Flight instruction is not just a job, it’s our passion.

Each of our instructors aim to bring out the best in every candidate. We believe that integrity is the foundation of all we do. During your time at the Academy, you can expect to see our team lead by example, and be ready to support every student in their personal and professional growth.

Our Core Values Set Us Apart

Magnolia CFI Academy is an organization that believes it’s highest priorities drive our culture, safe decisions, and team behavior.

  • Safety

    The safety of our pilots, students, and all team members is critical for success. We will model safe practices and expect the same from each participant.

  • Knowledge

    Correlation is key. Our objective is to combine prior knowledge with current information and experiences to create the most effective learning environment.

  • Integrity

    We believe that honesty and strong moral principles are the foundation of professionalism. We build trust through responsible actions and honest relationships.

More About Us

The growing pilot shortage is well-known across the nation. Magnolia CFI Academy founder and instructors continued to hear the same question from many student pilots, “Why is getting your CFI so hard?” We realized that our industry has a great need for pilots and instructors, but a greater need for confident individuals that are attentive and accountable. Come join us here in the heart of the Mid-South.

We are located in Olive Branch, MS just 25 minutes southeast of the Memphis International Airport. We want you to succeed and become a qualified flight instructor. But more than that, we want you to grow as an individual.

Meet Our Team of Professional & Experienced Staff

Sean Hamilton
Owner, Chief Instructor

With over a decade of flight instructor experience, Sean has primarily focused on training CFI’s. He holds multiple type ratings and has years of experience in airline and corporate aviation. Sean believes in investing in each pilot fully and states, “Let’s stop making the CFI certificate so hard, let’s take the time to train our pilots to not just pass a check ride, but to be safe, knowledgeable, and professional aviators for the industry.”

Jennifer Hamilton
Student Liaison

From a young age, Jennifer has understood the life of a pilot as a pilot’s daughter and now lives as a pilot wife. She is not an aviator herself but enjoys the passion of those around her. Jennifer has served her community as a registered nurse for fifteen years and has over seven years of management experience. She is excited to be a point of contact for the new students and help them navigate through the course.

Jeff Martin
Instructor

Jeff has an extensive career in aviation. He began his passion as a flight instructor in 1979, joined a corporate company soon after, and landed his lifelong career at Federal Express in 1987. He recently retired from FedEx after thirty-four years of service, including twenty-six years as a Captain and seven years as a Line Check Airman. He enjoys leisure trips in his Cessna airplanes and has a great love for teaching.

Bennet Taylor
Instructor

Bennett was introduced to aviation at an early age by his grandfather. He began to pursue his career in aviation in college when he attended Ole Miss. He has been instructing for over four years and has sent more than fifty students to successful check rides. Outside of his day job flying for a major corporate airline, Bennett enjoys gliding, flying seaplanes, and working on his RV-10 build.

Cameron Graeber
Instructor

The newest member of our team, Cameron holds a CFI and CFII.  He began his training in South Africa and has training experience under FAA and ICAO regulations.  He has worked in the aviation training industry as a dispatcher, operations manager, and flight instructor.  He has a deep passion for aviation.  He loves to learn and share his knowledge and life experience with the new generation of pilots.

Jake Haentzler
Instructor

Jake has several years of flight instruction experience. He maintains his CFI and CFII.  He is a check airman and enjoys watching his students reach their goals in aviation.  Jake has a secondary passion of tutoring Elementary children in low income neighborhoods in Memphis.  

Accelerate your Flight Instructor Career Today

Make the choice to start your professional career.
Space is limited, sign up now!