Our Team
We pride ourselves on bringing our clients strong programs and exciting experiences with engaging and knowledgeable presenters.
Mike Schuster
Principal Consultant, Chief Instructor
Aviation Solutions was founded by Mike Schuster, who currently serves as Principal Consultant and Chief Instructor. Mike has been involved in flight training and commercial operations for over 20 years, having given thousands of hours of in-flight and ground school instruction. He has held the positions of Chief Flight Instructor, Person Responsible for Maintenance, and Director of Flight Operations for multiple FTUs ranging in size from 8 aircraft to 40. His experience includes managing university, integrated, and international programs of over 200 full time students, and 65 flight instructors; as well as delivering the DND Air Cadet power scholarship program. Mike’s experience in commercial operations comes from having flown the PC-12 for Canada’s premier fractional company, as a Training Captain on Bombardier’s Q400 with a major Canadian airline where he also served as a Flight Operations Safety Officer, and currently being qualified as a Captain and Instructor on the A320 with a Canadian air carrier.
Mike has been involved in the development of such programs as the Integrated ATP (406), Safety Management Systems (406, 703, 705), SOPs (406, 703), Flight Operations Manuals (406, 703, 705), Maintenance Control Manuals (406, 703), Minimum Equipment Lists (705), Flight Dispatch Manuals (705), Quality Assurance (406, 703), and training program development at many levels.
Mike holds an Airline Transport Pilot License, Class 1 Flight Instructor Rating, and Authorized Person status for Transport Canada. He has also held delegated authorities as a formal aviation language assessor and Pilot Examiner (IFR). He is a regular aviation writer (see our blog), and has been published multiple times in Transport Canada’s Aviation Safety Letter. Mike also makes regular appearances as an industry expert through various media and events, including presenting at the TSB’s annual Air Safety Investigator Workshop. He received Special Recognition from the Selection Committee of the David Abramson Memorial Flight Instructor Safety Award in both 2011 and 2022, and in 2013 was listed as one of Wings Magazine’s Top 10 Aviation and Aerospace Professionals Under 40 Years of Age. In 2022, he received the Transport Canada Aviation Safety Award for exceptional dedication and contribution to Canadian aviation safety. As part of his continual skill upgrading, Mike has also completed multiple aviation related post-secondary qualifications.
Scott Peters
FIRC Presenter, Course Manager, Quality Assurance
Scott started his flying through the Royal Canadian Air Cadet system and received both his Glider and Private Pilot Licences through their scholarship programs. Scott graduated from Confederation College’s Aviation Flight Management Program in 1993. His career as a Flight Instructor started at Aviation International in Guelph, Ontario in 1995. He earned his Class 1 Instructor Rating in 1997 and subsequently held the position of Chief Flight Instructor at AI. Scott has been an Authorized Person, Aviation Language Proficiency Examiner, and Pilot Examiner for recreational, private, and commercial flight tests – in addition to having been the Training Manager and an Approved Check Pilot for a B1900 and CRJ operator. Scott is currently the Training Manager for the B737 at a major Canadian airline.
Nicholas Smith
FIRC Presenter, Course Manager, Quality Assurance
After graduating from Seneca College in 2004, Nicholas obtained his instructor rating at National Flyers Academy where he then taught on the DND Air Cadet program and for Conestoga College’s CPL Program at the Waterloo-Wellington Flight Centre. Nicholas then moved to Maylan Flight Academy where he filled the role of Assistant to the Director of Flight Operations, later being promoted to Chief Flight Instructor. In addition to time spent working on the University of Western Ontario ICPL program, he was instrumental in building one of the country’s largest flight training units. Nicholas is a Class 2 Instructor holding an ATPL. He has held line pilot and training positions on the B1900, EMB190, B737, and is currently a Captain and Instructor on the A220 with major Canadian air carrier.
Brett graduated from the Sault College Aviation Program (with Honours) in 2007, where he was also rated as the top IFR pilot in his class. Following this, Brett completed his initial instructor rating at National Flyers Academy. While at NFA he conducted ab-initio flight, ground, and simulator training for both civil and Air Cadet students. He then returned to Sault College where he also taught multi and IFR ratings within an ICPL program. Additionally, Brett has worked as a fire patrol (C337) and medivac pilot (PC-12). He spent several years as a Captain with a Canadian airline on the Q400, is now a Captain on the A320 with a major Canadian airline, and is the holder of a Class 1 instructor rating. Prior to joining Aviation Solutions, Brett was the 2014 recipient of the Chief Flight Instructor’s Award recognizing superior professionalism, skill, and dedication.
Brett Frey
FIRC Presenter, Course Manager, Quality Assurance
Adam Shehata
FIRC Presenter, Aviation Law
Adam started his flying career in 1999 with a glider scholarship from the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. In 2004, he graduated from Seneca College with a 4.0 GPA and then attended the University of Western Sydney where he obtained a Bachelor of Aviation Degree (with honours). While in Australia, he was an Aviation Research Assistant in the university’s psychology department and also graduated with High Distinction in Aviation Safety Management. Adam has taught air cadets, civilian, international, college, and university students during his career and has filled the roles of Assistant Director of Flight Operations, Company Aviation Safety Officer, and Chief Groundschool Instructor. He currently holds an ATPL with Class 1 Flight Instructor Rating as well as a Glider Instructor Rating, and has held authorities as a Radio Examiner and Aviation Language Proficiency Examiner. In addition to flying, Adam graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2016. In 2020, he also he completed his Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Toronto.
Doug is a well known pilot in the aviation community, having amassed over 24,000 flight hours in his 30+ year career. Doug started his flying on Canada’s east coast and also became a certified meteorologist, working as forecaster with Environment Canada. Doug has a passion for teaching and combining his aviation and weather expertise – he has taught students from the PPL level right up to airline new-hires. In addition to flying, forecasting, and teaching, Doug is also an author. He has been writing for enRoute magazine for over two decades and has been published in Wings, Canadian Aviator, and Weatherwise magazines, amongst others. He has published three books “From the Flight Deck”, “Canadian Aviation Weather”, and “Pilot Weather” – hoping to inspire others to seek an exciting and dynamic career in aviation. Most recently he completed writing “From the Flight Deck” and earned his Masters in Aviation and Aerospace Management from Purdue University. Having spent over 20 years flying Airbus products, he currently flies the Boeing 787 as a Training Captain for a Canadian Air Carrier.
Doug Morris
FIRC Presenter, Aviation Weather
Samuel Clement-Coulson
FIRC Presenter, Human Factors
Sam is both a flight instructor and human factors researcher. Having started with a college degree in airline operations from Cégep de Chicoutimi in 2015, he is currently working towards his PhD at Concordia University where he bridges the gap between academic research and aviation operations. This includes utilizing artificial intelligence, wearable sensors, and an interdisciplinary approach between the university, flight schools, and aerospace companies from around the world. Sam’s primary goal is the creation of training programs targeted to the increasing need for qualified, competent aviators in a rapidly changing industry.
Sam flies with the Canadian Forces’ gliding operations where he has also filled the role of Training Officer. Previously, he conducted medical evacuations with AirSpeed where he was also the Vice President – Safety. In addition to his current role with Aviation Safety Intelligence at Transport Canada, he teaches commercial students in the Montreal Area, where he specializes in instrument flying and tailwheel conversions. Prior to joining Aviation Solutions, Sam was the recipient of the 2018 Chief Flight Instructor’s Award recognizing superior professionalism, skill, and dedication. In 2022 he was also recognized as one of Wings Magazine’s Top 20 Aviation Professionals Under 40 Years of Age.
Guest Speakers
Transportation Safety Board, NavCanada, Transport Canada
When available and circumstances permit, we are pleased to welcome a variety of guest speakers to our courses. These industry experts share unique perspectives with our attendees. From the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, we have previously hosted Kathy Fox, Ewan Tasker, Mike Cunningham, and Isabelle Langevin. Kurtis Arnold, Andrew MacKenzie, Alex Brault, and Steve Newman have presented on behalf of NavCanada. We have also had several TC Inspectors deliver presentations, including Mike Bohemier, Brenda Frame, Mark Dixon, Paul Spiers, Jack Wisnicki, and Marc Saulnier, in addition to the many TC Inspectors who have used our FIRC to renew their own instructor ratings and have contributed through their participation. Highlights from these presentations have been integrated into our course content, and many of these presenters continue to be available to us as subject matter experts throughout the year.