Speaker: Bruce Bennett, owner of Aurora Aviation.

Topic:  Why The Tower Will Be Good For Wilsonville.

Bruce had his first lesson at Aurora Aviation in 1975 while working during high school summer vacation as “line-service” aircraft re-fueler. After three years in Army Aviation as a technician, in 1979 he returned here as a student in the professional pilot course while working aircraft maintenance at PDX. Continuing his flight training, Bruce returned full-time in 1980; back on the “line”, then to flight instructor, in sales as a Cessna dealer, on to charter flying, moving into management and taking charge of the operation in 1986. Certified as an ATP, he has a flight instructor rating for single engine land & sea, multi-engine and instrument with type ratings in the Falcon 10, Beech-Jet, Premier-Jet, Phenom 300, and Hawker. He has acted as Aurora’s chief pilot, chief flight instructor, charter jet instructor, and FAA designated company check airman. His current position is director of operations. Although 12,115 flight hours is not all that many compared to most career pilots, having over 99.9% of that exclusively off the Aurora Airport may be a record! His flying has been primarily in the Northwest US, but he has flown all over the country with dozens of trips to Mexico, more to Canada and as far away as the Bahamas, Brazil, and London from Aurora.

Bruce will provide an update on the tower that is under construction at the Aurora Airport and explain why it will be good for Wilsonville.