condor Squadron. He teaches Private Pilots, Instrument, Commercial, Tailwheel, Emergency Maneuver Training, and Aerobatics.

Rochelle Oslick

Master CFI-Aerobatic, CFI

Rochelle Oslick, Master Certificated Flight Instructor-Aerobatic, CFI, began flying in 1984, at the Edwards AFB Flying Club, while she was stationed there as a USAF Flight Test Engineer. Shortly after earning her private pilot license, Rochelle started flying tailwheel/aerobatic airplanes at Santa Paula Airport, which quickly became her favorite airport. As an aerospace engineer, several job changes, from the USAF, to Lockheed in Burbank, to Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, and finally to The Boeing Company in Seattle, led her to base her flying from other airports in southern California and in western Washington. Along the way, Rochelle earned her Instrument and Commercial ratings, and then CFI, and started flight instructing part-time, specializing in tailwheel and aerobatic airplanes, in the Seattle area. After retiring from Boeing, Rochelle moved back south, to Ventura County, and is flight instructing at CP Aviation, at her favorite airport, teaching Private Pilots, Tailwheel, Spins, Emergency Maneuver Training, and Aerobatics. She is a member of SAFE, IAC, Ninety-nines International Organization of Women Pilots, Women in Aviation International, and AOPA.

Dillon Francis

CFI, CFII, MEI

Dillon Francis is a first-generation pilot, who started flying right here at CP Aviation before his 16th birthday. A local of Ventura, he has watched the skies since he was very young, and thrilled at the thought of one day joining the ranks of aviators that flew overhead. He recently completed his goal of earning his Flight Instructor Certificate, along with CFI-Instrument, and Multi-Engine instructor, and now thrills at being able to bring the joy of flight to many more! An avid actor, educator, stage manager, electrician, and backpacker,  he is always looking forward to the next adventure. He is available to teach all day, for Private, Instrument, and Commercial certificates. He hopes you’ll enjoy flying with Air France…is!

Tanner Gee

CFI, CFII

Tanner is a first generation pilot who found aviation through Microsoft Flight Simulator. After taking the controls on his first intro flight at Camarillo, he immediately knew there is nothing better than flying. In less than a year he earned all flight certificates and instructor add-ons. He loves helping others into aviation and seeing that smile as they lift off the ground for the first time. During his free time he loves dirt bike riding, rock climbing, and playing sports.

He is available to teach all day for Private, Instrument, and Commercial certificates. 

Kai Uyesaka

CFI, CFII, MEI

As a first generation pilot, Kai thought flying was as far out as becoming an astronaut—then she took her first intro flight. Within less than a year she earned all her ratings and instructor add-ons purely because she loves the world she stumbled into and wants to continue to learn more. Coming from a family of coaches and teachers she knows there’s no greater aspiration than sharing knowledge. When she’s not at the airport she’s enjoying the beaches and backcountry of Goleta with her trusty husky.

Kai is available for Private, Instrument, and Commercial.

Stephanie Robinson

CFI

Stephanie Robinson is a first generation pilot who took her first flight lesson at age 12, only to pick up flight training again at long last at age 39, fulfilling a lifelong dream! She has completed all of her training at CP Aviation, mentored by Judy Phelps, with the goal of becoming a lifelong flight instructor. Her background is in academia; she holds a PhD from the University of California, San Diego (2005), and taught at the college/university level for over 18 years (UC San Diego, San Diego City College, Smith College, Amherst College). Flight instruction has turned out to be the perfect combination of her two greatest loves - education and aviation.

Stephanie is an active member of the Ventura County 99s, currently serving on the board as Vice-Chair. She is also the proud owner of a 1946 Luscombe 8E, which she flies regularly at Santa Paula Airport.

She is available for Private or Commercial instruction every Sunday through Wednesday.

Nate Irwin

CFI, CFII, MEI

Nate is a first generation pilot who discovered his love for aviation through RC planes and air shows. After taking the controls for the first time he never wanted to come back down. Just over a year after his first intro flight he had earned all of his certificates and is ready to share his joy of flying with as many people as he can. When Nate isn’t in the air you can find him biking in the hills, catching a few waves along the coast, or sitting in a chair daydreaming he was back in a plane.

Luke Boles

CFI

Luke is a first generation pilot who attended a pilot summer camp in 2011 at the Santa Barbara airport, but spent the majority of his childhood behind the wheel of race cars, from karts to sprint cars. After obtaining his Bachelor’s degree and working as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) for a few years, he decided to get “behind the yoke” and pursue his passion for aviation. Luke completed flight training at Santa Barbara, where he instructed for seven months before joining the CP Aviation team. He loves mentoring others through the process of learning to fly and help them reach their full potential as a pilot.

During his free time Luke loves mountain biking, playing golf and going to the gym.

He is available to teach all day for Private and Commercial certificates.

Jin Xu

CFI, CFI-I, private pilot-glider, commercial multi-engine

Jin’s heart has been gripped by aviation since he first laid eyes on the cover of the game “U.S. Navy Fighters” back in 1997. But it took a long but rewarding detour for him to finally get behind the controls of an airplane. Before embarking on a career as a pilot, Jin earned a Ph.D. in fluid mechanics from Cornell University, and master’s degrees in physics and mechanical engineering. In grad school, Jin worked as a teaching assistant, which gave him six years of experience in mentoring students and in distilling complex knowledge into easily digestible pieces. He also has five years of work experience in financial asset management.

The fundamental reason that drew Jin into a career in aviation is the unique quality of flying to liberate, elevate, and empower. As such, he hopes to help his students not only achieve their aviation goals but also bring out the best of themselves on this journey of self-discovery and actualization.

In his spare time, Jin enjoys reading psychology, history, economics, and Dostoevsky. He also loves flying gliders and swimming.

Brian Kaiserauer

CFI

Brian is a fourth-generation pilot whose passion for aviation extends to every aspect of his life. Brian completed his professional flight training in Santa Barbara, after his experience as a skydiver and competitive paraglider inspired a career as a professional pilot. Previous to aviation, Brian spent several years in Yosemite as a big-wall climber and National Park employee and volunteer. Today, he’s a father of young twins and three step-children, and continues to travel the world for paragliding competitions.

Bella Capuano

CFII

Bella Capuano is a first-generation pilot who discovered her love for aviation after taking a class in middle school which led to her first flight in a small plane. Originally from Washington State, Bella earned her Private Pilot's license shortly after graduating high school. Bella recently graduated from Baylor University in Waco, Texas where she studied Aviation Science and earned her Instrument, Commercial, CFI, and CFII. One of Bella’s favorite ways to put her skills to use is taking friends and family for their first flight and seeing the excitement in their eyes on takeoff. 

During her free time, Bella enjoys traveling, going to the beach, and hiking. 

Bella is available for Private, Instrument, and Commercial.