Our Instructors

Linda Scully

As is typical, Linda did not enter the aviation business after graduating from college. Armed with a B.S. in business administration from the College of St. Elizabeth (where she glimpsed planes at nearby Morristown Airport), Linda’s first career opportunity was as an accountant in Princeton, NJ.

On weekend excursions Linda would pass a “Learn to Fly” sign. This ignited her interest in flying. A $10 introductory flight at Robbinsville Airport was her next step. When the flight was over, she signed up for lessons! Linda earned her private pilot certificate in 1981. By 1983 she’d added her instrument rating and commercial, CFI and CFII certificates. She started instructing at Robbinsville.

In the early 1990s, Linda affiliated with the Ninety-Nines and took up aerobatic flying. Soon after, she bought a Cessna Aerobat, incorporated Aero Safety Training, Ltd., and started teaching spin awareness, basic aerobatics and tailwheel transition courses. This lead to the merging of the two flight schools, Aero Safety Training and Lincoln Park Aviation under her ownership.

In 1994, 1995, 2003 and 2004 she competed in the Air Race Classic, a an all-women 2200-mile cross-country air race. With help from the Ninety-Nines’ Amelia Earhart Scholarship, she earned her ATP rating in 1995. In 1999, Linda was the first instructor in the state of New Jersey to earn the designation of Master Instructor. Linda served as an FAA safety counselor and is currently a FAASTeam representative. Linda was the 2009 instructor of the year for the Teterboro FSDO. She’s served as governor of the New York-New Jersey Section of the Ninety-Nines, and president of the Lincoln Park Pilots Association.

In February 2010, she was selected as one of 10 winners in a nationwide “Make Mine a Million Dollar Business” contest sponsored by American Express and Count Me In.

Matt D’Angelo

Since I can remember, I have always dreamed of flying. For this, I thank my parents for taking my brother and I to watch planes take off and land at Westchester County Airport. Also, thank you George Lucas for creating and releasing Star Wars when I was four years old! I would emulate Han Solo flying the Millenium Falcon, always wondering how amazing it would be to be a pilot.

My first experience in a small airplane was my intro flight in a Cessna 152 in 1996. At that time, my only other flight was on an airline going to and from Florida over a decade prior. Even before these experiences, I was hooked, but once I flew, I knew this was my calling.

My first flying as an instructor was in a 1951 Cessna 170 in Western North Dakota. My student and I would usually fly just before sunset, high and slow over fields of sunflowers and winter wheat. We would debrief the flight in the hangar while hand polishing a few square feet of the shiny 170. What an experience!

I am happy to say I now have over ten years instructing experience and have had the opportunity to teach and learn from some incredible people! What I enjoy most about flying is…flying! What I enjoy most about teaching is helping people achieve their dreams, whether it’s building confidence, gaining experience, or earning a license or advanced rating.

When I’m not instructing or flying, I’m enjoying spending time with my wife, Jean, surfing, backpacking, hiking, snowboarding, travelling, or just enjoying life together.

Thank you for pursuing your aviation dreams with Aero Safety Training. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Pawel Kumela

My aviation story started when I was only fours year old and my dad sat me down in a glider. Right from that moment I knew that flying would follow me for the rest of my life and ultimately, I was right. After college, as many do, I entered the corporate world and spent over ten years in purchasing and management. Then, I finally decided it was time to start living my passion for aviation.

My wife and I moved back to New Jersey and I pursued my dream to become a flight instructor. It’s true I love to fly, but I’ve also discovered that teaching students is not just a job, it’s a real pleasure. I certainly enjoy sharing my passion for flight and helping my students learn the necessary skills, but I really appreciate the happiness and smiles I seem to be able to bring into their lives.

On my days off I enjoy spending time with my wife, my baby daughter Anna and going for walks with the dogs. I also enjoy running, biking and cooking for my family.

Wilbur Wright once said “It is possible to fly without motors, but not without knowledge and skill”. Our team at Aero Safety Training is providing exactly that; the knowledge and skill to make every one of our future pilots enjoy the blue sky in the safest environment possible.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.