Shayne Daku

President and Director of Training

Shayne is the pioneer and founding member of the Valley In Flight Training concept.  He is originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics, and a Master of Science degree in Instructional Design and Technology.   For five years, Shayne was a pilot at a major regional airline, holding a captain position.  He flew international routes, and into some of the nation’s busiest airports and airspace.  Shayne has also served as an instructor, check airman, supervisor of flight operations, turbine instructor, and faculty member for the world renowned University of North Dakota.  He has approximately 1,000 hours instructing in the King Air series aircraft, teaching students from all over the world how to safely operate the most popular business aircraft ever.  Shayne is also an experienced pilot and instructor in Twin Cessna aircraft.  It is through this experience and his knowledge of instructional design and research, that Shayne created the AQP style of instruction for the turbine aircraft owner / operator.

Shayne has an FAA Airline Transport Pilot license and Type Ratings in the CL-65 and RA-390, Canada Commercial Pilot’s License, FAA Certified Flight Instructor certificate with ratings in single and multi-engine, instrument airplane, and numerous pilot endorsements and ratings.

Dan Malott

Vice President, Sales and Marketing

Dan is originally from San Diego, California.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics, and a Master of Business Administration degree.  Dan has 15 years of full time aviation experience, and many years before that as an enthusiast.  He has served as an instructor, check airman, flight manager, and faculty member for the world renowned University of North Dakota.  He has instructed for a leading aircraft manufacturer.  He conducted specialized self employed flight instruction for several years, and continues to provide limited, private flight instruction.  Dan was a co-founder and owner for a major air ambulance business that operated six Pilatus PC-12s with four bases in the upper Midwest, until it was acquired by a major national operator.  Dan also became one of the first five, non-national Japanese Designated Examiners, and conducted many JCAB checkrides for Commercial Pilot’s Licenses and Instrument Ratings.  He has also flown for a large regional airline based at Washington’s Dulles airport, flying into the nation’s largest and busiest airspace and airports. 

Dan has an FAA Airline Transport Pilot’s license, JCAB (Japan) Commercial Pilot’s License, and FAA Certified Flight Instructor certificate with ratings in single and multi-engine, instrument airplane, and numerous pilot endorsements and ratings.  

Dan also has over 500 hours of instruction in Cirrus Aircraft and is a Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot (CSIP).  Dan is also an experienced Twin Cessna pilot.

Devin Cole

VIFT Instructor

Devin is from Minot North Dakota.  He owns Cole Aviation, a pilot services and flight instruction company that specializes in Piper's Malibu series.  Devin has 1200 hours in the Malibu/Meridian/Matrix aircraft and 3600 total flying hours.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics, an Airline Transport Pilot certificate and is an instrument flight instructor.  He really enjoys flying and making personal connections in aviation.  Devin and his wife Kayla built a house in Minot where they live with their daughter Norah and black lab Nyla.