Jeff Bartels began his aviation journey with his first solo flight in 1972 and earned his private pilot’s license in February 1973. Those early years were spent in the bustling aviation environment around Minneapolis, training at Southport, Flying Cloud, and St. Paul Holman Field.

Bartels made a unique job transition in the 1980s, working as a software engineer at NASA/McDonnell Douglas on airlock technology for the Space Station Freedom project. He eventually returned to serious flying in the early 1990s with his Certified Flight Instructor reinstatement, demonstrating the adaptability that has defined his career. Bartels went on to work for various Part 135 and Part 91 flight departments, including McDonald’s Corporation, and later spending eight years as the personal pilot for the Chicago White Sox owner and family. He has accumulated over 11,500 flight hours with more than 5,700 hours in Challenger 300/350 aircraft, making him one of the most experienced pilots on this aircraft type.

“Piloting has been a tremendous opportunity for me and due to the advancements in technology there has been a surge in opportunities in this field,” Bartels said. “Young aspiring aviators shouldn’t think twice about entering the industry if it’s a passion, but they should always be adaptable to change.”