For 15 years, the ACSF has served as the only non-commercial resource to the business, charter and fractional ownership industry. Harris, Stauffer and Thakor join a board who share a vision of improving safety.
Three aviation industry professionals have been elected to the Air Charter Safety Foundation board of governors: Magellan Jets’s Matthew Harris, Flexjet’s Kent Stauffer and Talon Air’s Jay Thakor.
Effective immediately, Harris, Stauffer and Thakor will join the current board to help guide the rapidly expanding organisation in pursuit of its goals. The election was confirmed by president and CEO Bryan Burns following the ACSF’s October board meeting.
“We’re very fortunate to have Matthew, Kent and Jay joining us,” says Burns. “Their support and expertise will be critical to help the ACSF expand our membership with new offerings, such as the Member Assistance Program, and focus on issues that matter to our membership (tackling mental health and getting ready for the pending SMS regulation for Part 135 operators).”
Harris, executive vice president and COO of Magellan Jets, has been a thought leader in the private aviation industry for more than 20 years. He joined Magellan earlier this year, having previously co-founded Milestone Aviation in Dublin, Ireland where as EVP he oversaw technical operations and leasing operations. Additionally, he led owner and employee services at NetJets as EVP. Harris attended the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida.
Stauffer is the vice president of safety for fractional operator Flexjet. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, he’s worked there for more than 20 years under the Flexjet/Onesky Aviation umbrella. Stauffer oversees all aspects of flight, maintenance and environmental health and safety, along with associated regulatory compliance. He holds several accreditations, including those in aviation maintenance, operations and aviation security/aircraft accident investigation. He is a licensed Airframe & Powerplant mechanic, pilot and UAS remote pilot, and is an active outreach trainer with the FAA Safety Team (FAAST). He participates in numerous aviation industry and higher education boards, regulatory working groups and industry committees.
Thakor is the director of safety at Talon Air, a Part 135 operation based in Farmingdale, New York. Prior to that he was the aircraft safety programmes manager for Clay Lacy in Los Angeles, California, as well as the director of safety and security for Advanced Air. A certified graduate safety practitioner, Thakor attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where he received a BSc in aerospace and occupational safety, as well as a Masters in occupational safety management.
