Rafael Dubena

Dubena’s aviation journey started when he was four years old, flying in an Embraer Bandeirante to his family’s farm in the Amazon rainforest. Dubena grew up looking forward to each of those airplane rides and came to Daytona Beach, Florida to start flight training after finishing high school in Brazil.

Dubena graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) with a double major in air traffic control management and aeronautics, receiving the Student of the Year Chairman’s Award. Dubena worked for two years at LATAM Airlines in Brazil as an Airbus A320 first officer and returned to Embry-Riddle to flight instruct after the COVID-19 pandemic. Dubena is currently a flight standards check airman at ERAU.

In his free time Dubena enjoys travelling with his girlfriend, spending time with friends, keeping in touch with family back in Brazil, and going out to eat.