Why Choose Desert Skies
Arizona-Born. Personal. Real Aviation Training. Dive deep into what makes us different.
I'm Thomas
Ferrier.
I didn't start this school to push students through a system. I started Desert Skies to make real flight training accessible, personal, and honest.
If you want cookie-cutter corporate training, look elsewhere. If you want real-world skills and a personal instructor who cares about your goals, welcome aboard.
The Desert Skies Story
From childhood dreams to aviation reality
Self-Actualization
In the FAA Flight Instructor Handbook, self-actualization is described as the feeling of doing what you were meant to do. While I wasn't born into aviation, it's absolutely something I was born to do! That deep sense of purpose has driven me since childhood—watching planes over Falcon Field and knowing I had to be up there someday.
Professional Training
My journey took me through the American Airlines Cadet Academy at CAE in Mesa, Arizona, where I trained under a fast-paced Part 141 program and graduated at the top of my class. But more important than technical skill, I learned that true instructional excellence is about presence, patience, and a genuine investment in each student's growth.
Building Desert Skies
That's why I built Desert Skies Aviation—not as a pilot factory, but as a flight school centered around each individual's goals, style, and pace. For me, instruction isn't a stepping stone; it's a calling. I'm committed to raising the standard, giving back to the community that changed my life, and building resources for the next generation of aviators.
The Mission
I'm pursuing a career at the airlines, but I'm equally dedicated to making flight training better—whether in the classroom, the cockpit, or the curriculum. If this resonates with you, then I'll say what I say on every takeoff:
"Man… how lucky are we?"— Thomas Ferrier, on every takeoff