Brandon Atkinson is the CEO of Aerowood Aviation. He is an aviation enthusiast/pilot who loves every minute of the freedom he possesses when flying. It all started at the age of 8 when he went to a local fly-in. This was the first time he had ever come in contact with an aircraft–needless to say he was hooked! Since then, he dreamed about flying, but it wasn’t until 2011 that he would actually get to fly in a single engine plane for the first time. As he became a pilot the following year he also became an aircraft owner. After owning a few aircraft an opportunity presented itself to become the owner of a flight school. He accepted the opportunity, and it was the best decision that he has ever made. He gets to enjoy flying and running a business side by side. This is the best of both worlds for Brandon. Aerowood is a growing company that treats our customers as family, and we look forward to you being a part of ours.

Dar is a private pilot who grew up around aviation all his life. His first flight was when he was only 2 months old; he has been in love with it ever since. He’s currently working on his Instrument Rating and is planning on making aviation his career. Outside of work, he enjoys writing music, playing volleyball, and traveling the country in the family plane. Dar will be happy to take care of your inquiries as he manages the Front Desk at our EQY location.

Adam’s love for aviation began at a young age when he worked in his family business in Louisville KY flying hot air balloons. After graduating from the University of South Carolina, he decided to make a career out of his passion for flying by transitioning to airplanes. He moved back home to Louisville and earned his certificates and ratings from Private Pilot through CFII and MEI. In 2017 he relocated to the Charlotte area to work full time with us at Aerowood. Adam serves as General Manager for operations at Aerowood. He is a Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot (CSIP) and heads up Aerowood’s Cirrus Training Center. He also is in charge of Aircraft Management for aircraft that Aerowood manages for our customers.

Bill is our Director of Operations at Aerowood Aviation, leading our team of flight instructors and ensuring the instruction provided by Aerowood remains top notch for our customers. He is an Air Force brat who grew up in Asia, Europe, and the U.S.; but if pressed, will call San Antonio, TX home. Growing up in the Air Force world, Bill cannot remember a time when he was not around the sound of airplanes flying overhead.

Upon graduation from Baylor University, Bill began his 20-year Air Force career. While stationed in Clovis, NM, he earned his Private Pilot certificate before heading off to Undergraduate Pilot Training in Del Rio, TX. This began his adventure of flying, instructing, and evaluating in the F-16 Fighting Falcon and T-38 Talon for the remainder of his time in the Air Force.

Following his Air Force retirement in 2018, Bill relocated to the Charlotte area. Locally he has flown for both American Airlines and a private company flight department. Deciding to leave life on the road behind, we are grateful that he has taken this leadership position at Aerowood.

Bill holds all certificates through CFI/CFII/MEI and Airline Transportation Pilot (ATP). He has more than 4300 hours in military and civilian aircraft and has type ratings in both the Airbus A320 and Gulfstream GVII. Bill is excited to be a part of the amazing work happening day in and day out at Aerowood Aviation. If there is anything he can do to make your experience better, do not hesitate to reach out.

Jong relocated to Charlotte in 2016 following careers in law enforcement, as a military intelligence officer, and as an engineering defense contractor (supporting Naval Aviation).  As a volunteer pilot (CFI, Check Pilot Examiner) in Civil Air Patrol (CAP), he has logged over 900 hours in the G1000 Glass Cockpit platform.

For the first time in July 2019, the USAF started a program of using CAP CFIs to evaluate commissioned officers for their potential continuation into Undergraduate Pilot Training.  Jong was part of this initial CFI cadre of 24 CFIs tasked with flight and classroom instruction for the USAF.  He has also used his flying skills for law enforcement activities and to support disaster relief operations. 

At this time, he does not take on primary students.  But he’d be happy to help you create a plan of action for your aviation goals post primary, e.g., fine-tune private pilot level skills, instrument training, commercial training, instructor ratings.  Additionally, he’s available for flight reviews, instrument proficiency checks, mock check rides, night currency, and mountain flying techniques.

As for mountain flying, he can provide specialized training in actual mountainous terrain near Asheville.  While you may not contemplate flying into some of those short, high elevation airfields, actually doing so can increase your confidence while overflying mountainous terrain.

Incidentally he’s also a helicopter CFI and CFI-I.  So, while we may not have helicopters for the time being, he’d be happy to address your helicopter questions as well.

Bill started pursuing aviation in the spring of 1973 at Charleston AFB Aero Club between nuclear fleet ballistic missile submarine strategic patrols. While serving as a qualified nuclear submarine officer specializing in strategic nuclear missiles [Polaris and Poseidon], he attained all the ground instructor certificates and his instrument rating while stationed in Charleston; CFI and multi-engine certificates in Honolulu, HI; and his CFII and Multi-Engine Instructor in Long Beach, CA. During the position as Chief Instructor of a Part 141 flight school providing ground and flight instruction for private, commercial, and instrument ratings, he earned his Gold Seal Flight Instructor certificate. Bill studied Physics and Mathematics at the University of North Carolina, graduated in 1968, subsequently obtained a Navy Officer Commission, and retired after 20 years of naval service.  He earned a Masters Degree in Quality Assurance Management from Southern Polytechnic State University [now called Kennesaw State University]. He served 22 years in the Civil Air Patrol as a Squadron and Group Check Pilot, Flight Instructor, Cadet Orientation Pilot, and Emergency Services Search and Rescue Pilot retiring with the rank of Major. Bill has more than 4,000 hours flight time and more that 3,800 instructional hours.  He joined Aerowood Aviation when we first established the flight school at Monroe Airport, and became part of the team of instructors establishing a quality flight training school. In July 2023 Bill was awarded the Wright Brothers Master Pilot award for 50 years of safe flying.

Ashton grew up in Charlotte, NC and always loved flying and going to the airport.  She graduated from UNCW with a double major in Criminology and French but was unsure of her career path.  In the meantime, she became a Flight Attendant for American Airlines and shortly knew she wanted to be the one at the flight controls!  Once she took a Discovery flight, she was hooked.  Ashton was accepted into the American Airlines Cadet Academy and began training in Dallas, Texas, where she completed all her certificates and ratings from Private to CFI/CFII.  She is so excited to help others achieve their flying goals and watch them learn and grow as a pilot!

Reid grew up in Myrtle Beach, SC and was introduced to aviation at 12 years old when he took his first flight at a local flight club. From then on his eyes would always be pointed towards the sky. When he was furloughed from his job as a restaurant manager in 2020, Reid decided he had had enough of the service industry and was ready for a career change. He started working on his Private Pilot certificate in Myrtle Beach before moving to Augusta, GA and finally finishing up here at Aerowood in 2021. He earned his Instrument rating, Commercial Single, and Commercial Multi Certificates at ATP in Concord, NC before returning to Aerowood to earn his CFI and CFII. Reid is a Cirrus TCI (Training Center Instructor) and is also a tailwheel instructor; he can introduce you to the art of flying taildraggers as well as give you instruction on your way to the #cirruslife. He stands ready to share his passion for flight and to help you accomplish all your aviation goals.

Patrick grew up around aviation and realized his passion for it at an early age. His childhood was spent just outside Chicago where he fished, camped, and played hockey. Toward the end of high school he earned his Private Pilot certificate, then attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach where he completed certificates and ratings through Commercial Multi-Engine as well as playing club hockey and working as a tutor. He obtained his Instructor certificate back home in northern Illinois during the summer before graduation from Embry Riddle. Patrick is a Cirrus TCI (Training Center Instructor). After graduating in December 2022, he moved to Charlotte and joined Aerowood to continue his passion as he trains the future generation of pilots.

Jon was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; about an hour south of Oshkosh. He started attending EAA AirVenture Oshkosh at the age of five and has loved aviation ever since. He enrolled at the aviation program at Liberty University in 2017 but started his flying at the Rock Hill airport. In 2020 he decided to finish his flight training here in Charlotte, while continuing to work on his degree online. He earned his Private Pilot certificate, then continued his flight training in Gastonia where he earned the remainder of his certificates and ratings. Jon is a Cirrus TCI (Training Center Instructor). He is very excited to be instructing and to pass on his aviation knowledge and skills to future pilots here at Aerowood.

Hunter grew up in Fayetteville, NC then had the opportunity to see the world with his military family. His passion for aviation began while living in Germany. After his first discovery flight in 2018, he fell in love with being behind the controls and moved stateside to complete his Private, Instrument, and Commercial training in Asheville, NC. After earning his CFI certificate back in Fayetteville, his next move was to Charlotte to become a CFI at Aerowood. He is a Cirrus TCI (Training Center Instructor) as well as a CFII. Hunter looks forward to sharing his love of aviation and helping you achieve your aviation goals.

Born in Long Island, NY, Michael’s love for aviation started when he was a child. In 2012 he moved to Charlotte. While in high school, Michael soloed and completed his Private Pilot training at Aerowood before attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL. he graduated ERAU in May of 2023 with his Commercial Single and Multi and CFI/CFI-I. In addition, he can give instruction in our tailwheel aircraft. When he is not flight instructing, Michael is volunteering at local warbird hangars where he enjoys teaching others about aviation history. We are delighted that he returned to Charlotte to instruct at Aerowood and help others reach their goal of becoming a pilot.

Preetham moved to the United States from India in 2015 to pursue a degree in Information Technology. In December 2018 he took a Discovery Flight and his passion for aviation was ignited. Following his graduation from NC State he moved to Florida to complete his training. With strong support from his Dad, Preetham endured the trials and challenges along the way and earned his certificates and ratings through Commercial, CFI, and CFII. He is now with us at Aerowood and is looking forward to helping you follow your passion and achieve your aviation goals!

Rachel grew up in Charlotte, NC. Her passion for aviation started when she would attend airshows as a little girl with her father and grandfather. In high school, she trained and received her Private Pilot Certificate here at Aerowood Aviation. Rachel graduated from Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida with an Aviation Management and Flight Operations degree and a minor in Photography. There she received her Instrument rating, Commercial Multi and Single, and CFI certificates. While in school, she was also part of her school’s clay shooting team and was president of the Women in Aviation International Club. Rachel is looking forward to helping others achieve their dreams and goals in aviation.

Ron soloed to earn his student pilot certificate on his 16th birthday in 1966 – his Dad drove him to the airport (he got his driver’s license the next day). He has logged more than 5,000 flying hours; over 2,500 in the Cessna 172, the airplane Aerowood uses as a primary and instrument trainer. As an instructor, he enjoys helping advanced students realize the dreams that await them in the air, taking students to the deep satisfaction of proficient Instrument flying, and (especially) working with CFI candidates — those who would like to become a Flight Instructor. Ron is a Cirrus Training Center Instructor (TCI). In October 2016 he was awarded the Wright Brothers Master Pilot award for 50 years of safe flying; in October 2018 he was named a Distinguished Flight Instructor by the AOPA based upon feedback from his students. As an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE), Ron is able to administer Practical Tests for single engine Private Pilot and Commercial certificates, Instrument-Airplane ratings, and CFI certificates (CFI Initial, CFI-I, adding CFI-Airplane to another Category, CFI Reinstatement, and CFI Renewal)  right here at Aerowood.