Mike Goulian

Professional Aviator, Aerobatic Pilot, and Flight Instructor

Aviation has been a lifelong pursuit for Mike Goulian.His journey began at just 15 years old, when his father brought him to work at the airport. Mike spent that first summer washing and fueling airplanes — and almost immediately knew he had found where he belonged.

Since then, aviation has taken him from competitive aerobatics to flight instruction, aircraft ownership and running a Cirrus Training Center. Across every chapter, one philosophy has remained constant: there is always an opportunity to become a better pilot.

"Aviation is meant to be shared with others.” —Mike Goulian

Competitive aerobatics taught Mike to constantly refine his craft. No matter how experienced the pilot or how precise the maneuver, there is always something to learn.

It’s a mindset he carries into training the next generation of pilots. At his Cirrus Training Center, Mike Goulian Aviation, the goal is simple: be better every day.

For Mike, some of the most rewarding moments in aviation happen when someone else succeeds. Watching a pilot earn their wings, gain confidence or accomplish something they once thought was out of reach still brings him the same excitement that drew him to aviation decades ago.

That passion for teaching can be traced back to his own father. Mike still remembers watching him perform a nearly textbook Lazy-8 — one of the most technically challenging maneuvers for a pilot to master. His father made it look effortless.

The moment stuck with him not because it was flashy, but because it showed Mike what experience, precision and a commitment to the craft could look like.

“Safety is a lifelong pursuit. It has to be a part of your DNA in flying.”

— Mike Goulian

Mike x Cirrus

Mike’s relationship with Cirrus has grown through years of flying, instructing and helping others experience Personal Aviation™ for themselves. As both a Cirrus owner and flight instructor, he sees the aircraft as a platform pilots can continue to grow with long after their first lesson. Many of his customers learn to fly in the same Cirrus they own — transitioning from training to cross-country missions without leaving behind the aircraft they have come to know. And his advice for anyone standing at the beginning of their journey? Find a great Cirrus Training Center and jump right in. You won’t regret it.

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