Experienced Flight Instructors
Our team of Certified Flight Instructors will guide you through the journey of becoming a confident and credentialed pilot!
Meet Our Instructors
Dragan Ivanov Bubalo
Dragan Ivanov Bubalo has been a pilot for 44 years. While spending time with his father—the primary Cessna dealer for the country of Croatia (former Yugoslavia)—he developed a passion for aviation, starting his own flying journey in 1979. He has 2800 flight hours and 900+ hours of instruction. He has 30+ years of teaching experience across age levels and 21+ years of experience as a teacher and Music Director at a renowned private school and church on Long Island.
In 2016, Dragan revived his love for aviation, becoming a CFII in 2018. Dragan has owned and operated several aircraft, including Diamond DA-40, Grumman Tiger, Piper Archer PA-28, Cessna C150 and Cessna P210N Centurion.
Cassia Vitale
Cassia “Cass” Vitale began flying in 2020 while training in Binghamton, New York; she got her PPL in Calera, Alabama.
In 2023, Cass graduated the Army Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training, where she flew the UH-60M.
In 2026, she got out of the Army and began CFI instruction, working with pilots seeking a private or commercial certificate.
Cass completed her CFI training with Up & Away Aviation, and we are pleased to have her join our team of instructors!
Gabriel Bubalo
Making his first landing when he was just nine years old, Gabriel Bubalo has been involved with aviation for nearly a decade. Having always maintained a profound interest in flying, he raced to get his ratings and certificates as soon as he could in high school, becoming the youngest CFII in the U.S. He has accumulated 1000 hours of flight experience, and he now offers private pilot, instrument rating, and commercial pilot training, as well as training for complex and high-performance endorsements.
Robert Lamark
We welcome Robert back to the Hudson Valley after training in California. He is a CFI for single engine airplanes, as well as has his ratings for:
Commercial Airplane Single-engine Land- Instrument Rated
Commercial Airplane Multi-engine Land- Instrument Rated
George Amenta
George started flying in high school, getting his pilot’s license before his driver’s license. He attended Dutchess Community College, receiving his instrument and commercial ratings while obtaining an Associate’s Degree in Aviation Science.
In January 2024 George became a Captain in Pilatus PC - 12 in the largest US Private Charter Company - PlaneSense.
George (CFI, ASEL) offers training for private or commercial license, as well as giving high-performance and complex endorsements.