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.
Brendon Sookram
Hailing from Connecticut, Brendon spent six years in the Air Force, during which time he started his flight training in North Carolina.
After leaving the Air Force, he worked in Florida before returning to Connecticut in 2025. We're glad to have him back in the local area, and to have him join the Up & Away Aviation team as a CFI.
Brendon has over 300 hours flight time, with prior experience in a range of planes including Cessna 150, Cessna 172, and Piper Archer.
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.