FAS Pilot Academy
Meet the dedicated team at FAS Pilot Academy — experienced instructors and staff committed to shaping the next generation of skilled aviators. Discover their expertise and passion for aviation.
Our Academy operates in Greece and provides Pilot Courses to candidates from all over the world.
Committed to Excellence
Europe | Greece
More than 25 years Aviation Training
CEO & General Manager
Mr. Stylianos Fanourakis comes from the Air Force where he worked as an aircraft engineer, head of training, flight safety and quality control for 15 years. He also has work experience as an aircraft engineer and executive training in major airlines such as Air Greece, Aegean Air Lines, Helitalia Spa for more than 10 years.
In December 2000, he created his own company under the name FANOURAKIS AVIATION SERVICES with the scope of work in the training of professional pilots and air transport, where in 2003 he was certified as the 3rd School of Professional Aircraft Pilots in Greece in accordance with the requirements of JAR/FCL – 1.
In February 2009, he has organized his company as the only one in Greece and one of the few in the world to operate as an official air carrier with small planes with a commercial operating license and an air operator's certificate (AOC) from the HCAA and the Ministry of Transport.
To this day he is the President and CEO of his company with a new name FENIX AERO SERVICES COMPANY ANONIME while at the same time exercising the duties of COMPLIANCE MONITORING MANAGER, SAFETY MANAGER, and MAINTENANCE MANAGER.
Contact him for anything related to your training, your cooperation, your complaints, your safety and quality suggestions.
Accountable Financial Manager
Joining the company in 2010 following an invitation from Mr. Fanourakis to contribute to the development of the airline sector, initially under the brand “F.A.S. Rhodos Air.”
Since then, she has successfully held key positions, including Sales Manager and Ground Operations Manager.
With ongoing professional development and specialized training in the aviation industry, she has served as the Accountable Manager of the school since 2017.
Her active involvement in all initiatives of FENIX AERO SERVICES S.A. has led to her becoming a shareholder, a board member, and the company's financial manager.
Dedicated to excellence, she supports students and partners by ensuring efficient service within the financial department and providing effective solutions to financial matters.
Administration Manager
Irene is a graduate of the National Kapodistrian University of Athens. She has been accumulating her experience in Aviation since 2011 starting as a ground officer in various ground handling companies in Greece.
In addition, she acquired the Aviation English Assessor Certificate in 2012 and has been conducting Aviation English Tests ever since.
In 2016, she joined the family company FAS as an Administration Assistant working her way up to Administration Manager.
Currently she also possesses the position of Maintenance Quality Manager after obtaining the HAI Quality Management Systems Auditing Training and the ISO 9001:2015 Certification by TÜV AUSTRIA ACADEMY.
Commercial Manager
Mara is a graduate of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, where she earned a degree in French Language and Literature.
She also holds a master’s degree in Journalism and Business Administration, equipping her with the skills to effectively manage business operations.
Fluent in both English and French, Ms. Manesi brings over 10 years of experience in sales and promotion to her role.
She has also worked as a ground attendant and gate coordinator at Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, gaining invaluable experience in the aviation industry.
In recent years, she has been an integral part of the FAS team in the Commercial Department, where she is responsible for overseeing sales activities.
Assistant Accountant
Christos is born in Athens in 1998 and graduated from a Greek public High School with excellent graduation grade.
He is a graduate of “Accounting and Finance” University School, at the University of West Attika.
His competence in the English language comes up to excellent level and he has also a basic level of German.
He gained accounting experience at the accounting department of an educational organization where he worked for.
He is employed in our company as an accounting assistant and he is part of the Financial Department of the Academy.
Head of Training
Dr. Dimitris Kostopoulos was born in 1960 in Athens. He entered the Hellenic Air Force - HAF (Ikaron) School in 1978, from which he graduated in 1982 as an Airman with the rank of Second Lieutenant and retired in 2017 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
He served in fighter and training aircraft as a pilot, instructor and flight test, completing more than 6000 flight hours.
He has served as Commander of a Training Aircraft Squadron, Director of Training at the Ikaron School, Director of Studies at the National Defense School, and served for three years at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.
He is a graduate of the PA War School, the Flight Safety School, the National Defense School as well as the Manpower Management School of USA.
He holds postgraduate degrees in "International and European Studies" from the Kapodistrian University of Athens, and a Master of Arts from the University of Plymouth, as well as a PhD with honors in geopolitics from the University of the Aegean.
He speaks English at an excellent level and French at a basic level.
He has flown various types of aircraft (T-41, T-37, T-2, F/RF/TF-104, T-6A, C-130, TB-9, TB-10, DA40NG), having completed over 3000 hours as a jet and helicopter instructor. He holds a CPL(A) and is an air, ground and simulator instructor (FI(A), IRI(A), STI).
Deputy Head of training
Dimitrios Sp.Koutsourakis was born in 1958 in Chania, Crete.
In 1978, he joined the Hellenic Air Force Academy, from which he graduated in 1982 as an Airman with the rank of Second Lieutenant. He retired in 2017 as Brigadier General.
He served in Fighter, Transport, Fire Suppression, SAR Aircraft as Pilot, Instructor, Test Pilot, VIP Pilot, Evaluator (HAF) and Type Rating Examiner (CAA), completing more than 7000 flight hours.
In addition to the other positions in HAF, he also served as Commander of the Training Squadron, which had training facilities for 12 different types of aircraft and helicopters. The Squadron trained Captains, First officers, Air Engineers, Load Masters, Trainers, Test flight crew and Type Rating Examiners (TRE).
During his career he flew the following aircraft types: Cessna T-41 Cessna T-37B/C, Cessna C182, C172/C152, North American T-2E Buckeye, Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star, LTV T/A-7 Corsair II, Canadair CL-215 (Scooper), Bombardier L-415 (Super Scooper), Dornier Do 28 D Skyservant, SOCATA TB-9 Tampico, SOCATA Tobago TB-10, Piper PA-34 Seneca, Diamond DA-21 C1.
He has written an Article in Air Inspection Magazine Greece and Initial Attack Canada.
From 2013 he is Regular Member of «AIR ACADEMY OF GREECE».
Chief Flight Instructor
Mr’s Panagiotis Kapetanis aviation career started in the Hellenic Air Force in 1991 and ended in 2018 upon which he flew many aircraft types. Highlights during the years in the air force were:
Upon his turn over in civil aviation I flew as a captain in a Turk Hava Kurumu a turkish company with the CL-215 aircraft. In November 2019 as captain on PA31T aircraft, flying VIP and MEDEVAC operations for Lifeline Aviation. As well as working as a part time instructor in TAE academy. In 2021 Mr Kapetanis was part of Sky Express flying the ATR 42/72 500-600 gaining the experience of the civil aviation industry. All this years he has accomplished more than 8000 flight hours.
All this experience has gained him a position among the FAS team as a CFI, responsible for planning the training in high standards and monitoring the trainees progress.
Deputy Chief Flight Instructor
Mr. Panagiotis Valsamos has served for over 40 years in the Hellenic Air Force, gaining extensive experience as a fighter pilot on aircraft such as the F-104G and A-7E/H, as well as training aircraft like the T-2E and T-41. His skills seamlessly combine technical expertise with hands-on experience across a wide range of missions.
Throughout his career, he has held key leadership roles, including Base Commander and Commander of the Air Force War College. He has also served as Director of Flight Safety, Director of Intelligence Policy, and held a NATO position abroad. His NATO missions and international collaborations have further strengthened his expertise in aviation safety, defence, and strategic air operations management.
Today, Mr. Valsamos works as a Flight Instructor in civil aviation, specializing in training aircraft such as the C-150, C-172, DA20, TB09, and TB10. His dual experience as a flight instructor in both military and civil aviation allows him to provide top-quality training and mentorship to aspiring pilots.
Chief Flight Instructor Assistant
Dimitris is a graduate of the University of Thessaly where he earned a degree in Biosystems Engineering.
He also holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the Agricultural University of Athens.
Fluent in both English and Italian.
He entered the aviation family in 2018 and has been an integral part of the FAS team as a Chief Flight Instructor Assistant since September 2024.
A320 Chief Flight Instructor
Captain Nikolaos Dikos is an aviation professional with over 36 years of flight experience. He is a graduate of the Acme School of Aeronautics and the University of Athens, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education with honors. He has also attended the Airbus Training Center A320, High Power Aviation B737, T.A.T European Airline ATR72, Chrysler Aviation CE500, Skywings Flight Instructor Training.
Captain Dikos has logged over 21,800 total flight hours, with most of it as a Pilot in Command. He has held Flight Standards position with Macedonian Airlines, serving as a captain,TRI and TRE, Cpt. with AIRGREECE ,AEGEAN and FLYNAS.
Currently, Captain Dikos is recognized for his leadership and expertise in aviation standards, with certifications from both the European Union,FAA and GACA. Beyond his professional achievements, he is a proud father of two and has contributed to initiatives supporting paraplegic athletes. He remains deeply committed to safety and excellence in the skies.
A320 Deputy Chief Flight Instructor
Born in Crete in 1989, to a Rhodian mother and a Cretan father. He graduated from the general high school of Rhodes in 2006. He went to the University of Chalkida as an aircraft engineer but eventually completed his studies as a professional pilot at the FAS RHODOS PILOTS ACADEMY.
He began his career as a professional pilot initially as an instructor at the FAS PILOT ACADEMY and then as Crew Training Manager and deputy Flight Operation Manager at FAS RHODOS AIR. He continued as an airline pilot at OLYMPUS AIRLINES as a co-pilot on the A320.
Since 2015 airline pilot at AEGEAN AIRLINES initially as co-pilot on the A320, and since 2021 as captain with more than 10,000 hours of flight experience to date.
One of his most important teachers and mentors is his beloved uncle cpt. Michael Fanourakis.
Today A320 captain at AEGEAN AIRLINES, while auxiliaryly supporting as Flight Instructor, Type Rating Instructor, Senior Manager, the Fenix Aero Services S.A. / FAS PILOT ACADEMY.
At the disposal of candidates and students of FAS PILOT ACADEMY on sophisticated topics and related to the A320 TYPE RATING course.
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