50 Years in Aviation
Tom began flying at the now closed Spring Valley Airport (N24), in Rockland County, New York. After moving to California he continued flying lessons with G&H Aircraft at the El Monte Airport (KEMT). He soloed On August 7, 1973 at the age of 17 in a Cessna 150.
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Tom Attended Arizona State University. While In college, he worked for Arizona Piper at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (KPHX). In addition to line duties, Tom continued training earning his Commercial and Instrument rating in 1975. Aircraft flown during the training where Cherokee 140, 180, Grumman AA1A, AA5, Aero Commander 112, and 114.
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In 1976 Tom transferred to Falcon Air Service at Falcon Field, Mesa Arizona (KFFZ). Flying Cessna 152s, 172s, and 182RGs. He earned his CFI Ground Instructor, Advanced and Instrument along with his Basic CFI and CFI Instrument, Airplane Ratings. He also added a Multi-Engine rating to his commercial license in a Piper Aztec.
Continuing to earn his Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Technology, Tom began instructing gaining over 1000 hours of instruction time in his last two years of college. On May 8, 1978 Tom Graduated. On the next day he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the USAF. |
Tom spent 10 years on active duty and 15 years in the Air National Guard. After pilot training, he served first as an Instructor pilot in the T-37B. Graduated from the USAF Safety school and became the training wing's civilian aviation liaison for Arizona. After he completed additional training in the AT-38, and a short tour in the A-37 he completed training in the F-15 Eagle. He gained over 1000 hours in the Eagle serving as flight lead, four ship flight lead, chief of training, and at the wing level as a scheduler and airspace manager. In the ANG he served as a Air Liaison Officer advising US Army units on the use of air assets. He retired as a Lt Colonel in May 2004.
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In 1988 after exiting active duty Tom went to work as an aeronautical engineer with Boeing Military aircraft. He was lead engineer on the YF-22 cockpit design team at Boeing. Tom only spent a year there as the call of flying was strong.
In February 1989 Tom was hired by Alaska Airlines, based in Seattle, Washington. His first assignment was as a flight engineer on the Boeing 727-100 and 200. After his first year he upgraded to co-pilot or first officer on the B727. Tom spent 7 years as a first officer, transferring to the Boeing 737-400 in 1993. About this time he was appointed the first manager of flying safety at Alaska Airlines. In 1995 Tom upgraded to captain on the Boeing 737-200 based in Anchorage, Alaska. In 1996 he moved back to Seattle where he completed 24 years as a captain on the entire B737 NG fleet. Tom was selected to be a Delivery Captain, picking new aircraft up from Boeing's production facility and delivering it too Alaska Airlines. In 2009 Tom working with executives at Alaska including Brad Tilden CEO, developed and founded Aviation Day. The program invited over a 1000 high school aged youth to an all day emersion into the airline world. The goal was to share with the youth all the different careers that existed in the airline industry. In 2012 he was selected as an Alaska Airlines Legend a coveted award given to less than 2% of employees in recognition of long established customer service and excellence. Tom retired from Alaska in May 2020 with over 31 years of service.
For ten years prior to retirement Tom re-engaged in general aviation. He joined Boeing Employees Flying Association (BEFA) checking out in all of their aircraft and as an instructor. He taught float plane operations primarily. Tom Leased a de Havilland Beaver DHC2-MK1 for three years operating it privately and offering instruction as an independent CFI. Following the Beaver, he leased a Cessna 180A for two years.
In 2020 Tom began an association with Olde Thyme Aviation based at Bremerton Airport. As an independent CFI he operates OTA aircraft teaching advanced courses in tailwheel operations, CFI candidate spin training, Upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT), and basic aerobatics. He operates approximately 5 different training aircraft. |
Numbers from Tom's Logbook
24,275 Plus Flight hours 13,000 Plus landings Pilot in Command in 67 types of aircraft 22,226 Retractable Hours 1200 Hours & 4500+ Landings in Tailwheel Aircraft 375 hours & 730 Water landings SES 4050 Hours logged in Instrument Conditions 3370 Actual IMC Instrument Approaches 58 Instrument Checkrides |
Tom has been married to Cathy Rogers since 1978. They have three sons who all became Eagle Scouts, Brian an engineer for Boeing in Everett WA, Matthew a CPA in the Portland area, and Andrew also working for Boeing as a software engineer in St Louis, MO. In his spare time he volunteers with Scouting through the Chief Seattle Council and has earned the Silver Beaver Award for his high level of participation helping the youth of the Pacific NW. |