Skyward Aviation Team: Meet Our Instructors
Kyle Donato CFI-I,CF-II,MEI
Hello! My name is Kyle Donato, and I began my aviation journey in 2023. Originally, I worked in sales but found myself unfulfilled and searching for a more meaningful career. One day, I came across an advertisement for Skyward Aviation, a renowned flight school, and was immediately drawn to the idea of learning to fly.
I have no family history in aviation, so this was completely uncharted territory for me. The more I researched the aviation training industry, the more determined I became to pursue this new path. I took a leap of faith and enrolled in a flight training program at one of the largest flight schools in the country. In just one year, I transitioned from having zero flight experience to becoming a certified flight instructor, and I have never looked back.
I believe that, outside of the Private Pilot Certificate, the Instrument Rating is one of the most valuable certifications a pilot can earn. While it is generally considered more challenging, it significantly expands your flying capabilities and confidence in a wide range of conditions.
Now instructing for a year and a half, one of my favorite aspects of the job is watching my students progress. Seeing their skills develop and all of the building blocks come together in real-time is incredibly rewarding.
My long-term goal is to become either an airline or corporate pilot. At the end of the day, any day spent in the sky is a good day!
Robert Schoenherr
As the owner of Skyward Aviation, I bring a lifelong passion for aviation. I earned my Private Pilot Certificate in 2022 and am currently advancing toward my Instrument Rating, driven purely by the joy of flying for pleasure. In addition to my passion for aviation training, I am a results-driven Manufacturing Engineer with over 20 years of experience at an automotive OEM. My professional background in engineering, supplier development, audits, and cross-functional leadership shares the same attention to detail, reliability, and excellence that I bring to Skyward Aviation. Based at D98 Romeo State Airport, I am committed to supporting the recreational flying community as well as those pursuing a career path in aviation, while upholding the highest standards of safety and professionalism, which is why I collaborate with dedicated flight instructors.