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Tim Unruh
Months before Sebastian Khoshabeh graduates from Kansas State at Salina, he’s well into a career as a businessman and flight instructor.
The San Diego native who ventured to Middle America to win his wings during the fall of 2021, is the co-owner of SK Flight Instruction, with partner and girlfriend Lani Prudent, of Minneapolis, MN. She became a Salinan in March of 2022.
They met during a campus tour.
Both are 21 and eager to build on their futures; Khoshabeh as an airline transport pilot after he certifies with 1,000 or more hours of flight time (rising from 250 as an instructor). Prudent is leaning towards veterinary medicine.
“I came here with the intention to work for K-State and teach, then realized I could do my own thing,” Khoshabeh said.
Enrollment in the K-State professional pilot program is so saturated that students are placed on a waiting list to begin flight training, he said.
So the flight instructor decided to provide an outlet for students to snare the license before entering college training — and locals who would like to learn to fly.
“Right now I’m a contributor to K-State,” he said. “A lot of people who go to K-State have a pretty big waiting list to get their private pilot’s license. Some have to wait two or three semesters to start (training).”
About 60 percent of SK Flight Instruction’s clients are from K-State Salina, who seek to avoid the “traffic jam” in the pro pilot system.
“It gets them moving through the program a little bit faster,” Khoshabeh said.
A number of K-State Salina students become flight instructors, either privately or through the university, as they push toward an airline transport pilot certificate.
Khoshabeh and Prudent rented an office and classroom at Building 412, at 2804 Arnold, and they’ve been busy furnishing and decorating.
“I help schedule some of the students and with the billing,” Prudent said. “Once we get a receptionist desk in the office, then we’ll be able to have a more permanent presence, and I can be more of an administrator.”
Students lease aircraft directly from Schilling Aviation Services. Instructors are paid directly by their pupils.
It’s a common practice, said Bob Pahls, owner of Schilling Aviation Services.
“I rent the airplanes out and give potential students a list of (instructors’) names. They contact them and pay them directly,” he said. “It’s basically done through our business, but I don’t have any flight instructors on staff. A lot of others get their Certified Flight Instructor ratings here and get hired by K-State to flight instruct there.”
Khoshabeh and Prudent advertise through their website, skflightinstruction.com.
SK Flight Instruction is a licensed commercial service flight instruction operation at the Salina Regional Airport.
The couple’s to-do list will eventually involve hiring other instructors and buying their own airplanes.
SK Flight Instruction is one of Khoshabeh’s goals. Like many of his classmates completing an ATP rating, he plans to also fly for an airline.
“You can basically work for an airline or other operators like Fedex and UPS,” he said.
First officers for regional airlines can land $100,000-plus annual salaries and captains are paid from $150,000 to $180,000, working 75 hours a month, Khoshabeh said, reading from the 2023 United Pilot Agreement from United Airlines.
A pilot who rises to a captain working for a “Legacy Carrier” and flying wide-body airplanes, can make a minimum of $440,000 a year, he said, and up to $1 million with bonuses and adding extra trips.
“That’s why people see aviation as something they want to go into,” Khoshabeh said.
In addition, he would like to grow the SK Flight Instruction business in Salina and add “Designated Pilot Examiner” to his resume, which would allow him to conduct flight tests for pilots seeking additional certificates.
Another business idea for Salina is aircraft detailing, which involves cleaning, shampooing and washing aircraft interiors and exteriors.
“There are not many businesses like that between Chicago and Denver. There’s a big aviation operation here and in other neighboring cities like Wichita, for a mobile detailing business,” Khoshabeh said. “It’s a good opportunity.”
Khoshabeh and Prudent just celebrated three years together and have enjoyed being in a high-energy whirlwind.
“Sebastian is really determined, a super hard worker,” Prudent said. “I’ve always been a hard worker, too, but he’s starting his own business by the time he’s 21. He pushes me everyday to be better. I’m so grateful for that.”
Prudent’s plan is to help Khoshabeh get well into his career.
“I really want to be in a place where I don’t have to deal with student loans,” she said. “Once he’s established, I’ll probably go to school.”
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