By Riley Kaminer
When Alexey Kosinski arrived in the United States in 2019, he had no idea his vacation away from his homeland of Russia would turn into a groundbreaking venture in aviation.
Kosinski’s journey to the US began as a casual visit to a friend who was a pilot instructor. His path quickly shifted when he decided to stay and immerse himself in the aviation industry. However, getting certified by the TSA to fly stateside took longer than expected – nearly three months.
While Kosinski was holding short of the runway to his aviation dreams, he launched a YouTube channel sharing his insights and passion for flying. This experience laid the groundwork for what would become South Florida startup FlyShare, which aims to transform how pilots connect, share flights, and gain necessary flight hours.
Faced with the decision to either return to an uncertain life in Russia or to grow roots in the US, Kosinski chose the latter. He eventually settled in Miami, sold his car, and used the funds to complete his aviation training. Despite the many challenges, including the struggle to find a reliable instructor, Kosinski’s determination never wavered.
“The idea for FlyShare – the exact app, the entire structure – came to me one day at 4 am,” Kosinski told Refresh Miami.
He realized the aviation industry lacked a structured system for pilots to connect, share flights, and accumulate the required 1,500 hours for an airline transport pilot license. Securing this number of hours was the main barrier to entry to fly large commercial jets, which requires an airline transport pilot license, which only around 20% of the 800,000 pilots in the U.S. have.
It’s a problem Kosinski also faced firsthand. “It took me months to find the right instructor,” he said. After failing one of his exams, he then had to find a new instructor – a process that then took another two months.
FlyShare, which launched in April, bridges this gap by allowing pilots to find flying partners and share flight hours seamlessly.
Since then, the app has quickly gained traction with 2,800 pilots already using the app. The platform offers a unique solution to the problem of scattered information and scarce resources for pilots. It provides a centralized place where pilots can find instructors, aircraft rentals, and other essential services.
Kosinski’s vision extends beyond FlyShare. “This is the first of three applications I’m planning,” he asserted. “Right now, they are independent – but eventually, they will work together seamlessly as an ecosystem for all aviation industry participants.”
FlyShare operates with a lean team of around four full-timers plus a handful of freelancers and more than a dozen volunteer testers. The app is currently in beta, with future plans to introduce paid subscription tiers.
From a vacation to a vision that could revolutionize aviation, FlyShare has now been cleared for takeoff and is ready to soar to new heights.
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