INSTRUCTORS
Sophia Wells
Sophia came to the Club in 2009 after completing the Mount Royal Aviation program and then working for a year at the Calgary Flying Club. Sophia became the CFI in August of 2012 and also flies part time on a Piper Navajo and a Cessna Citation for a local construction company. She is originally from the Crowsnest Pass, Alberta. In 2018, Sophia was named to Wings magazine’s Top 20 Under 40: Agent of Change. In 2019, she was honored with Mount Royal University’s Outstanding Alumni Award.
Juan Jaramillo
Class 3 Instructor
Juan is originally from Colombia where he initiated his career in aviation. After a long ride he finished his Commercial Pilot License and joined the Edmonton Flying Club to complete his Instructor Rating. In September of 2019, Juan joined the Instructor team and is now doing what he loves the most and sharing his passion with others.
Justin Bailey
Multi Engine Examiner
Justin was born on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. He spent 20 years in Ontario, completing his flight training at WWFC at the Kitchener / Waterloo airport (CYKF). He later obtained his seaplane rating and time on floats at Lake St. John (CNV6).
Now flying as captain on the Beech 1900 for Central Mountain Air, Justin continues with EFC as a part-time instructor and multi engine examiner.
Robbie Benusic
Robbie has returned to his flight instructing roots after a 22-year break where he was, and still is, an Air Traffic Controller. He is currently working at training the new CYQF Control Tower, but also spent time in CYEG CYZF and CYXD Towers. Robbie originally did all his flight training at the Edmonton Flying Club and graduated from the first class of the Edmonton Flight College in 1994. He flight instructed for 3 years in Dawson Creek and Port McNeill (north end of Vancouver Island), and also did a 6 month tour in Resolute Bay working for Kenn Borek on Twin Otters.
Mohamad Mahfouz
A locally born, raised, and trained pilot, Mohamad began flying after obtaining an electrical Engineering degree from the University of Alberta. His passion for flight instruction stems from the countless hours flying cross-country around North America with friends and family – subconsciously passing on the joys and thrills of flying. He joined EFC in April 2019, and in December that year he joined the instructor ranks. He is also multi-instrument rated, multilingual, and circumnavigated the globe multiple times. Always setting his sights on the next challenge, an aerobatic rating is his next venture.
Jimmy Johnson
Jimmy conducted his PPL and CPL with EFC at the parkland airport (CPL6). During his time building, he travelled to Pitt Meadows (CYPK) and Waterloo International (CYKF) to observe other operations and airspaces.
Jimmy is originally from New Brunswick, but moved to Edmonton at a young age. He loves long walks on the beach, Piña colada’s, and getting caught in the rain.
Trevor Spaulding
Trevor is an Alumni of the Edmonton Flying Club. He has been flying since 1988 when he began his private license. Since then he’s instructed in Las Vegas, flown tours in the Grand Canyon, and flew Night cargo. Then it was off to Thunder Bay Ontario to fly charters and Bearskin Airlines. Now Trevor is a Captain on the Boeing 737 at WestJet Airlines. Trevor is married with 4 children.
Allen Atefi
A University of Waterloo engineering graduate working in Alberta’s oil and gas sector, Allen had to patiently wait a few decades until he and his wife raised their two daughters before being able to pursue his passion for aviation and further advance his flight training. A member of EFC since 2016, Allen joined the EFC flight instructor team in the Fall of 2021. In his spare time, you will find Allen flying his plane with his wife to various interesting destinations in Canada and the US.
Radwan Hoche
Fadhl AbuGhanem
Fadhl started his flight training in 2018 at the Namao Flying Club after completing the Victimology Program at Algonquin College. His passion for flying stems from his time spent in Air Cadets as a young youth. He joined EFC in 2019 to complete his Multi-Engine Rating, Group 1, and the Flight Instructor Rating. He joined the instructor ranks in May of 2022.
Fadhl is originally from Ottawa and moved to Edmonton in 2016 for his current role as a Peace Officer with the City of Edmonton. Fadhl enjoys spending time with family and staying active in the gym.
Bill Dimmer
Bill has been an EFC Club member since 1987. He was a dispatcher before earning his Commercial License and eventually his Instructor Rating. Bill has also been a long time member of the CASARA group.
Ben Vige
Benjamin is an American born in Louisiana and served ten years in the United States military. After finishing his service he moved to Canada to begin his dream of becoming a pilot. Ben did all of his training in Gander, NL then became an instructor, upgraded his instructor rating to a class II, and became ACFI at Gander Flight Training. After a year and half of instructing he was hired by WESTJET Encore to fly the DHC-8 Q400. He is happy to have to opportunity to be a part of the EFC team.
Bruno Rabello
Bruno is originally from Brazil and came back to Canada in 2015 after completing his University Degree in Aviation Sciences as well as his flight training. He joined the EFC Dispatch team in October of 2015 and the Instructor team in March of 2019. Bruno also works part time with Aurora Jet Partners as a flight follower. He is a dog lover, loves traveling and of course the Aviation Industry.
Alexander Harrison
Alexander started his PPL with EFC in 2016. He has since graduated from Mount Royal University with a diploma in aviation. With his instructor rating complete he is excited to help others learn to fly.
