MEET THE TEAM

Meet the people behind SkyLearner

Meet the aviation professionals and support team behind SkyLearner — from training and standards to student accounts and the day-to-day running of the business.

Meet the team Contact SkyLearner
UK CAA Approved Training OrganisationGBR.ATO.0522
Ryan Mitton
RyanAccountable Manager
Josh Van-Rietvelde
JoshHead of Training
Stefan Wagner
StefanCompliance & Instruction
Gary Ferguson
GaryInstruction & Radio
01PPLPrivate pilot theory
02CPL / IRCommercial & instrument theory
03ATPLAirline transport theory
Aviation training around a light aircraft
Real aviation experience.Built into the way we teach.
AVIATION EXPERIENCE YOU CAN TRUST

Ground school shaped by
real-world flying

SkyLearner is built and delivered by aviation professionals who understand both the syllabus and what the knowledge is for once you are in the cockpit.

Across the team you will find experience in general aviation, flight instruction, theoretical knowledge instruction, commercial operations, safety, compliance, CRM and examining — backed up by the people who keep student support, accounts and the wider business running smoothly.

✓Practical teachingComplex subjects explained in a way that connects with flying.
✓Human supportQuestions are answered by people who know the course and the industry.
✓Standards built inTraining quality, safety and compliance sit alongside the teaching.
OUR TEAM

People you’ll actually
hear from

The people behind the course content, training standards, student support, accounts and day-to-day operation of SkyLearner.

Ryan Mitton
01

Ryan Mitton

Accountable Manager & Managing Director

Ryan is SkyLearner’s Accountable Manager and Managing Director, with a background spanning both military and civil aviation. His flying experience includes transport aircraft, alongside work in aviation safety and CRM instruction. Ryan also teaches across the UK PPL theoretical knowledge syllabus, bringing an operational perspective to the classroom and helping students connect the theory with how aviation works in practice.

Accountable ManagerPPL Theory InstructorCRM Instructor
Josh Van-Rietvelde
02

Josh Van-Rietvelde

Head of Training, CTKI & Safety

Josh has spent much of his career in training, with experience across general aviation, charter operations and airlines in the UK and overseas. He has taught PPL, CPL/IR and ATPL theoretical knowledge for many years, alongside CRM and simulator instruction. His flying background includes turboprop and jet aircraft, and he has also worked in airline recruitment and pilot selection. He likes to keep complicated subjects simple and practical, so students understand the reasoning rather than just memorising the answer.

Head of TrainingPPL / CPL / ATPL InstructorCRM & Simulator Instructor
Stefan Wagner
03

Stefan Wagner

Compliance Monitoring Manager & Theoretical Knowledge Instructor

Originally from Austria, Stefan is an instructor at heart, with experience in practical flight instruction and ground school teaching. He teaches PPL, CPL/IR and ATPL theoretical knowledge and is one of the people behind SkyLearner’s course content. Approachable and detail-focused, Stefan also brings a background in social care that gives him a thoughtful perspective on how different people learn. Alongside instruction, he is SkyLearner’s Compliance Monitoring Manager.

Flight & Ground InstructorPPL / CPL / ATPL InstructorCompliance Monitoring
Gary Ferguson
04

Gary Ferguson

Flight Instructor & FRTOL Examiner

Gary brings a broad mix of instructional and operational flying experience to the team. He has worked as a flight instructor, Chief Flying Instructor and in charter operations, giving him a very practical perspective on the subjects he teaches. Gary teaches across the PPL theoretical knowledge syllabus and is also a UK CAA approved FRTOL examiner, helping pilots gain their radio licence and develop the confidence to use it properly.

Flight InstructorPPL Theory InstructorCAA FRTOL Examiner
Dan Richmond
05

Dan Richmond

Theoretical Knowledge Instructor

Dan has been passionate about aviation instruction for more than 18 years and has taught PPL, CPL/IR and ATPL theoretical knowledge across a wide range of training environments. Whether working with a major operator or a smaller organisation, his approach stays the same: make the theory clear, practical and easier to understand. Dan genuinely enjoys breaking down complicated subjects, and the best part of teaching for him is seeing the moment a student suddenly gets it. Alongside his instructional background, Dan has broad experience across the wider aviation training industry and, more recently, charter flying.

18+ Years InstructionPPL / CPL / ATPL InstructorCharter Flying
Caleb Chikuni
06

Caleb Chikuni

Accountant & “Number Cruncher” — Money Team

Caleb is SkyLearner’s accountant and resident “number cruncher”, looking after both student accounts and the wider business accounts. Originally from Zambia, he helps keep the financial side of SkyLearner organised and is one of the people students may hear from when there is an account or payment query. Away from the spreadsheets, Caleb is a family man and a big fan of comics and anime. He brings a calm, friendly approach to the Money Team and helps keep the numbers — and the rest of us — in order.

Student AccountsBusiness AccountsMoney Team
WHY IT MATTERS

A course is only as good as
the people behind it

01

We teach for understanding

Knowing the correct answer is useful. Understanding why it is correct is what makes the knowledge transferable to the cockpit.

02

We stay involved

SkyLearner is not designed as a login-and-good-luck course. The team remains part of the training through support, knowledge checks and guidance.

03

We take standards seriously

Instruction, safety, compliance and course development are connected, so the quality of the learning experience is treated as part of the training system.

SPEAK TO US

Got a question?
Ask the team.

Whether you are choosing a course, planning your exams or already studying with us, we would rather you ask than guess.

Contact SkyLearner