Seth Underdahl

General Manager

Seth grew up in Columbus, MN on a small hobby farm. In the earlier years of his life, he spent a great amount of his time helping with his parents small farm operation and grew to love the countryside setting. The neighborhood he grew up in was tight-knit and there was always something to do outside with others that lived in the area. He enjoyed roaming the neighborhood on dirt bikes and four-wheelers, or snowboarding behind them.

After he graduated high school, he obtained his Associate of Arts degree at Century College and then continued his education by studying Ecology and Environmental Science at South Dakota State University. While studying, he experienced a traumatic brain injury which removed him from college. Through recovery, he realized his interest in aviation had grown tremendously and he decided to pursue his Private Pilot License. While working to obtain his Private Pilot License, he took a desk job at Twin Cities Flight. He obtained his Private Pilot License in 2017 and devoted himself to the flight school for the foreseeable future.

In August 2021 he was given the opportunity to become Senior Director of People, Strategy, and Growth for the flight school. He took this opportunity wholeheartedly and maintains this position pursuing dreams for growth and uniqueness at Twin Cities Flight.

DJ Horton

Chief Flight Instructor (CFI, CFII, MEI, Stage Check)

DJ started flying as child with his dad and at 16 earned his Private Pilot Certificate - Glider. DJ grew up in San Diego and spent several years traveling internationally before settling in Minnesota. He has extensive global experience, having flown throughout East Africa and the Middle East, visiting more than 35 countries in all. He has worked for CFR Part 91/91k and 135 operators and holds PIC type ratings in the Citation 650 and 750, Falcon 10, Phenom 300, and Learjet 60. DJ holds FAA ATP, CFI, CFII, MEI, AGI, and IGI certificates, a CAA Commercial validation from South Africa, and has served as a training captain on the King Air 200 and the Citation 650. When DJ isn’t flying he enjoys photography and triathlon training.

Cindy Mayne

CFI, CFII, MEI, Stage Check Instructor

Alexander Knauz

CFI, CFII, Stage Check Instructor

Alexander began his aviation career in high school and continued training through the University of Illinois Institute of Aviation. Professionally, Alexander has worked as a flight instructor, airline pilot, tour pilot, and corporate pilot. He brings an unusual breadth of experience to Twin Cities Flight, having flown everything from two-seater helicopters to seventy-five seat passenger jets, seaplanes, and many other aircraft. In his spare time, Alexander plays guitar and is a coffee aficionado.

James Bauer

CFI, CFII, MEI

James began flying in 1998 while attending school at St. Cloud State. During his time at St. Cloud, James earned his Commercial Certificate, his Flight Instructor Certificate, and a Bachelor of Science Degree. After college James took a short break from aviation and earned his Master Plumbers License and currently owns his own plumbing company. James joined Twin Cities Flight Training in 2015 and quickly became a go to instructor for the students in Twin Cities Flight’s program. James spends his down time fishing, going to the movies and spending time with his family.

Kyle Malecha

CFI, CFII, MEI

Kyle grew up in Saint Cloud and knew from a young age that he wanted to have a career in aviation. Growing up in a family where both his parents worked for the airlines and the corporate aviation world, he was always around airplanes or at least the talk of aviation. He went on to receive his Private Pilot certificate when he was a senior in high school while he worked as a lineman at the Saint Cloud Regional Airport. He then went on to pursue an aviation degree at Minnesota State University, Mankato where he received the rest of his certificates and ratings.

He has now been an instructor at Twin Cities Flight for over two years. His next step is pursuing a career as an airline pilot, but he remains involved as a Flight Instructor until that day comes. Some of his hobbies outside of aviation include ice fishing, snowmobiling, hunting, watching sports, and spending time on the lake at his cabin.

Matt Bruggemann

CFI, CFII

Matt joined Twin Cities Flight Training in August of 2019. He first learned to fly in high school at a small airport in upstate New York where he earned his Private Pilot Certificate. After high school, Matt moved halfway across the country to attend the University of North Dakota, where he graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Commercial Aviation. While studying there, he obtained his Commercial ASEL, AMEL, CFI AND CFII. When not flying, he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter. His favorite hobbies are traveling, hunting and flying his drone to take aerial photography. 

Tim Luedtke

Certified Flight Instructor

Tim grew up in Linwood, MN, attended the University of Minnesota, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Mortuary Science. His introduction to aviation didn’t occur until moving next door to a busy metro area seaplane base. Whether planes were taking off from the water or the grass strip, he always thought, “That looks fun. I’m going to figure out how to do that.” And so, he figured it out.

Tim changed career paths in 2016 after a discovery flight at Twin Cities Flight Training and became a first-generation aviator. He earned his initial flight certifications from Twin Cities Flight and rounded out his training with a seaplane rating. You can find Tim around Twin Cities Flight instructing others to achieve their goals and at the front desk running point for the daily operations. You may also find him pouring a double recommended amount of miracle-gro on his flowers, taking vacations that only involve traveling to an island, or getting those vacuum lines in the carpet just right.

Chuck Harmer

Certified Flight Instructor

Chuck started his journey as a student here at Twin Cities Flight Training with zero hours. He received his Private Pilot Certificate, Instrument Rating, Commercial Certificate, and Flight Instructor Certificate all at Twin Cities Flight. Prior to beginning his career in aviation, Chuck was a radio and TV broadcaster. He prides himself on an up-tempo and positive reinforcement style of teaching. He knows a lot of his students come from different walks of life and have different goals they’re looking to achieve, so he adapts his techniques to suit the student and works hard to help his students reach their endgame.

Jack Quaal

Certified Flight Instructor

Jack became involved in aviation for the excitement it brings, the ability to travel through the skies, and to enjoy it with friends and family. He began instructing to share it with others, become a better pilot and build relationships. Activities he enjoys include traveling to new cities, landmarks, national parks and various destinations; taking in the new food, culture, scenery and history along the way and capturing it with his camera through photography. Being outside is where he feels the most freedom, from riding motorcycle on backroads, boating and wake surfing in the summer, fishing in the Brainerd lakes area, bow hunting in the woods, hiking mountains, and going trail riding and camping. He’s been outside and active his whole life, it’s certainly where he can be found if he’s not flying.