Page 28 - March 20 TNT

Jet Journal
Fiveon the Fly
by Rebecca Groom Jacobs
1. Can you summarize your aviation background?
My father got me exposed to aviation. He worked with VanDusen, WHO: AAR and Duncan Aviation, so we traveled in GA aircraft a lot when
PHOTOS COURTESY OF PILATUS AIRCRAFT
Jed Johnson
COMPANY:
Pilatus Aircraft
POSITION:
Chief Pilot
I was growing up. I followed a non-military path through flight instruction, corporate and 135 freight before joining Pilatus at the end of 1996. I was with Pilatus until 2000 when I went to one of our dealers as a salesman for 12 years, flying my own demos, mentoring new owners, doing maintenance flights, etc. After 12 years in that role, and well over 100 turbine transactions, I rejoined Pilatus in 2012. Being a part of entry into service for two new aircraft models and growing the presence of Pilatus in North and South America has been
HOME BASE: a unique and rewarding challenge.
KBJC
RATINGS:
FATP, CFII, MEI
HOURS:
11,300
2. Describe your role at Pilatus Aircraft and what a
typical day looks like.
In Pilatus Flight Operations, we touch almost every part of the business. Much of our day revolves around the cadence of production flight test, although we can find ourselves waking up anywhere
in North or South America or even Europe. Once an aircraft is completed, we then work through test cards to check every system and function of the aircraft on the ground and in the air. The goal is
26 • TWIN & TURBINE / March 2020 Jet Journal