April 29, 2024
The Air Charter Safety Foundation is adding expertise with new governors from Flexjet, Vista Global, and Magellan Jets.
The Air Charter Safety Foundation has added executives from Magellan Jets, Flexjet, and Vista Global’s Talon Air to its Board of Governors.
ACSF is a non-profit organization with nearly 330 member companies.
Its mission is to lead and support advancing the highest safety standards available.
Matthew Harris of Magellan Jet, Kent Stauffer of Flexjet, and Talon Air’s Jay Thakor are joining.
The President & CEO, Bryan Burns, confirmed the election following the ACSF’s October 18th board meeting.
“We’re very fortunate to have Matthew, Kent, and Jay joining us,” Burns said.
He added, “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, such as tackling mental health and getting ready for the pending SMS regulation for Part 135 operators.
Harris is Executive Vice President & COO of Magellan Jets.
He joined Magellan Jets earlier this year before co-founding Milestone Aviation in Dublin, Ireland.
As EVP at Milestone Aviation, he oversaw Technical Operations and Leasing Operations.
Additionally, he previously led owner and employee services at NetJets as an EVP.
Harris attended the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida.
Kent Stauffer is the Vice President of Safety for Flexjet, based in Cleveland, Ohio, where he’s worked for more than 20 years under the Flexjet/Onesky Aviation umbrella.
He oversees all aspects of Flight, Maintenance, Environmental Health and Safety, and associated Regulatory Compliance.
Stauffer holds several accreditations in Aviation Maintenance, Operations, and Aviation Security/Aircraft Accident Investigation.
He is a licensed Airframe & Powerplant mechanic, pilot, and UAS remote pilot.
Stauffer is an active outreach trainer with the FAA Safety Team (FAAST) and participates in numerous aviation industry and higher education boards, regulatory working groups, and industry committees.
Jay Thakor, GSP, is the Director of Safety at Talon Air, based in Farmingdale, New York, part of Vista Global, parent of VistaJet and XO.
Before Talon Air, he was the Aircraft Safety Programs Manager for Clay Lacy Aviation in Los Angeles, California, and the Director of Safety and Security for Advanced Air LLC, also in Los Angeles.
Thakor, a certified Graduate Safety Practitioner, attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace & Occupational Safety and a Master of Science in Occupational Safety Management.
