For owner Paris Christodoulides, Paris Air isn’t just a business–it’s something he has poured his heart and soul into. Paris has spent almost 40 years in the aviation industry following his dreams. One only has to ask what the company means to him to learn of his passion for teaching and helping aspiring pilots achieve their dreams. And that’s exactly what makes Paris Air different. Paris’ mission is to help people from around the world become pilots.
And he understands their needs because he has been in their shoes. Aviation is a unique industry, and it takes someone like Paris who knows the ins and outs to truly serve the best interests of the students.
Follow along to learn more about Paris–and how Paris Air has grown into the flight school it is today.
Embarking on a High-Flying Adventure
Paris began his aviation adventure in the early eighties. “When I was young, I saw airplanes flying while I was sitting on the beach in Cyprus. I was intrigued, and I decided that I wanted to be a pilot one day.” After moving from Cyprus to New York to earn his pilot’s license, he moved to Florida in 1984 with his wife to begin his aviation career.
While working as a flight instructor and corporate pilot for various companies, he began to realize how much he enjoyed teaching and mentoring students. And he also realized that he was doing something right because he kept getting more students. That’s when the idea of Paris Air was born. So in 1997, he opened Paris Air by himself with one airplane.
Over the years, Paris Air grew into the robust flight school it is today with over 50 aircraft and 28 flight instructors. Today, Paris pours much of his time and energy into supporting and helping both current and prospective students.
Learning to Fly at Paris Air
Paris really enjoys getting to know students from around the world. It’s really important to him to make the effort to get to know his students–to develop trust with them–before flying. It is this relational method of teaching that has gotten him where he is now. In the words of Paris, “I don’t just teach them to fly, but I also love to learn about their lives.” He firmly believes that getting to know someone makes the process of learning to fly much easier.
“It’s all about helping students fulfill their dreams.”
When students choose Paris Air, they can be certain that Paris has their best interests in mind. His goal for the company is to continue expanding the flight school to train the next generation of pilots. To accomplish this mission, Paris is heavily involved in the day-to-day operations of the flight school. From personally answering every email that comes through, to checking in on students, Paris makes sure that everyone feels comfortable coming to him with any questions or concerns. To Paris, maintaining exceptional service is non-negotiable.
A Day in the Life of Paris
Every day looks different for Paris. His role at Paris Air permeates so much of his life. Every morning, he leaves early to start his day by answering emails. Throughout the day, he oversees every aspect of Paris Air to make sure everything is going smoothly. Students can easily find him if they want to talk, and he has a personal hand in every aspect of the business. He frequently chats with students, teaches helicopter students, and assists Paris Air’s 60 employees. He also oversees the Part 145 FAA-approved Repair Station to ensure that our planes are kept in the safest conditions possible. And at the end of the day, Paris is still working to respond to inquiries and help prospective students. So much of his life has been dedicated to helping others achieve their dreams. And by doing so, he is achieving his dreams on a daily basis.
This personalized service begins before students even arrive at Paris Air. When students inquire about learning to fly, Paris takes the time to understand their goals and unique needs. Because Paris Air serves students from all over the world, there are many nuances that must be taken into account with the varying regulations. Once Paris develops a thorough understanding of the student’s needs, he helps them develop a plan of action to achieve their goals. When helping students, Paris makes sure to place the best interests of students at the forefront. He provides advice to help them choose the most cost-effective route to put them on the road to success.
A Continued Pursuit
Almost 40 years since starting his aviation career, Paris is still working hard to share this passion for aviation with his students. He shared, “I love what I do. I love my clients and my business. I love flying and interacting with people.”
Paris’ story serves as an inspiration for people looking to fly and maybe one day start a business of their own. After moving to the United States from Cyprus around 40 years ago, he has built a life and successful career here helping others. Working his way to where he is today didn’t come easily, but it has made him into who he is and has provided him with extensive knowledge and experiences that help him counsel students. Paris draws on his personal experience to connect with students and understand their needs.
What’s Next for Paris Air?
Upon reflecting on the future of his beloved flight school. Paris said, “I want to continue providing excellence and getting better year over year. To me, quality is more important than quantity.” No matter how much the company grows over the coming years, Paris is dedicated to ensuring that they continue delivering outstanding, personalized service. He wants each student to continue having a wonderful experience learning to fly that equips them for a successful career.
In the meantime, he is focused on serving prospective and current students through Paris Air’s many educational offerings that equip students to achieve their dreams of flying.
