Fabian Bello

Journey Aviation

CEO

Fabian Bello is CEO and founding member of Journey Aviation, one of the world’s top Gulfstream operators. Under his leadership, the company has demonstrated notable growth since its inception in January of 2014, exceeding $200 million USD in total revenue within its first 5 years in business, while establishing itself as an industry preferred quality operator. In April 2019, Bello acquired Longtail Aviation, the only AOC in Bermuda which currently operates a BBJ and can operate any aircraft with no weight or seat restrictions.

While in the aviation industry, Mr. Bello has held various positions, such as executive vice-president and president/CEO of an international division, as well as president/CEO of other related aviation companies. Most notably, Mr. Bello is known for managing the introduction of Deer Jet’s BBJ’s and ACJ fleet into the Middle East, catapulting the company’s penetration into the international markets.

Prior to entering the aviation industry, Mr. Bello worked in the logistics industry, working for a top worldwide logistics company with over $3 billion USD yearly turnover. In addition to his extensive business knowledge, Mr. Bello has vast experience working with and uniting diverse cultures worldwide; particularly Hispanic, European, Asian and of Arabic regions. He has an innate ability of bringing and keeping individuals working together in pursuit of a common goal. Getting things done effectively, efficiently and with the buy-in of all related parties is one of the strongest attributes to his management style.

Mr. Bello was born in Havana, Cuba and immigrated to Miami, Florida at the age of three. He was raised in South Florida and attended the University of Miami where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing in preparation for his management career.

Johan Blitz

UBS Switzerland

Managing Director, Head of Corporate Aircraft Finance 

Johan was approached by UBS to set-up and head the Corporate Aircraft Finance team, and joined the bank in 2005 in Zurich.

Since the team was established in 2006, UBS has, under Johan’s leadership, grown its portfolio of business jets extensively. UBS was awarded “Best Financier Europe 2013” and “Best Private Bank in EMEA 2014” for corporate jet financings, “Best Business Jet Financier 2015” and “Best Business Support Services 2015” in APAC.

Johan started his career in commodity trading, and joined a large Swiss bank in 1999 to specialise in aircraft financing. He has since put his significant experience and understanding of the aircraft financing market at the disposal of the bank’s clients and, with his team, supports the bank’s WM business. Johan speaks German, French, English and Swedish.

Johan holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Banking and Finance) from the University of Applied Sciences in Zurich. Furthermore, Johan is also an Export Specialist with Swiss Federal Certificate and a certified Corporate Banker.

Alex Fecteau

Boeing Business Jets

Director of Marketing

Captain Alex Fecteau is the Director of Marketing for Boeing Business Jets, a division of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Prior to his current position Captain Fecteau worked with airlines around the world in Boeing Commercial Airplane marketing, with a focus on flight deck technology, and Boeing technical product subject matter. Captain Fecteau earned his undergraduate degree in Aeronautical Engineering, and Master of Science Degree in Mechanical engineering, followed by an extensive career as an F-15 instructor pilot in the US Air Force and pilot for 2 major US Airlines.

Alex has extensive experience working with customer flight operations departments, flight standards, training, and executive levels leadership. He has also worked with regulators worldwide for airplane systems certifications and performance based navigation operational approvals, and was an advisor to several EASA, ICAO, and FAA aviation rulemaking committees.

Craig Foster

Valour Consultancy

Senior Consultant & Co-Founder

Craig Foster is the co-founder of Valour Consultancy, a leading provider of market intelligence and consultancy services. He has extensive experience covering a wide variety of technology markets including the Internet of Things, M2M, smart home, smart grid, maritime connectivity, in-flight entertainment and connectivity and cabin technology more broadly. Foster has been an industry analyst for 15 years and is based in Grantham in the United Kingdom.
Prior to establishing Valour Consultancy, he was a principal analyst at ABI Research and a market analyst at IMS Research. At ABI, he launched a new research area devoted to the home automation market, before focusing his efforts on expanding the research portfolio of the company’s M2M service. At IMS, Foster’s research focused on the power transmission and low voltage products markets, after which he moved on to take responsibility for the company’s then-nascent aerospace research group.
Foster is a regular speaker and participant in panel discussions and has been widely quoted in trade journals, magazines, and other forms of online and print media. He holds a BA in economics from the University of Leicester.

Jack Gilchrist

Gilchrist Aviation Law

Founding Director & Shareholder

Jack Gilchrist is the founding director and shareholder of Gilchrist Aviation Law. He serves as special counsel representing clients involved in all areas of the aviation industry. Since 1989, Mr. Gilchrist has specifically focused his career on aviation transactions involving every current structure of aircraft including engines, propellers and spare parts.
Mr. Gilchrist has counseled clients around the world in aircraft transactions, including many of the major air carriers, aircraft and engine leasing companies, fractional ownership programs, air cargo companies, corporations, banks and other lending institutions. He also works closely with aircraft brokers, dealers and manufacturers.

Eddie Gross

Vedder Price

Shareholder

Eddie Gross has almost 40 years of experience representing bank-affiliated, captive and independent financing providers and investors, as well as lessees and borrowers. in all aspects of aviation and other equipment finance transactions, including documenting, structuring, negotiating, syndicating and enforcing these transactions.

Eddie is considered an industry leader regarding the leasing and financing of all types of aviation assets, including fixed wing aircraft, helicopters and engine pools. Clients include market-leading aircraft and helicopter financing providers, investors and operating lessors, as well as large publicly or privately held businesses, governmental entities or high-net-worth individual lessees and borrowers. The business aircraft financed in these transactions include jets and turbo-prop aircraft operated primarily for the customer’s business purposes, or for transportation services including chartering, or pursuant to fractional or “pay card” arrangements. The financed helicopters are typically operated in various service capacities (e.g., air ambulances, oil and gas service, fire suppression, hauling, etc.) or for VIP, business or other transportation purposes. These aircraft and helicopter financings vary in structure and include domestic and multi-jurisdictional tax and non-tax leases, operating leases and secured loan financings, involving progress payment, completion and other multi-funding structures. The structures of these transactions typically involve multiple counter-parties, including citizenship and other trusts, management companies, maintenance program providers and affiliated and unaffiliated users of the aircraft and the manufacturer or other seller.
In 2016 through 2022, Eddie was ranked Band 1 in Private Aircraft (Global-wide) in Chambers High Net Worth. The legal ranking recognizes the world’s leading high net worth advisers where one aviation professional described Eddie as “the most knowledgeable aircraft finance lawyer in the US that I’ve worked with, both from a know-how and market perspective.” He was also recognized among the world’s leading aviation attorneys by Euromoney Legal Media Group’s Expert Guides from 2013 to 2021.

Hamish Harding

Action Aviation

Chairman

Hamish Harding lives in Dubai with his family and is Chairman of Action Aviation. He has been an enthusiastic pilot since his days at Cambridge University where he gained degrees in Natural Sciences and Chemical Engineering. He holds an Airline Transport Pilots License and various business jet type ratings including the Gulfstream G650, and is an experienced skydiver.
In 2017, Hamish worked with Antarctic VIP tourism company, White Desert, to introduce the first regular business jet service to Antarctic using a Gulfstream G550, landing on Wolfsfang Runway, a newly-created ice runway in Antarctica.
Hamish has also visited the South Pole a number of times, accompanying Buzz Aldrin in 2016 as he became the oldest person ever to reach the South Pole (age 86) and, in 2020, Hamish took his son Giles Harding, who became the youngest person ever to reach the South Pole (age 12).
In 2019, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, Hamish, along with friend and Living Legend, astronaut Col. Terry Virts, led a team of aviators that captured the Guinness World Record for circumnavigation of the earth via North and South Poles. The record was achieved in a Gulfstream G650ER in 46 hours 40 minutes. A Hollywood movie, One More Orbit, was made of the successful capture of the world record.
In 2021, Hamish undertook a mission in a two-man submarine to the lowest point in the world’s oceans, Challenger Deep (in Marianna Trench, Pacific Ocean) to a depth of 36,000 ft. This 13-hour underwater mission resulted in two Guinness World Records, longest duration spent at Full Ocean Depth (4 hours 15 mins) and longest distance traversed at Full Ocean Depth (4.6 km).
In 2022, Hamish was one of six astronauts to go to space on Blue Origin’s 5th human spaceflight aboard the New Shepard rocket.
Owner of international business jet brokerage company, Action Aviation, Hamish is regarded as a leading authority on the worldwide business jet market. Hamish is one of the very few business jet brokers who also pilots the larger business jets himself.

David Hernandez

Vedder Price

Shareholder

Mr. Hernandez has extensive experience assisting clients with a wide variety of business aircraft transaction and regulatory matters, including aircraft purchase/sale agreements, aircraft flight department restructuring, aircraft management arrangements, fractional program documents, use
policies, cross-border transactions, personal use of aircraft, joint-ownership use agreements and regulatory and enforcement matters. He is the Chair of Vedder Price Business Aviation and Regulation Sub-Practice Group, the Chair of the National Business Aviation Association’s Tax Committee and a frequent speaker on various business aircraft and regulatory topics. Mr. Hernandez has been recognized among the world’s leading aviation attorneys by Euromoney Legal Media Group’s
Expert Guides “Aviation Guide” and Chambers as a highly rated High Net Worth Individual Aviation Advisor.

Vivek Kaushal

Global Jet Capital

CEO

Vivek Kaushal serves as Chief Executive Officer for Global Jet Capital. Vivek joined the firm in 2015 and has been part of Management Team throughout, first as Chief Risk Officer, and most recently as President and Chief Operating Officer. Vivek has nearly 30 years of leadership experience in various financing businesses and was the Chief Risk Officer for GE Capital Business Aviation Finance prior to its purchase by GJC. Vivek received an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, and a BS in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

Richard Koe

WINGX

Managing Director

Bio coming soon…

Bruce Marshall

AIC Title Service

Executive Vice President & General Counsel

Bruce L. Marshall joined AIC Title Service as its Executive Vice President and General Counsel in February 2014, helping ensure that AIC’s clients and leadership are protected as they move through unprecedented FAA and industry changes. Marquis Who’s Who recognized Bruce as a recipient of the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. In August, 2019 he was a recipient of the Drinker Biddle First Chair Top General Counsel Award for the third year in a row. The First Chair Awards is an annual selection of in-house counsel who have, thorough their hard work and innovation, made significant contributions to the legal community nationwide. He received his initial First Chair Award in August, 2017 and his second in August 2018. Bruce was also recognized in the November 2013 issue of D CEO Magazine as one of Dallas-Fort Worth’s top corporate attorneys following his win as Outstanding General Counsel or Chief Legal Officer in the Small Legal Department category at the Association of Corporate Counsel and D CEO’s 2013 Corporate Counsel Awards. Individually a 2011 winner of the Texas General Counsel Forum’s Magna Stella Award in the Small Legal Department category and finalist in the Major Litigation category, Bruce and his team also won Texas Lawyer’s 2013 Legal Department of the Year in the Diversity and Quality of Life category. With over 20 years’ experience in aviation legal matters, specializing in contracts, regulations, and litigation, he previously served as Senior Director and Division General Counsel of Bombardier’s Flexjet fractional aircraft ownership program where he strategically managed two cases challenging state and federal taxes that affected the entire fractional aircraft ownership industry and resulted in the refund of millions of dollars of paid taxes.

Bruce served as Chair of the State Bar of Texas Aviation Law Section for the years 2011-2012 and 2019. Adding to his depth of experience, he also taught Corporate Jet Investor’s Aircraft Transactions Masterclass US in November of 2019. He was elected as a Board member of the National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA) in May 2021 and currently serves as chair of the association’s regulatory committee.

In private practice, Bruce served as corporate counsel and business manager for a charter management company with both Part 135 on-demand air cargo and passenger operations, served as vice president and legal officer for a major financial institution in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and in private practice, he represented banks, construction companies, transportation companies, and employee benefits funds in commercial litigation matters. Bruce graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor’s of Science in General Management focusing on finance and marketing and holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the Michigan State University College of Law. He serves as a frequent speaker or panelist at aviation industry events.

Simon May

FlightCare Global

Director

Simon is Co-Founder and Director of Flightcare Global, an Australian company providing medical consulting and health risk solutions to the aviation industry. Simon is a specialist physician in Aviation Medicine and has previously held medical management roles with Qantas, Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways. Simon is expert in all areas of passenger and crew health and has extensive experience in medical support across commercial aviation, business aviation and VVIP operations. During the COVID – 19 Pandemic Simon has represented Australia at the ICAO CAPSCA group providing medical input to the Council Aviation Recovery Taskforce guidance. Simon takes a risk based approach to the management of health issues in aviation.

Andy Priester

Priester Aviation

Chairman & CEO

Andy Priester serves as Priester Aviation’s Chairman and CEO.
He is the third generation of Priesters to lead the business, the largest and oldest family-owned Management and Charter company in the world. The Priester family has a rich aviation history starting in 1945 including owning Palwaukee Airport – KPWK (now renamed Chicago Executive Airport), operating a flight school, operating multiple FBOs, providing 145 maintenance services, and operating an aircraft sales division. Priester Aviation currently focuses solely on Aircraft Management and Global Charter after the strategic sale of the other business units. In this role, Andy is dedicated to leading the growth of the organization and enhancing Priester’s position as the preeminent choice in aircraft management, aircraft charter and related aviation services. During Andy’s tenure at Priester, he has grown the fleet from seven aircraft to over 65 aircraft they manage from 15 bases globally today.
Andy currently sits on the board of the Air Charter Safety Foundation, is current Chair of YPO Chicago – Windy City, and past Chair of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA). Andy is a proud University of Dayton Flyer and holds a Master’s degree from Concordia University.

Chadi Saade

Airbus Corporate Jets

Vice President Commercial

Chadi SAADE is currently Vice President Commercial leading ACJ sales, contracts and marketing teams.
Chadi started his commercial career with Airbus in 2004, as a Senior Marketing Analyst. Chadi accumulated several management responsibilities, both in the corporate jets (VP Commercial) and in the airline world (VP Commercial for South Asia region). Chadi holds a master degree in Aeronautics from University of Southampton, as well as a management degree from IAE France and an Engineering Degree from ISAE-Supaero.

Jason Sperry

OneWeb

Director, Business Aviation

Jason has over 18 years’ experience in the business aviation industry including avionics, software, and connectivity services. Before joining OneWeb, Jason previously held roles in product management, business development, and strategy at Bansbach Easylift and Satcom Direct. As an engineering graduate from the Florida Institute of Technology, Jason’s career was initially centred on engineering and avionics hardware, this focus has subsequently evolved to include commercial and strategic elements. Combining his technical experience with a commercial aptitude, Jason enjoys a holistic viewpoint that enables him to understand and empathise with the customer, delivering solutions that are both commercially and technically viable – while meeting the unique demands of the business aviation customer.
At OneWeb, Jason is responsible for delivering fibre-like connectivity solutions to business jet owners, operators, and end users – passengers and crew alike. Jason brings a wealth of experience from the IFC service provision perspective, including significant satellite provider insight spanning both GEO and LEO technologies.

Shawn Vick

AE Industrial Partners

Partner

Shawn Vick has over 30 years of experience in the aerospace industry as a senior operating executive and as an advisor to private equity. He has held senior leadership positions at British Aerospace, Gulfstream Aerospace, Bombardier Aerospace, Landmark Aviation, Hawker Beechcraft, and AE Industrial Partners. He also has operating experience in the MRO and charter management segments of the business aviation market.

Currently, Shawn is a partner and member of the investment committee at AE Industrial Partners, a private equity firm specializing in aerospace, power generation, and specialty industrial investing with over $500 Million in assets under management. He is also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Global Jet Capital, an aircraft financing company with $2.5 Billion in assets owned by AE Industrial Partners, FS/KKR Advisor, LLC, and The Carlyle Group.

Over the course of his career Shawn has been heavily engaged in restructuring and M&A activities including divesting of Landmark Aviation’s FBO network, the restructuring of Hawker Beechcraft and subsequent acquisition by Textron, and the acquisition of GE Capital’s business aviation portfolio in support of Global Jet Capital’s emergence as a leader in business aviation financing solutions.

Shawn holds a BS from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and completed the Oxford Air Transport Course programs at Oxford College, England. He serves on the boards of three private companies. Mr. Vick is an active private pilot.

Don Walsh

Stonebriar Commercial Finance

Senior Vice President

Don is senior vice president of Stonebriar Commercial Finance and SCF Aviation Capital. Previously, Don was a managing director at Guggenheim Partners Aviation Investments, where he oversaw global business aviation originations. Earlier in his career, he played key business aviation origination roles at US Bank Equipment Finance and Key Equipment Finance. Prior to that Don served in originations and portfolio management at Boeing Capital, McDonnell Douglas Finance, and Equitable Life Leasing. He received his undergraduate degree from University of the Pacific and his MBA from Pepperdine University.