Instructors

Adam Jones Assistant Chief Flight Instructor, CFI, CFII, MEI

Originally from Fayetteville, AR. Adam is attending the University of Arkansas pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Business. Adam received his Private, Instrument, Commercial, CFI, CFII, and MEI from SkyVenture Aviation and has been instructing since February of 2008. To contact Adam, please email AJones@skyventureinc.com. Adam instructs at our Fayetteville training base.

Mark Frankum Chief Flight Instructor, CFI, CFII, MEI, DPE

Originally from Toccoa, Georgia, Mark Frankum began flying in 1973. After graduating from Emmanuel College, he entered the U.S. Air Force where he served eight years of active duty as an Aviation Meteorologist. Upon leaving the Air Force in 1986, he took a position with Eastern Airlines as a Staff Meteorologist at Miami, FL. Within a year, Mark moved to Memphis, TN and became one of the founding members of the Federal Express Meteorology Department. He rose to the position of Senior Meteorologist for the Federal Express in 1989. While living in Memphis, he acquired a part-time position at the CBS affiliate at Memphis as the Weekend On-Air Meteorologist while continuing his duties at Federal Express. In 1993, Frankym left Federal Express for full-time employment with WREG-TV as an On-Air Meteorologist.

 

Throughout the years in Memphis, Mark continued to fly regularly and earned his Flight Instructor Certificates. While working as a Television Meteorologist, he instructed on a part-time basis for flight schools such as Douglas Aviation at Olive Branch, MS and Central Flying Service in Little Rock, AR. In the fall of 2000, Frankum accepted the Chief Meteorologist position at KAIT-TV in Jonesboro, AR. While instructing part-time for Sharp Aviation at Jonesboro, he met Kathy Moore. Ms. Moore had come to Sharp Aviation to earn her Private Pilot Certificate. Mark and Kathy purchased the flight school from Sharp Aviation and transformed it into an FAA Part 141 Approved Pilot School and a Cessna Pilot Center. The school was remanted "SkyVenture Aviation". SkyVenture opened a second flight school at Jackson, TN in 2004. This school was relocated to Drake Field, Fayetteville, AR in May 2006.

 

You may contact Mark Frankum by email: mark@skyventureinc.com

 

Kurt Jones CFI, CFII, MEI

Kurt Jones was born in Southfield Michigan. After High School he attended Rocky Mountain College in Billings Montana where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Science. During his time at Rocky Kurt went through training to receive his Private pilot through his Certified Flight Instructor Certificate. Kurt came to Skyventure in February of 2010 and has been instructing since. After coming to Skyventure he received his CFII and MEI Certificates. When Kurt isn’t flying he enjoys getting lost on his Dirt bike in the back woods of Arkansas. To contact Kurt please e-mail him kurt@skyventureinc.com

Colin Smith CFI, CFII, MEI

Colin Smith is a native of Madison, Wisconsin. Colin earned a BS in Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2008. After graduating from college, he worked briefly in sales before answering his lifelong dream of becoming a professional pilot. He earned his Commercial, Instrument, CFI, CFII and MEI in only five and one-half months! An avid outdoorsman, Colin enjoys a number of sports including wakeboarding, fishing, and following Wisconsin sports (Packers, Brewers, and Badgers). “When the weather is nice I would rather be outside than sitting in an office which is one of the main reasons I became a pilot.”  To contact Colin please him Colin@skyventureinc.com

Eddie Beaudry CFI

Originally from Houston, TX Eddie graduated from Deer Park High School in Spring 2008 and spent the following 4 years attending Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, AR. Eddie received all of his flight training at Henderson gaining his Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multi Engine and CFI. Upon graduating from Henderson with a Bachelors of Science in Aviation in May 2012, Eddie joined SkyVenture’s team of Flight Instructors. Eddie enjoys the outdoor life ranging from golf, fishing, tennis, disc golf and hiking