Central Florida Business Aviation Association

President's Report

Cancer is not a word anybody wants to hear, but when I looked at my yearly blood tests results last fall and saw an elevated PSA score, I figured it was my turn. Following a series of scans, blood tests, and eventually a biopsy the suspicion was confirmed, and I was diagnosed with stage 3 prostate cancer. I am pleased to say though, that after 28 radiation treatments they have announced me cancer free! I give high praises to modern medicine, and special praises to those working in Oncology. Thank you to everyone that prayed, supported, and gave comfort to my wife and I, it truly meant the world to us both. Now, back to doing what I love on to the next adventure!

As a pilot for an airline that went out of business, Eastern Airlines, I can truly empathize with the Spirit employees. The career you thought you were going to enjoy is pulled out from under you and the future seems so uncertain. My only encouragement is that I would have never had the career I have enjoyed in business aviation had it not been for that bankruptcy. I would not have built the relationships I enjoy, would not have seen the places I have visited, would not have been flying the most sophisticated airplanes built, and would have been kicked out of the cockpit four years ago. Hang in there, look around and see what else this aviation career has to offer, you might be pleasantly surprised.

If you have not been to a CFBAA event in a while, shame on you. It is so wonderful to see young people wanting to learn about business aviation and consider the opportunities that exist within our industry. At the Dayton Happy Hour, I met college students pursuing business, engineering, safety, missions, and piloting, all wanting to learn how BA could be a viable career. Come join us at an event, shake hands, bring cards, and engage. We create the environment, but we cannot force you off your couch. Look for Happy Hours each month, our Annual Meeting in August, the Safety Day in September, and our Golf Outing in November to connect.

Blue skies,

Dave

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From the Executive Directors desk

As I write this, I have the song Turn! Turn! Turn! by the Byrds playing in my head:

"To everything, turn, turn, turn
There is a season, turn, turn, turn"

My season as Executive Director of the CFBAA is beginning to come to an end.

I recently informed the Board that, due to the increasing demands of my new job, I will need to step back from the day-to-day responsibilities of the association. While work obligations certainly played a role in this decision, I also believe that it is simply time.

Back in 2019, David Keys, Jenny Showalter, and I came together with an idea and a vision to create something that would serve and strengthen the Central Florida business aviation community. We had no idea what it would ultimately become. With the support of an incredible Board, volunteers, sponsors, and members, we built something truly special together.

Today, the CFBAA has grown into an organization more than 600 members strong, connecting flight departments, students, vendors, and aviation professionals across our region. We have created networking opportunities, educational programs, student outreach initiatives, scholarships, safety events, and lasting relationships throughout our industry. Looking back at everything we have accomplished together is something I am incredibly proud of.

Serving as Executive Director since 2019 has been one of the greatest honors of my professional career. I have had the privilege of meeting so many outstanding people and witnessing firsthand the passion and generosity that exists within our business aviation community.

At the same time, organizations, like people, must continue to grow and evolve. Growth requires new ideas, new energy, and new perspectives. You cannot continue moving forward without occasionally passing the torch to the next generation of leadership.

I will remain as Executive Director through the end of the year while we complete a smooth transition to new leadership, and I also plan to remain involved on the Board during my term to continue supporting this amazing organization and community.

While this represents a major change for me personally, I truly believe it is an exciting time for CFBAA. The foundation has been built, the future is bright, and I cannot wait to watch where the next chapter takes us.

Most importantly, thank you.

Thank you to every board member who volunteered countless hours. Thank you to our sponsors who believed in us. Thank you to every member who attended an event, mentored a student, raised a hand to help, or simply showed up and became part of this family.

None of this was built by one person. It was built by all of us together.

I look forward to continuing to support CFBAA, just from a different seat.

Blue skies,
Matthew Olafsen - CFBAA Executive Director

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CFBAA Notes

Not Seeing Our Emails?

With our recent switch to the StarChapter platform, some members have reported our emails landing in their spam folders or being blocked by company firewalls.

To ensure you don’t miss important updates or upcoming event announcements, please add the following address to your contacts or whitelist:

📧 [email protected]

We’ve got exciting events coming up, and we don’t want you to miss a thing!

YoPro's are you on the CFBAA WhatsApp group?

As summer kicks off, many of our young professionals are traveling, interning, studying, or simply taking a well-deserved break. While the pace of life might slow down, your connection to the CFBAA community doesn’t have to. That’s why we’re excited to invite all YoPros to join our official WhatsApp group chat, a casual and easy way to stay plugged in, all year round.

The CFBAA YoPro Committee is a launching pad for the next generation of business aviation leaders. Whether you’re looking for mentorship, networking, or just want to stay in the loop about upcoming events and opportunities, our WhatsApp group is where it all starts.

If you’re under 40 and passionate about aviation, this is your space. We encourage you to join the conversation, meet fellow YoPros, and grow with a community that’s committed to shaping the future of our industry.

📲 To join the CFBAA YoPro WhatsApp group, simply [click here] or email [email protected] for an invite.

Let’s stay connected, because no matter where you are this summer, the runway to your future is right here.

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CFBAA News

From the CFBAA Mailbox:

Beyond the Classroom: A First Look at Safety in Practice
By Shanna Keath
Somewhere between the first panel and my second page of notes, I realized—I REALLY wasn’t sitting at the “kids’ table” anymore. As a commercial pilot currently training toward my CFI, being selected as a scholarship recipient by the CFBAA to attend the Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) Safety Symposium at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University placed me in a room where real-world safety decisions are actively shaped and refined. It was an opportunity to step beyond the classroom and observe the industry at work.

What made this experience especially impactful was not just the access, but the people behind it. Members of the ACSF board created an environment that was both welcoming and intentional. As a young professional, it can be easy to feel like an observer—but throughout the symposium, I was encouraged to engage, ask questions, and connect. Those conversations proved just as valuable as the sessions themselves.

Attending “Two Buttons to Never Hit: Panic or Snooze,” presented by Gina Shealy of FireSide Team, reframed how I think about performance under pressure. FireSide Team’s work in aviation crisis response—guiding operators through the immediate aftermath of incidents and the difficult decisions that follow—brought a level of realism rarely seen in training. Her message emphasized that learning lives between comfort and panic, reinforcing the need for intentional practice, proactive thinking, and investment in people.
That focus on human performance carried into a systems perspective during a session led by Amanda Ferraro, where a simulated internal audit showed how small oversights can compound into significant risk. The exercise highlighted breakdowns in accountability and documentation, as well as the importance of shared language in shaping how safety is understood and applied across an operation.

That theme continued in “The Road to Discovery,” presented by Adam Gerhardt and Tyler Boring. Drawing from experience with the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, and Part 135 training, they supported an aforementioned point: “the fastest way to kill a safety program is to not provide feedback.” A taxiway excursion case study illustrated how close-call data—often attributed to pilot error—can instead reveal correctable design issues. They underscored the importance of employers fostering environments where pilots feel safe to self-report, ensuring that valuable data leads to meaningful safety improvements.

As a pilot still in training, this experience reinforced that safety is not just procedural—it is built on communication, feedback, and a willingness to learn from what almost happened. I left with a clearer understanding of the standards I am working toward and the responsibility that comes with contributing to a safety-driven culture that is mindful about what ‘safety’ truly means.

I am incredibly grateful to CFBAA for this opportunity, and to the CFBAA board and community for their openness and investment in young professionals. That investment extended beyond the sessions—I was fortunate to win a raffle for a one-day Emergency Response Plan training course, which I look forward to as a continuation of this experience. More than anything, this symposium reinforced that surrounding yourself with professionals committed to doing the deep work will challenge you in the best ways.
I left with not just new knowledge, but a clearer direction as an aviator and future instructor. I also made a lot of new friends!

CFBAA Golf Classic Sponsorships are Open!

The CFBAA Golf Classic returns on October 29th (Date Change) in Orlando, and sponsorships are open!

Visit CFBAA.org and click the Golf tab to view all available sponsorship opportunities. Ready to lock in your spot? Head over to the Meetings tab to reserve, all opportunities are first come, first served, and they go fast!

The CFBAA Golf Classic is one of our most anticipated events of the year, offering a fantastic chance to connect with members of the rapidly growing business aviation and aerospace community in Central Florida.

Whether you're looking for team-building, client engagement, or new networking opportunities, this event delivers—and there’s no better time to enjoy a round of golf than late fall in Orlando.

For questions or more information, email us at [email protected]

Sponsorship Opportunities:

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsor & Registration

Register / Sponsor Here

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting event!

CFBAA Welcomes a new sponsor!

RealClean Central & Northeast Florida

RealClean Central & Northeast Florida provides premium mobile aircraft detailing, cleaning, and restoration services across the region’s busiest aviation communities, including Orlando, Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Melbourne, and surrounding airports.

Using aviation-grade equipment, eco-conscious cleaning agents, and industry-leading protection products, the RealClean team delivers a white-glove level of care designed to preserve aircraft appearance, performance, and long-term value. Their mobile service model allows aircraft owners, operators, and flight departments to receive professional detailing directly at their hangar or FBO.

The location opened in January 2026 and proudly supports the local business aviation community through organizations like the Central Florida Business Aviation Association (CFBAA), which brings together aviation professionals through networking, education, and industry advocacy initiatives.

Learn more or request service:
www.realcleanaircraft.com/central-florida

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Safety Committee

Crew Resource Management and the Risk of “Get-There-Itis”

By Marc AyalA

In my time as an Air Force C-130 pilot, I learned a lot of valuable lessons fromunforgiving combat conditions, but nothing in my post-military career has matched the practical lessons I learned from Crew Resource Management, or CRM.

In the Air Force, CRM was woven into everything we did. Before being qualified in an aircraft, crews received formal CRM training, and every year we revisited the concepts through classroom work, simulators, and case studies. At the center were a few practical tools.

CRM utilizes standard terms and phrases which are designed to pause the action long enough for a crew member to ask a question or clarify confusion before a bad situation gets worse. Additionally, CRM emphasized standard “contracts” between pilots such as the Two Challenge Rule: if one pilot identifies an unsafe condition and the other does not respond, the concern is repeated, and if necessary, control of the aircraft is taken without debate. The point is simple: it is better to reset early than recover late.

In the single pilot world, it doesn’t seem like there would be much use for Crew Resource Management. However, in my post-military flying experience, I’ve used these same habits and methods to govern myself. The aviation community talks a lot about personal minimums these days, but I’ve always thought of this as a contract I make with myself. For example, even with all the instrument time and experience I have, I won’t file to an airport by myself where the forecast weather is below a 500’ ceiling or less than 1 mile of visibility. I also won’t file through an active Convective SIGMET. I don’t violate those contracts, even when external pressures might motivate me to make an exception – because “just this once” is all it takes for the deck to be stacked against me.

CRM teaches crews to recognize “hazardous attitudes” that distort judgment. One of the most common is “get-there-it is” (also known as “Pressing Forward”) - the urge to complete the mission even when conditions are deteriorating. I saw that hazard up close on a routine flight during my Air Force career that nearly became something else.

In the summer of 2001, I was a young C-130 navigator, newly qualified and loving the job. One day I volunteered for a trip that took our crew to Naval Air Station Key West to recover a training mission with Navy SEALs after another aircraft broke down. We flew down, completed a memorable water drop over the Florida Keys, spent the night in Key West, and the next morning launched for Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, before returning home to Little Rock. My aircraft commander mentioned that he needed to get home since he and his wife had concert tickets that evening. That subtle detail, became the basis for a series of bad decisions.

On paper, it was easy - three hours to Pope, then home. During our weather brief, we were told of a line of storms associated with a frontal boundary. Later, in cruise, our radar began to show the line. The storms were moving toward Pope and would arrive at nearly the same time we would.

I passed the information to our aircraft commander. He acknowledged it, but his response was calm and confident: we would make it. That confidence was understandable. He was experienced, capable, and well-liked. I only had 50 hours in the airplane at the time, so who was I to question his judgement?

As we neared Pope, we set up for the ILS to Runway 23. The ATIS updated early - never a good sign. The cloud bases were at 1200’, winds were reported from 230/25G40, and lightning was reported southwest of the field. Our onboard radar clearly showed the line of intense returns, moving toward the airfield. Approaching from the Southwest, we were paralleling the storm front at max forward speed, but still had to maneuver for the approach. It was going to be really close.

At that point, I called for a “Time Out,” one of our standard CRM phrases, and recommended a diversion to Fayetteville Regional nearby. We had the fuel. We had a safe out.

The answer was no. We would continue.

Now the crew was in the uncomfortable space CRM is designed for: one member clearly uneasy, another committed to pressing on, and everyone aware that time and distance were running out. I restated my concern and then I remembered something. Our radar had a Windshear mode that would alert if it detected sudden wind changes. I proposed a “contract” for the crew: if the windshear alert sounded, we would immediately break off the approach, turn away from the weather, and divert.

Everyone agreed. A tenuous few minutes followed. We descended on the glide slope through 1200’ – but still no runway. We were cleared to land by the tower as the controller advised winds had increased to 35 knots, with gusts to 50! At 500 feet, the runway was in sight, but beyond it the sky was dark, the windsock stood straight out, and the tree line was disappearing into heavy rain. Lightning flashed inside the storm. We landed safely in gusting winds and rolled clear of the runway.

Seconds later, Pope Tower announced it was evacuating. Ground movement was suspended due to a tornado warning. We were forced to hold in place, engines running – but at least we were on the ground.

Then the rain hit us sideways. The sound was overwhelming as ½” hail hammered the airplane. Visibility dropped so quickly that a C-17 only a short distance away disappeared from view. We had arrived just ahead of a severe thunderstorm complex with an embedded tornado!

I couldn’t believe what we had just done. We had not merely landed ahead of weather. We had threaded the needle ahead of something far worse than a routine summer thunderstorm. I couldn’t help thinking to myself, what if we had to go-around on short final? We likely would not have been able to climb, accelerate, and turn before penetrating the line.

That flight reinforced several lessons I have carried ever since.

First, communication is only useful if people feel safe using it. Pilots who intimidate, dismiss, or rush their crews (or passengers) make it harder for others to speak up when it matters most. A safety pilot isn’t much good if they don’t say anything. Second, safety must outrank convenience. Get-there-itis rarely announces itself dramatically. Often it sounds reasonable: “We’re close,” “We’ll be fine,” or “We can make it.” Third, hidden agendas influence decisions. In our case, our pilot’s desire to get home that night for a concert almost certainly shaped his choice to continue. In the owner pilot world, the pressure may be a business meeting, a passenger expectation, or the simple desire to avoid inconvenience. Finally, always leave yourself an out. Diversions, contracts (even with yourself), decision gates, and pre-briefed escape plans are not signs of weakness. They are signs of discipline.

CRM is not just an airline or military concept. It applies to any cockpit where human beings must manage risk, communicate clearly, and make sound decisions under pressure. The airplane does not care about pride, schedule, or convenience. It only responds to judgment. And often, the safest decision is the one that delays the trip.

Marc Ayala is a former C-130 pilot in the US Air Force, and now aerospace industry executive. He is also the author of “Second in Command, Leadership Lessons from the Cockpit to the Boardroom.”