Cornerstone Aviation

WHEELS UP WEDNESDAY 🛫 Meet Isaac!!

Q: What sparked your interest in flying?
A: I got into flying when I felt like I needed a little career change. I had been working as a Jeweler for 5 years. I remembered flying in a small plane with my scout troop as a teenager & how fun that had been. I loved RC airplanes & helicopters as a kid, but had never really thought too much about becoming a real pilot. I did a little research & found out how great of a career it could be and decided to jump into flight training.

Q: Why did you choose Cornerstone?
A: After doing some research on other flight schools in Utah, I felt strongly that the culture at CSA would be an excellent foundation for me in my aviation journey. Being a Part 141, FAA approved pilot school was a big selling point for me.

Q: What's your favorite airport? Anything you like to do outside of flying?
A: Grand Canyon National Park' Nothing quite like flying across the Grand Canyon alone in a little Skyhawk. When I’m not flying, you can sometimes find me in my workshop forging hot steel into high performance knives and medieval weapons. But most of the time you’ll find me reading books or hanging out with my wife and kids.

We've loved watching Isaac progress from student to instructor. Keep up the great work!! 💙🤍♥️

FLIGHT DECK FRIDAY ✈️

Why settle for the same routine airports when you can turn the flight into an adventure?

That’s exactly what CFI Sofia & her student did, taking their cross country all the way to California while building valuable real-world experience along the way.

At Cornerstone, we believe flight training should prepare you for more than just a checkride. Just another day of going above and beyond the minimum requirements!

WHEELS UP WEDNESDAY 🛫 Meet Tyler!!

Q: What sparked your interest in flying?
A: My grandpa as he was a pilot in WW2. I never met the man but my dad had high admiration for him & I always had high admiration for my dad! Wasn’t until I was in my twenties when I finally took the leap of faith & got myself booked on an intro flight with a friend of mine & absolutely loved it. Afterwards I started working on my certificates.

Q: Why did you pick CSA?
A: They were willing to work with my schedule & showed the most amount of care towards me as a customer compared to the other flight schools. I figured they would allow me to achieve my goals at the pace I needed to & so far I have been right on that decision & love that they still uphold that schedule for me even now as an employee.

Q: What is your favorite airport to fly to & why?
A: You can't go wrong with KOGD! Tower is so nice & makes my day!

We're thrilled to have Tyler on the team & to be able to watch him grow from student to CFI.

Have someone you want to nominate? Shoot us a message! 🤍💙♥️

WHEELS UP WEDNESDAY 🛫 Meet Kelson, one of our check instructors!

Q: What peaked your interest in aviation?
A: I had never been in a small plane until I turned 30. My friend Jamison has a Stinson Voyager 150 & took me backcountry flying. We went all over southern Utah but the approaches into Mexican Mountain & Hidden Splendor really stuck with me. I was immediately hooked. Decided to switch careers and never looked back.

Q: Why did you pick Cornerstone Aviation?
A: CSA was hands down the best choice to receive quality flight training in Utah. Of all the flight schools that I looked in to & talked to, they were by far the most professional, welcoming, & forthcoming with info about expectations for flight training. They also have in-house maintenance & take safety seriously, which was very important to me.

Q: What advice would you give to an aspiring student pilot?
A: Learning to manipulate the controls of an airplane is the easy part. Learning to make good decisions & staying poised under stress is what makes you a great pilot. In order to make good decisions, you need to have a really solid knowledge foundation & understanding of your systems, aerodynamics, weather, etc. Be prepared to really put your head in the books and study, study, study!

Have someone you'd like us to feature? Shoot us a message!

June Pilot Pathway Presentation 🚑 You asked, we listened! This month’s Pilot Pathway Presentation features Nate Arango, a medevac Citation pilot for Intermountain Life Flight.

📆 June 23rd | ⏰ 6PM | 📍CSA SLC

Nate began his aviation journey attending Westminster University, where he earned his pilot ratings & built many of the connections that helped shape his career. Since then, he has flown the PC-12, CJ4, Challenger series, and currently serves as Captain on the Citation XLS.

Medevac pilots play a critical role in supporting healthcare systems & providing lifesaving transportation when every minute matters. It’s a career that combines professional aviation with a strong sense of purpose.

Join us as Nate shares his path through the aviation industry, the lessons he’s learned along the way, & what it’s like flying for an air medical operation. Please RSVP with the link in bio. Snacks WILL be provided! We hope to see you there! ✈️

Has CSA helped you achieve a milestone in your aviation journey? Loving your experience?

Please leave us a Google review! Your feedback helps future students find the right flight school & allows us to continue providing the highest level of flight training. Link in bio.

Thank you for being part of the Cornerstone family! ♥️💙🤍

Not your average high school field trip ✈️

This year’s Rowland Hall Aviation Camp had the incredible opportunity to tour Delta Air Lines' Salt Lake City Operations & Training Center! Students received a behind-the-scenes look at airline operations, professional pilot training, & even had the chance to take a few laps in the A350 simulator.

A huge thank you to Delta for opening your doors, sharing your knowledge, & helping inspire the next generation of aviation professionals. Opportunities like these make a lasting impact on our students & continue to grow the future of aviation!

FLIGHT DECK FRIDAY ✈️

CFI Laurie & her student took flight on this beautiful cross country to the Tetons & Yellowstone! Why settle for the same routine airports when views like this are right in your backyard? Just one of the many perks of flight training in Utah.

Rowland Hall Aviation Camp 2026 ♥️💙🤍

Another incredible year in the books! Each year, Cornerstone partners with Rowland Hall, a local SLC high school, to share the world of aviation through hands-on experience.

Over the course of several days, students train with CSA instructors, learn foundational flight skills, & tour operations — including wildlife management, snow removal, airport control, & aircraft rescue & fire fighting. This year students also had the opportunity to go behind the scenes with & Aircraft Services, LLC to learn more about airline & corporate aviation operations!

Thank you to all who help make this camp possible! Cheers to the next generation of aviators ✈️