About 
Flight Instructors
Flight Instructors
About Our Instructors
At Moorabbin Flying Services (MFS), our team of Flight Instructors are amongst the most experienced and highly qualified within the Australian flight training industry. Our friendly team of pilots come from a range of different backgrounds and are all ready to share their wealth of experience with you. When you learn to fly with MFS, our guarantee to all our students is to have the best flight instructors, teaching in the newest aircraft. We won’t accept second best, and that is why we continue to train confident commercial pilots of the highest standard.
When it comes to all your flight test needs, MFS has CASA approved Flight Testing Officers in house. Our Chief Pilot, Gary Smyth, has been training and testing pilots at Moorabbin Airport for over thirty years, and carries a wealth of experience of his own. In house testing officers save you delays in having to book flight tests with external examiners who are often booked out many weeks in advance. Conduct your flight training with MFS and ensure you are learning to fly with the most experienced flight training professionals.
Contact MFS about visiting our flying school, to see for yourself the MFS difference.
When it comes to all your flight test needs, MFS has CASA approved Flight Testing Officers in house. Our Chief Pilot, Gary Smyth, has been training and testing pilots at Moorabbin Airport for over thirty years, and carries a wealth of experience of his own. In house testing officers save you delays in having to book flight tests with external examiners who are often booked out many weeks in advance. Conduct your flight training with MFS and ensure you are learning to fly with the most experienced flight training professionals.
Contact MFS about visiting our flying school, to see for yourself the MFS difference.
Gary Smyth - Chief Pilot, CASA Approved Testing Officer
Gary, Commenced flying in 1968 whilst training as an apprentice in aircraft sheet metal/airframe. He has spent the last 42 years at Moorabbin Airport, the last 17 of those as a Chief Pilot at MFS. Gary commenced instructing in 1973 and has been a Chief Flying Instructor, Chief Pilot, Authorised Testing Officer and Manager of 3 aviation companies. Gary is married with 3 girls, and 1 boy who is a Qantas pilot. When not flying he enjoys the quiet life in a semi-rural environment on the Mornington Peninsula.
Gary, Commenced flying in 1968 whilst training as an apprentice in aircraft sheet metal/airframe. He has spent the last 42 years at Moorabbin Airport, the last 17 of those as a Chief Pilot at MFS. Gary commenced instructing in 1973 and has been a Chief Flying Instructor, Chief Pilot, Authorised Testing Officer and Manager of 3 aviation companies. Gary is married with 3 girls, and 1 boy who is a Qantas pilot. When not flying he enjoys the quiet life in a semi-rural environment on the Mornington Peninsula.
Tony Smith - CASA Approved Testing Officer (ATO)
Tony Smith is an independent CASA Approved Testing Officer with over 30 years of aviation experience. Tony works with MFS on a regular basis to ensure a high standard of flying is maintained throughout all the MFS student pilots.
Colin Burns - Head of Training
Colin is the head of training at MFS and he derives great satisfaction from introducing the joy of flying to new student pilots, in particular guiding their development from novice to competent and confident pilots. He never tires of the view from the “classroom window”. When he is not flying, Colin manages the compliance of the MFS flight training syllabus and continues to create new and innovative ways to teach flying theory.
Warren McNally - Grade 1
Warren (a.k.a Wally) is a Senior Grade 1, multi-engine IFR instructor and MFS Flight Group Mentor. Wally as been flying for over 12 years and he is married with 2 children. Previously he owned and managed a mechanical business for 20 years. His interests include flying to his weekender, water-skiing, golf, and football. As a Flight Group Mentor, Wally oversees the progress of both student pilots and flight instructors to ensure everyone is progressing as planned.
“My love of flying continued to a point that after achieving my PPL, I found myself doing CPL subjects. I attained my CPL and then completed the instructor rating course, after which I joined MFS as an instructor. I enjoy sharing my passion for flying with my students, and helping them live their dreams of flying. I love what I do, and am always open to anyone who wants to talk aviation, or how to attain your dreams of flight!”
“My love of flying continued to a point that after achieving my PPL, I found myself doing CPL subjects. I attained my CPL and then completed the instructor rating course, after which I joined MFS as an instructor. I enjoy sharing my passion for flying with my students, and helping them live their dreams of flying. I love what I do, and am always open to anyone who wants to talk aviation, or how to attain your dreams of flight!”
Alessio Favaretto - Grade 1
Alessio's flying career began in Italy in 1998, commencing flying and aviation study at the Aeronautical Institute “A. Volta” in Udine. "At the age of sixteen I had the fortune to fly over the Italian Alps, from there I realised that flying was my greatest passion."
John Ioannou - Grade 1
John is one of our Senior Grade 1 flight instructors, and has been at MFS for over three years now. John's main role is providing training to pilots undertaking their IFR and Multi-engine components of their flight training, and when not instructing, spends his time undertaking charter work.
Sylvia Kappl - Grade 1
It all began for Sylvia in 1997 with a TIF. The passion was fuelled with the thrill of aerobatics. Her husband (also a pilot) decided to buy a share of a C182, and since then they have flown all over this country and enjoyed great times and companionship with fellow aviators. Now as a Grade 1 instructor with Moorabbin Flying Services, Sylvia loves to assist others to achieve their aviation dream, either for career or just for "The fun of it".
It all began for Sylvia in 1997 with a TIF. The passion was fuelled with the thrill of aerobatics. Her husband (also a pilot) decided to buy a share of a C182, and since then they have flown all over this country and enjoyed great times and companionship with fellow aviators. Now as a Grade 1 instructor with Moorabbin Flying Services, Sylvia loves to assist others to achieve their aviation dream, either for career or just for "The fun of it".
Peter Bishop - Grade 1
Peter is one of our Senior Grade 1 instructors. He commenced flying in 1975, and has considerable experience in charter work, as well as instructing. He holds a Multi Engine Training Approval (META) & Cert IV in Training & Assessment. Peter derives great satisfaction from helping his students achieve their goals in aviation, and many of his past students now fly for the major airlines.
Graham Pozzi - Grade 2
Graham kicked off his aviation career in Scotland with the Air Training Corps in 1994, flying bulldogs and gliders. In 2005 he moved to Australia to pursue his commercial training. He currently works as a Grade 2 instructor, with multi-engine training approval. He also holds a Multi Engine Instrument Rating and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. In his spare time Graham loves playing the bagpipes and eating haggis!
Matteo Alfonsi - Grade 2
Matteo grew up in Italy where he attended a specialist aeronautical high school. In 2006 he came to Australia to gain his commercial pilot licence and instructor rating, and he has been instructing at MFS since 2007. Since he was a child, he has dreamed of being a pilot, and he says that it is the best feeling to help other people also achieve their goals. Matteo is also involved with the Volare MFS program delivering flight instruction to our Italian Students.
Leigh Colbert - Grade 2
Leigh is a Grade 2 flight instructor, and when not flying, he can be seen as a sports presenter for Fox Sports . Leigh started flying whilst he was a professional football player, so that he could have a new career after sport. Leigh has been flying professionally now for a few years, and can often be seen passing through the school with a few passengers, heading off somewhere on an exciting charter in a Piper Chieftain.
Anna Sophia Lazarou - Grade 2
Anna (a.k.a. Soph) is a Grade 2 flight instructor, and holds a Bachelor of Technology (Aviation) Degree from Swinburne University, along with multi engine instrument, glider towing and aerobatics ratings. She has worked in flight dispatch at 'an orange coloured airline' and glider towing at Benalla Airfield. Whilst working as a full time instructor at MFS, Soph is undertaking a Master of Aviation (Human Factors) Degree.
Nick Savage - Grade 2
Prior to joining MFS in June 2009, Nick amassed twenty years experience in hospitality, ten of which were self employed. Nick decided to make the transition into aviation in 2006, commencing from scratch to CPL, and completed his instructor rating part time whilst running his restaurant. March 2008 saw Nick leave hospitality permanently to concentrate on the balance of his flight training. Nick is father to Ben, eight years old and the reason to never, ever, give up! Nick’s background in setting standards for quality and service enables him to deliver a high level of personalised flight instruction to his student pilot's. “It is a bonus that the view from my office is pretty special at 5000 feet.”
Nicola Azzone - Grade 3
Nic is a Grade 3 flight instructor, and has been flying since the age of 16. He was selected to join the Italian Naval Academy at 19 and was in training to be a military pilot. During his tenure as an officer of the Italian Navy, he participated in missions with the Italian Ministry of Defence. He holds a Bachelor of Military Naval Science and is a Tenant Officer in the Reserve Force of the Italian Navy. Nic, is heavily involved with flight training of Italian Student Pilots through our Volare MFS program.
Shane D'Alcorn - Grade 3
Shane is a Senior Grade 3 instructor who has been flying since 2005. He has flown in a variety of aircraft types including the PC-9 with the Royal Australian Navy. Ever since taking his first flight, he has been unable to imagine himself doing anything else other than flying.
Richard Plochaki - Grade 3
Richard's passion lies in teaching people to fly. Richard joins MFS with a wealth of experience from the Defence Force, Airline Maintenance, and Night Freight sectors, helping him to relate to our student pilots who are equally as diverse in their ages, nationalities and experiences.
Richard's passion lies in teaching people to fly. Richard joins MFS with a wealth of experience from the Defence Force, Airline Maintenance, and Night Freight sectors, helping him to relate to our student pilots who are equally as diverse in their ages, nationalities and experiences.
Fenella Jefferson - Grade 3
Fenella, is New Zealand born qualified Pharmaceutical Scientist, who commenced flying in 2002. Fenella is currently instructing part-time and looking to go full-time in the near future. “I really enjoy seeing a student progress but more importantly, the joy they gain from flying. As my Dad says, "the definition of freedom is flying” and who doesn't want that?!