Meet The Team
Marvin Harrigan
Co-Owner
Commercial Pilot - ASEL, ASES, AMEL, CFI-I, MEI
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“Born in St.Thomas USVI and raised on a tiny island called Anguilla in the Eastern Caribbean, it was always a passion of mine to fly for as long as I can remember. My brother and I would climb the tallest trees possible only to pretend we were pilots swaying in the wind on the thinnest of branches as if we were living on the edge filled with excitement and adventure. It wasn't until I was 30 years old that I decided to pursue this dream of becoming a pilot. I started my flight training at St Petersburg Airport and continued at Tampa Executive. It was here that I met Michele Keilman who was a mentor and my most influential instructor. With her guidance I learned about all the joys and thrills that are associated in this amazing field of aviation. I now seek to help those that share a similar passion to achieve such dreams and goals in any way that I can.”
Stacy Sosa
Co-Owner
Commercial Pilot - ASEL, AMEL, CFI-I
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“I was born in Miami and grew up in Guatemala and Qatar. I moved back to the US to attend Florida State University (Go Noles!). While at FSU I decided to get my Private Pilot Certificate and I immediately fell in love with flying. I come from a family of pilots and I always admired and looked up to my dad and wanted to follow in his footsteps. As soon as I graduated college, I decided to get the rest of my ratings to become a CFI. I'm loving and enjoying every day of my pilot career and I want to share this passion with everyone who has an interest in aviation.”
Brian Caplinger
Instructor
Commercial Pilot - ASEL, AMEL, CFI-I
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“After graduating from Jesuit High School in Tampa, I earned my business degree at the University of Miami. I worked in finance for several years, then started, built and sold my company. Now I enjoy providing students a safe, calm learning environment that allows them to grow at their own pace. I take great pride in helping students succeed in achieving their goals!”
Robert Miller
Instructor
Commercial Pilot - ASEL, CFI-I
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I grew up in Lloyd, Florida, in a family of seven, and I’m a descendant of the town’s founder. Surrounded by music from an early age, I played trumpet for eight years and sang professionally during college before discovering my true calling in aviation. I earned my Private Pilot License in 2022 at FL Aviation Center, then went on to complete my Instrument, Commercial, CFI, and CFII at Epic Flight Academy. I have a strong passion for teaching and am dedicated to helping students succeed in their aviation journey. In my free time, I enjoy music, reading, and football.
KaDarrius Taite
Instructor
Commercial Pilot - ASEL, AMEL, CFI-I
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KaDarrius grew up in a small town on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and from a young age, he felt a strong desire to serve our country. He did just that by enlisting in the United States Air Force in 2017. During his time in the military, he served as an Air Traffic Controller, managing complex airspace and ensuring the safe, efficient flow of both military and civilian aircraft. This experience sharpened his communication skills, decision-making under pressure, and understanding of airspace operations, all of which are directly transferable to the cockpit. After transitioning out of the military, he continued his ATC career while simultaneously pursuing his passion for flying by earning his Flight Instructor Certificate. He trained with the American Airlines Cadet Academy, where he consistently earned top marks for his performance, precision, and professionalism. His instructors recognized him for his dedication to safety, his strong grasp of flight fundamentals, and his ability to effectively communicate complex concepts. Combined, his background offers a unique blend of air traffic control expertise, hands-on flying experience, and instructional ability. He provides a comprehensive understanding of both sides of the radio, a commitment to operational excellence, and a passion for developing as both a pilot and mentor.
Jonathan Caplinger
Instructor
Commercial Pilot - ASEL, CFI
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Coming Soon
Thais Gazarra Silva
Instructor
Commercial Pilot - ASEL, CFI-I
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My first degree is in Marketing, influenced by my family of entrepreneurs. My desire to connect with people and learn about their stories led me to earn a degree in Journalism. To further explore my creativity, I continued my studies in Europe.
I balanced my academic journey while competing in high-level skateboarding events around the globe. I competed in Olympic Qualifier events and earned the title of Brazilian Skateboarding Champion in 2015. Sports consistently challenged me and taught me discipline, resilience, and sportsmanship. Through traveling to 38 countries, I learned English and Spanish from the friends and communities I encountered along the way.
As a naturally curious person, everything changed the moment I met a pilot and was introduced to the world of aviation. Growing up in Brazil did not provide early access to airplanes, but once I realized that becoming a pilot was possible, I chose to pursue it with full commitment.
Ian Haintz
Instructor
Commercial Pilot - ASEL, CFI
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I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. In my free time I enjoy fishing, traveling, and sports. I am very passionate about flying and it is something that I want to do for the rest of my life. I am currently attending Liberty University working toward my B.S. in Aviation. My goal is to fly for the airlines one day, but right now I really enjoy instructing and helping students become safe and confident pilots. Whether working with new students or helping pilots advance their training, I strive to make every lesson tailored to each individual’s goals.
David meyer
Instructor
Commercial Pilot - ASEL, CFI
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I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. While growing up, I always wanted to work in law enforcement. I graduated high school with honors and earned my Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in criminology from the University of South Florida. Afterward, I attended the police academy and became a deputy sheriff. During my service, I was encouraged to have a plan for retirement, and my past aviation experiences made helicopter tours an appealing future path. I later worked as a legal investigator in the private sector until the law firm I worked for closed after COVID. While considering my next step, I realized I did not want to wait for retirement to pursue aviation. After researching several schools, I immediately felt at home with Superior Aviation and enrolled in their career program. I believe in continually learning and improving, and I hold certifications including rescue diver in SCUBA, USPA A-license in skydiving, advanced driver training, motorcycle endorsement, and a Commercial Pilot License with instrument rating for ASEL. Now that I have obtained my flight instructor certification, I can continue helping others develop their personal aviation goals and continue my success towards my aspirations to join the 121 or 135 career path.
Hannah Bailey
Staff
Private Pilot - ASEL
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I was raised in an aviation family hearing about the flying exploits of my Grandfather, Godfather and Father and all the wonderful places they flew into and experienced. It took me a minute but after taking my discovery flight in October 2022 I caught the aviation bug myself!
I started flight training in November 2023 and attained my private pilots license in August 2024. I am now completing my CPL with a goal of attaining my multi-engine ratings by year-end.
Becoming a flight instructor and building time and experience to apply to a corporate flight department is my ultimate goal.
I have worked in the aviation field at Tampa Executive Airport for the past year and thoroughly enjoy meeting pilots from all over the world as they pass through Tampa and look forward to becoming one of them in the not too distant future.