John Mahany is a long-time pilot and instructor, and has type ratings in the CE-500, LR-JET, N-B25 and the iconic DC-3. He is also an 8-time Master CFI.  He has been flying for more than 48 years, and is a student of flying, always learning! 

He has experience with corporate, airline and charter operations. He also spent 4 ½ years flying in Alaska, in the early 90’s, where he flew mostly single pilot, for South Central Air, a small scheduled FAR 135 airline based in Kenai, on the Kenai Peninsula. While there, he also joined the Civil Air Patrol. He flew the DHC-2 DeHavilland Beaver and learned ‘bush’ flying and mountain flying techniques, and gained experience on floats and snow skis, as well. 

In April 2004, John was hired as a classroom and simulator instructor at FlightSafety Int’l, in Long Beach, CA. He trained pilots in three different programs while there; starting in the Twin Cessna 300/400, then the King Air 90/100/200/B200, and finally the CE-500 program until he lost his job as a result of the pandemic, in April 2020.  

From April 2023 – June 2026, he was an instructor for PIC, Professional Instrument Courses, traveling to train aircraft owners at their location for their instrument rating. He is now an independent CFI, specializing in IFR training as well as advanced pilot training, for aircraft owners, in their airplanes, at their location. He is active in the general aviation community in Southern California and is a FAASTeam Lead Rep for the Long Beach FSDO. He also is a free-lance aviation writer and a regular speaker on safety related aviation topics. 

John has years of experience: 48 years as pilot and 46 years as instructor, respectively. I have been working in the aviation industry since June 1977. For Mind Mapping, 9 years since taking the course in the UK in fall of 2017.