Owen Sound Flight Services operates year round to provide Flight Training, Charter Flights and Sightseeing Flights over beautiful Grey and Bruce counties. Our friendly, professional staff will work with you to make sure all of your flying experiences are enjoyable, and all of your goals are achieved!
Dave Kalistchuk – Chief Flight Instructor
- Class 1 Flight Instructor
- Commercial Pilot Licence
- Instrument Rating
- Multi Engine Rating
- Float Rating
- 3,000+ hours flight experience
- 16 years teaching flying
- Transport Canada Authorized Person
- Transport Canada Exam Invigilator
- Industry Canada Radio Examiner
Dave Kalistchuk is the Owner of Owen Sound Flight Services, as well as the Operations Manager and Chief Pilot of Charter Operations, and Chief Flight Instructor for Flight Training. He began his flight training in Owen Sound over 20 years ago in March ’95 when his uncle Dan Vachon took him on his first flight.
Dave completed his Recreational Pilot Permit at 16, and went on to finish his Commercial Pilot’s Licence 3 years later. At 19 he became a Flight Instructor and started teaching others to fly. At 20 he completed the Multi Engine and Instrument Ratings, and in 2006 at age 25 joined his uncle Dan Vachon in co running the flight school; Owen Sound Flight Services. Almost 9 years later in February of 2015, Dave transitioned into the position of full owner and plans to continue to grow the business on the model that him and Dan have cultured over the last decade! His passion in flying is deep rooted, and is only surpassed by his enthusiasm in teaching others to fly.
Ben VanBeusekom – Assistant Chief Flight Instructor
- Class 2 Flight Instructor
- Commercial Pilot Licence
- Multi Engine Rating
- 3,000+ hours flight experience
- 9 years teaching flying
Ben VanBeusekom is a Flight Instructor for Owen Sound Flight Services. His passion for flying started at the age of 12 when a Young Eagles flight took him off the Earth for the first time. Ben is a homegrown pilot, starting his flight training with OSFS when he was 19, and becoming a Flight Instructor at age 20.
Ben’s aviation experiences have take him across the country, and have included Survey Flying in Northern Quebec, Managing a Flight School in Toronto, Apprenticing as an Aviation Mechanic in Ottawa, and Teaching Flying all over Southern Ontario. If Ben is not in the air flying, or under an airplane assisting in aircraft maintenance, you will likely find him around the closest coffee pot, talking flying with others who share his passion.
Dan Vachon – Flight Instructor
Class 1 Flight Instructor- Airline Transport Pilot Licence
- Instrument Rating
- Multi Engine Rating
- 10,000+ hours flight experience
- 30 years teaching flying
- Industry Canada Radio Examiner
In addition to being a Flight Instructor, Dan Vachon is also the Maintenance Manager for Owen Sound Flight Services. His extensive flying experience began in 1985 and he became a flight instructor in 1987. Dan is a Class 1 instructor, and has taught more than 100 students to be commercial pilots and over 50 commercial pilots to be instructors. For over 10 years Dan was a Flight Test Examiner for Transport Canada, which gave him unparalleled insight into what it takes to be a pilot.
Dan brings years of practical pilot experience from thousands of hours of flying with Air Canada Jazz. While piloting turboprop Dash 8’s he acquired extensive 2-pilot crew experience and gained critical insight into the demands of an airline pilot. It is with this expertise that he enthusiastically imparts the highest standard of flight training to all who share his passion for flying.
Jacqueline Nusko – Flight Instructor
Class 4 Flight Instructor- Commercial Pilot Licence
- 800 + hours flight experience
- 4 years teaching flying
Jacqueline is a Flight Instructor and the newest addition to our team at Owen Sound Flight Services. Growing up near the Hamilton Airport, the sight of airplanes flying overhead inspired her to become a pilot at a young age. She began her flight training with OSFS in 2011, and over the next 3 years she would complete her Commercial Pilot Licence and Instructor Rating by age 24.
During her Commercial Pilot Training, Jacqueline purchased her own airplane, and has since taken her Cessna 150 as far as Prince Edward Island. Although Jacqueline is new to the teaching game, you will find that any lack of experience is greatly overshadowed by her enthusiasm and dedication for teaching others to fly!