Desiring to become a pilot from an early age, Emmet began his flying career at New Orleans Lakefront Airport in 2007 and joined the Gulf Coast Aviation team in 2011.  He is ATP rated with CFII and AGI credentials and transitioned from corporate and governmental project management to a career in aviation.  His passion for flying and extensive professional experience in project risk management provides an excellent foundation for students to build upon during their training.  In addition to flying professionally with an airline, Emmet is a Captain, mission pilot, instructor pilot and safety officer with the U.S. Air Force Civil Air Patrol, a volunteer pilot with environmental awareness organizations and a scuba diver with the Audubon Institute Aquarium of the Americas.  When not in the air or underwater, Emmet also enjoys running, hiking, tennis, motorcycling, boating and performing music and stand-up comedy.   His diverse interests and experience have shaped him into a well-balanced, safety conscious pilot.

Malay began his flying career in 2001 and joined the Gulf Coast Aviation team in 2017 as a certificated flight instructor (CFI, CFII). In addition to teaching engineering courses and performing coastal research at the University of New Orleans, Malay is a Captain and Assistant Safety Officer with the U.S. Air Force Civil Air Patrol. His passion for aviation and background in teaching provides an excellent opportunity for students to build upon during their training. When not in the air or researching coastal restoration, Malay enjoys running, hiking, travelling, photography, motorcycling, and volunteering with his rescued dogs. His diverse interests and extensive professional experience have shaped him into a well-balanced, safety conscious pilot and flight instructor.

Born and raised in New Orleans, Mary was introduced to aviation at a very young age. At only 3 years old, she took her first ride in a single-engine aircraft with her brother, David Cusimano, who is one of the owners of Gulf Coast Aviation. After dappling around with many career options such as nursing and real estate, Mary is excited to have landed upon such an exciting opportunity to be the General Manager at Gulf Coast Aviation. She recently graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness, but her passion for aviation has become her top priority. She is currently working toward her private pilot license while striving to create a flight school that runs smoothly and successfully.

Monica was born and raised in Metairie, LA. She was introduced to aviation at Auburn University where she studied Aviation Management while also pursuing her pilot certificates. She instructed at the University for one year before returning to New Orleans to instruct with Gulf Coast Aviation. “I’m pretty sure I was supposed to be a pilot. They offered a flight class as an intro course in the college of business. It just took one lesson, and I knew I was hooked.”

Robert had the good fortune to learn about general aviation in high school when he was allowed to take a trip to Mississippi in a ‘small plane.’  At that moment he was hooked.  As his career of Risk Engineer started to grow, he would take ad-hoc lessons from anyone that had a “Flight Instructor” shingle hanging up.  In 2008 he realized that he had to get more astute if he was to realize his goal of becoming a pilot.  After researching his options, he chose Gulf Coast Aviation based on their attention to fleet maintenance, and their teaching curriculum.   Due to his belief in the school, he purchased shares of the company from some partners that were leaving New Orleans. Today, Robert is actively involved in the aviation community.  He was one of the 5 founding members selected for the Cessna Pilot Schools Advisory Group.

Stephen is from Covington, LA and currently lives in New Orleans. In 2008, Stephen obtained his private pilot’s license in Hammond, LA while studying at Louisiana State University. From then on, Stephen was hooked to aviation and left for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2012 to pursue a Master of Science in Aeronautics degree. While at ERAU, Stephen obtained his instrument, commercial, and CFI certificates and specialized in aviation safety and air traffic management. Stephen began instructing at the university in 2014 and returned to Louisiana in 2015. In addition to flight instructing, Stephen also works as a first officer in a King Air 350.

Steve, our Chief Instructor, is the old “guiding hand” of our instructional team, offering advice daily to both instructors and students alike.  Soloing in 1968, Steve has logged 4,300 hours flying both charter and student instruction.  Aviation is his passion as evidenced by his 30 + years as a Civil Air Patrol search and rescue pilot and check airman for the New Orleans area.  In his spare time, Steve is a FAAsteam Representative giving instruction towards the Wings program.