MEET THE CREW
Our name is our approach to training.... The goal being, to go "Beyond" Aviation, and create a warm, friendly environment that is conducive to learning and fellowship.
After noticing a fundamental gap in the number of quality training options available in the area, we set out to launch an innovative, new approach to flight training. The result is a prescribed, comprehensive approach to flight training, that unites professionalism, structure, and quality. Taking the best concepts of a flying club, without the dues or membership fees, and combining the structure and process of a learning institution, we feel we have created the perfect environment in which to learn and grow from your training experience.
Led by former military and airline flight crew, with a rich heritage in general aviation, BA is uniquely positioned to help train aviators from all walks of life, and goals.
BILL DIAMOND
Chief Executive Officer
Bill is a south Jersey native who soloed his first airplane at 18 and who's vision helped create Beyond Aviation.
Bill is responsible for the overall strategy for the flight school, and is passionate about introducing high school students and minorities to careers in aviation. Prior to Beyond Aviation, Bill held various sales, marketing and engineering positions with some of the worlds leading cybersecurity firms, and consulted with the United States government and Airbus Industries on the need to secure aircraft flight systems from hackers. Bill also holds an Airbus A320 Type Rating.
When not playing with airplanes and running the school, Bill enjoys spending time with family and friends, and maintains an extensive saltwater reef aquarium at his home.
JoAnna Marmon
Chief Operating Officer and Flight Instructor
JoAnna is a Philadelphia native who attended The Baldwin School for girls from kindergarten through twelfth grade, and is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. While in middle school she began taking flying lessons. In high school JoAnna worked behind the front counter at Hortman Aviation every weekend and in the summertime in return for flying lessons.
Upon graduation from high school she had already earned her Private Pilot’s License, her Instrument Rating and her Commercial License.
JoAnna was hired by American Airlines in 2017 and started flying their Airbus 320 fleet which was comprised of A319, A320 and A321 aircraft. In 2018 JoAnna transitioned to flying the Boeing 757 and 767. Curently, JoAnna is flying the Boeing 787. JoAnna has an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate and is a Certified Flight Instructor single engine, multi engine, and instrument airplane. She is tailwheel qualified and is a Single Engine Seaplane rated pilot.
RON TORNESE
Chief Flight Instructor
Ron Tornese has spent most of his life living and flying in New Jersey. He attended Rutgers University where he studied Computer Science and attained his USAF commission through Air Force ROTC. He attained his private pilot’s license before attending USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training.
Ron served 10 years in the Air Force on active duty and another 12 in the Reserves. In the Air Force he flew the T-37B, T-1A, C-141B, T-34C, T-6A, and KC-10. After active duty he became an airline pilot for a legacy US airline where he has flown the Boeing 737, 757, 767 and 777. He is currently an active 737 Captain. Ron has more than 8,500 hours of flight time and has an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with type ratings in the BE400, DC10, B737, B757, B767, and B777. He is also a Certified Flight Instructor single engine, multi engine, and instrument airplane.
Jim Aaron
Assistant Chief Flight Instructor
Jim attended CW Post University and USAF ROTC in New York. While there, he flew out of the McGuire AFB Aero Club. Following commissioning in the USAF, he attended USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training.
Jim has served 35 years in the USAF, 9 in active duty, and 26 in the reserves. While in the reserves he has been a Squadron Operations Officer, Flight Safety Mishap Investigator, Chief Pilot and Wing Evaluator Pilot. Jim has flown the T-37B, T-38A, KC-135R and was an instructor/evaluator in the KC-10A.
Jim has been an FAA civilian flight instructor since 1992 and currently holds ratings in single-engine land and Sea, instrument, and multi-engine aircraft. He particularly loves tail wheel flying and instruction and owned an 1946 Aeronca Champ for ten years.
He has served as an FAA Aviation Counselor.
Jim is currently a Dassault Falcon 7X instructor. While not flying, he enjoys boating and cruising the Delaware River and Chesapeake Bay.
Tyler Hardy
Assistant Chief Flight Instructor
A New Jersey native, Tyler earned his ratings and a bachelor's degree from Delaware State University.
Tyler is in the United Aviate program and hopes to fly for United Airlines someday.
James Gameron
Certified Flight Instructor
James is a South Jersey native with a strong commitment to both his community and aviation. He received his flight training at CAE Oxford Aviation Academy in Mesa, Arizona, earning commercial single and multi-engine certificates as well as a CFI-I certificate. He is also a cadet for both American Airlines and Piedmont Airlines. Prior to pursuing a career in aviation, James worked as a 9-1-1 dispatcher. He currently serves as a volunteer firefighter/EMT.
Ryan Smith
Certified Flight Instructor
Ryan's interest in aviation came from his dad being a Blackhawk mechanic in the Army. He obtained his licenses while training out of the Trenton and Northeast Philadelphia Airports.
Sam Scheiner
Certified Flight Instructor
Born and raised in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Sam was interested in flying from a young age. He was a member of the Civil Air Patrol and first started flying gliders while attending Towson University.
While in school, Sam completed Army ROTC and was selected for Army National Guard Aviation. While waiting for flight school, he completed his commercial and instructor ratings in gliders. In the Army, Sam served as a platoon leader in the Maryland and Delaware National Guard and is a qualified pilot in the UH-72A Lakota and UH-60A/L Blackhawk Helicopters.
Sam has participated in numerous transport and VIP missions for the Army in the Washington, DC, area and has flown extensively into and out of the Pentagon heliport.
In his free time, Sam enjoys visiting National Parks, camping, and running.
Braelyn Savage
Certified Flight Instructor
Braelyn has lived and traveled all over the world, including Misawa Air Force base in Japan before her family was restationed to New Jersey. Her parent’s careers as Air Force aircraft maintainers and American Airlines flight attendants sparked her passion for aviation. Braelyn earned her Bachelor’s in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Arizona State University and aspires to help pilots with speech impediments or accents in the future.
When she isn’t flying, Braelyn loves attending Taylor Swift concerts and traveling with friends.
CLAY CLARY
Certified Flight Instructor
Clay is a native of South Carolina, where he soloed at 17 years old and earned his private pilot’s license before attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. After working at Embry-Riddle as a flight instructor, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard and flew search and rescue missions throughout his 21-year career, as well as serving as a military Instructor Pilot and Flight Examiner. In the military he flew the T-34C, TH-57, and HH/MH-65 Dolphin helicopter.
Clay has over 4500 hours of total flight time and has been a flight instructor for over 20 years. He holds a Commercial Pilot Certificate and Flight Instructor Certificate with both airplane, rotorcraft, and instrument ratings.