Dave Leatherman

Background

About Dave Leatherman

I have over 20 years of aviation experience with more than hours of flight time in some of the most challenging conditions in high work-load aircraft. I've have a perfect safety and check ride record. More than half my flight time has been in aircraft without an autopilot or FMS. I've successfully dealt with several emergencies. I've paid dues as a free lance flight instructor, contract pilot, ferry pilot, and aerial survey pilot in the post 9/11 world. I cut my teeth as a freight dog in non autopilot, 1960's equipped aircraft, single pilot, for a year. The next stepping stone in my aviation career was Mesa Air Airlines. I upgraded to Captain on the Beech 1900 after six months. The challenging aviating conditions continued at Mesa, where operating elementary equipped aircraft into mountainous, uncontrolled airports, with sub 500 total time first officers, on icy runways, with several legs per day was the norm. After accumulating over 1200 hours turbine Part 121 PIC, I was hired at CitationAir. During my nearly seven years at CitationAir, I was priviledged to learn from some of the industry's finest professionals, incuding former senior wide body captains and check airmen from several major airlines, airforce colonels, and experienced international corporate pilots. On several occations, I was personally requested by several clients to be their pilot. Upon being downsized at CitationAir, I was forced to reinvent myself. Since I wanted diversify from the wildly unstable aviation industry, I founded Blue Ridge Mosquito Control. We provide three week mosquito barrier sprays in the Charlotte area and have the best consumer reviews in a highly competitive marketplace. My aviation career was reignited with a position as Chief Pilot at Charter Flight, Inc, where we operate a Citation XLS under FAR Part 135. In addition my captain duties, I'm also responsible for new hire indoctrination training, recurrent training, and pilot flight/duty time compliance.