Celebrating National Aviation Day: Our US Team ‘Then’ and ‘Now’
Observed each year in the US on August 19 in honor of Orville Wright’s birthday, National Aviation Day celebrates the industry’s achievements and lasting impact, highlighting how flight continues to connect people and communities around the world.
To mark the occasion, we took a look at the “Then and Now” moments from some of our US team members. From early memories and first experiences to the moments that have shaped their careers, they share the connections and milestones that have brought them to where they are today.
Cathy Moore, Talent Acquisition Partner
My earliest memory of falling in love with aviation was when I was about 8 or 9 years old. My mom sent my brother and me on our first solo trip. We were traveling as unaccompanied minors, and during the flight, the flight attendant took us into the cockpit to meet the crew. I got to sit in the captain’s seat, and I absolutely loved the entire experience. Looking back, I think that was the moment aviation first became special to me. I fell in love with it.
Years later, when I was 18, my brother’s girlfriend was working as a customer service representative at an FBO at the Palm Beach International Airport and helped me get a job there. It was perfect, as I attended college in the mornings and worked at the airport in the evenings. And honestly, who doesn’t love an airport at night? To this day, I still think there is something special about it.
That job introduced me to so many wonderful people in aviation. One of those friendships eventually led me to a flight instructor tole, and I was also fortunate to have friends who would let me fly their aircraft while I pursued my flight training.
In 2000, I was offered an opportunity to join Jet Aviation’s FBO team. As it turned out, landing airplanes wasn’t necessarily my greatest strength, which is fairly important when you’re a pilot! So, my career stayed on the ground, but my love for aviation never did.
What started as an FBO job at 18 ultimately became a career I could never have imagined.
I grew within Jet Aviation’s FBO operations, eventually becoming a manager. In 2022, I decided to switch gears and join our Aviation Staffing business. I initially joined the sales side of the business and later transitioned into staffing operations and talent acquisition.
Today, I have the opportunity to meet incredibly talented aviation professionals and help place them in amazing roles. There is something very rewarding about helping someone find their next opportunity in their own aviation journey, while also offering consultative advice to hiring managers and clients.
For me, the most rewarding part of my journey is that I have been able to build a career in an industry I genuinely love. Aviation has become such a big part of who I am, and after all these years, the people continue to be what inspire me most. There is something truly special about the aviation community and the relationships you build along the way.
It’s pretty amazing to think that it all started with an eight-year-old Cathy sitting in the captain’s seat on a solo flight with her brother!
Nathan Ross, Senior Manager Client Services
“That experience sparked a curiosity that stayed with me and eventually became a career in commercial and later corporate aviation.”
Noreen Ohnmacht, Manager Customer Service Palm Beach
Then
My earliest memory of being inspired by aviation came from wanting to become a flight attendant as a child. Growing up, I had a friend who worked in air cargo at Kennedy Airport and would always tell me about the benefits of working for the airlines. That eventually led me to my first opportunity in aviation as a ticket agent with Piedmont Airlines in 1983 at LaGuardia Airport.
In 1989, Piedmont merged with US Airways, where I spent 23 years. During that time, I lived and worked in New York and Los Angeles before eventually settling in South Florida. Looking back, that first opportunity opened the door to a career in aviation that took me to different cities, introduced me to incredible people, and gave me experiences I will always cherish.
Now
I had a manager at US Airways who later retired and became a manager at Jet Aviation. In November 2004, he called me about a seasonal customer service position, giving me the opportunity to begin the next chapter of my aviation career.
I am now a customer service manager with Jet Aviation, a role I have held for four years. Before that, I spent eight years as a supervisor and my first 10 years as a customer service representative. I’ve been fortunate to have amazing supervisors and managers throughout my career. Several leaders played a significant role in shaping my journey; their guidance, support and knowledge helped me realize my potential and grow into the manager I am today. I am truly grateful for the investment they made in me and the lessons I continue to carry with me throughout my career.
The most rewarding part of this journey has been the people I’ve met and the relationships I’ve built. So many of my coworkers have become like family — people I can always count on, laugh with and learn from. We’ve always had fun working together and supporting one another.
Kate Newton, Director Charter Operations
Then
If you were to ask me, I would tell you that I never had the aviation “bug”. However, I can still remember sitting in school as a child and listening to the buzz of the small aircraft flying overhead as they departed from and arrived at DuPage Airport. At the time, I had no idea where they were coming from or where they were going, but the sound captured my imagination and always made me feel as though it was a beautiful summer day with blue skies as far as you can see.
Years later, I was struggling to find my footing in my professional life. One day, I decided to apply for a reception position at the same airport that had inspired my daydreams of clear blue skies when I was younger. That position turned out to be a front-desk customer service role at an FBO.
I quickly immersed myself in the fast-paced world of aviation and never looked back. I spent several years at the front desk before being offered opportunities in other areas, including maintenance documentation, accounts receivable, and accounts payable. Then, the opportunity to join charter scheduling became available. The pace, complexity, and constant problem-solving involved in charter and scheduling suited me perfectly, and I thrived in that environment.
In 1999, the person I had originally replaced contacted me to discuss an opportunity with Jet Aviation. Over time the position evolved into a full-time charter role.
Now
Over the past 27 years, I have progressed to my current role as Director of Charter Services, overseeing the Charter Operations and Echo Scheduling teams. I have also had the privilege of hiring many of the talented individuals who make up these teams today. Together, we work in unison to make the “charter magic” happen 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
“Together, we work in unison to make the “charter magic” happen 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.”
Working in Charter and Echo requires resilience. There are natural challenges that arise, and you need to work through them. We focus on every detail to ensure that each flight meets the highest level of safety our customers expect while also delivering the exceptional customer experience. Achieving that standard requires the commitment and collaboration of everyone involved, whether the customer is traveling on one of our managed aircraft, or on a partner aircraft.
I am incredibly proud every day of the work this team performs and of the exceptional service we provide for our valued customers.