About Pilatus Owners & Pilots Association (POPA)

Paul has been flying since 1997.  He learned in an ancient Cessna 152, then owned and operated a Piper Saratoga, Piper Malibu Mirage and Piper Meridian.  The Meridian was based in the UK for seven years while Paul was President of Dell’s European business. He flew a PC-12NG from 2011 to 2022, and now flies a PC-12NGX, operating out of Austin, Texas and Jackson, Wyoming.  He splits his flying between family trips, his work in technology private equity, and volunteer flights for Veterans’ Airlift Command and Angel Flight South Central.

Mike began his flying career in October of 1978. He trained in a Cessna 150 then operated a Cherokee Six for a number of years as a company pilot for his father’s business. He then flew a Saratoga TC and next a Malibu Mirage. In July of 2013, he purchased S/N1301 and flew his first international flight from Bournemouth, England to northwest Oklahoma. Mike is retired and owner of Lane’s Motor Freight Lines, of which his son now manages. He has been married to his wife, Linda, for 42 years and has 5 grown children and 15 grandchildren. He flies his PC-12 primarily for family and leisure and, occasionally, for business. Mike volunteers for Veterans Airlift Command and Angel Flights. When he is not flying the Pilatus, he enjoys flying his 1970 Cessna 150.

With over 15 years as a certificated pilot Adam brings considerable experience to POPA as an Advisor. Adam graduated magna cum laude from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2003 with a Bachelors degree in Aeronautical Science. He currently holds an Air Transport Pilot certificate as well as an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic’s certificate. Adam’s experience includes flight instructing in both land and sea planes. With Adam's current position as Director of Operations for Tradewind Aviation, (operating over 19 Pilatus aircraft) he brings valuable knowledge to the POPA Board.

Based in Aspen, CO, Wally got his license in 1978 and enjoys the spectacular views and time advantage that flying grants. Starting in Cessna 172s and 182s, he moved on to a P210, a Cessna 414, a TBM700, and then to the Pilatus PC-12NG. He has around 4,000 hours and an ATP rating. Committed to learning, he has a deep appreciation for the individual and collective professionalism of the aviation industry.  Wally flies both for business and pleasure. His businesses include his wealth management firm (Obermeyer Wood Investment Counsel), his family’s skiwear company, and a hydroelectric company. His pleasure flights include flying a Cessna 180 taildragger and of course, heading to the fabulous destinations a PC-12 affords. A lover of things Swiss--including the language, the food, the mountains, and the unparalleled quality of Pilatus—owning a PC-12NG, he feels as if he has “arrived.”

Laura grew up in Nebraska in a little town of 300 people, and moved to California when she was a teenager. Off to Arizona in 1989 after the birth of a son. It is a beautiful, amazing place to live! Laura has two children; a Son and Daughter, both graduates of the University of Arizona, and three grandchildren. She spends her free time hiking in the desert with her dog, and spending time with family and friends.

Laura has worked for POPA almost from the beginning in 1998.. Since then, POPA has grown from 15 aircraft to over 600 PC-12s! POPA has  developed into a superb organization, devoted to the safety and operation of the PC-12. Laura truly enjoys working for you, the members of POPA, and reporting to a dedicated Board of Directors. If you have any concerns, questions or comments on anything to do with POPA, please feel free to contact Laura direct at Laura@Pilatusowners.org or 623-230-6560.

Tom is the Vice President of Marketing for Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd, responsible for branding, advertising, trade shows, promotions, sales support, media and public relations, market research and strategy. An Aerospace Engineering graduate of the University of Kansas, Tom began his career in the Advanced Design group at General Dynamics Ft. Worth Division before transitioning into marketing business aircraft with Cessna. Now in his 17th year as the head of marketing for Pilatus, Tom is a licensed private pilot with an instrument rating.

Brent currently operates PC-24,  S/N 235 primarily for business use.  Brent is co-founder/President of CalTech, which provides technology services to community banks across the South Central US.  CalTech’s corporate offices are located in West Texas, and with limited airline service, his business used the PC-12, and now the PC-24 as a corporate workhorse. Brent’s aviation addiction started at the age of 18. He has 1800+ hours in the PC-12, a PC-24 Type Rating, a Cessna Citation 500 Type Rating, ATP and CFI pilot certificates. Brent has a passion for aviation safety, specifically for the owner operator.  He lives in Wall, Texas with his wife of 20 years and their two kids.  In his spare time, you will find him playing tennis with his daughter,  or riding mountain bikes with his son.

Sam has been flying for nearly 25 years, and is constantly challenging himself to further develop his piloting skills. Sam is a co-founder and Managing Partner of Millennium Technology Value Partners, a New York City based venture capital firm.  For the past five years, the PC-12 has proven to be an invaluable tool to visit the firm's offices and investments across the U.S. While he spends a lot of time in the PC-12, Sam can also be found pulling 5G loops with his daughter in an Extra 330, exploring the backcountry in an Aviat Husky, and cruising around Montana ranch lands in a Bell JetRanger. Sam’s wife is also a pilot and his son is working on soloing for his 16th birthday. Sam is a frequent volunteer pilot for Angel Flight West.

Adam earned his wings in 1997 flying a Bonanza A36 followed by a Baron B58. His admiration for the Pilatus PC-12 started with his purchase of SN495 in 2003 while acting as co-owner and President of a national consumer technology distribution company. It served as an office in the sky for his team while visiting vendors and customers nationwide. In 2013, the new capabilities of the NG and the respect he has for the Pilatus team, led to the purchase of SN1415. Adam has had many great adventures flying the PC-12 including a transatlantic journey from California to Europe. Today, along with his daughter who also pilots the PC-12, he utilizes the plane to visit various investments in the US and fly charitable missions with his wife Susan.

Kirk first learned to fly in 2003, in a 1977 Cessna Hawk XP that he bought while living in Northern, BC. In the spring of 2005, Kirk purchased a 2001 T182T in Toronto and completed his instrument rating. In 2008, Kirk upgraded to a new 2008 Piper Meridian that opened up a whole new world of safety and capability.

Kirk’s first exposure to Pilatus came in the mid 1990’s when he worked in Yemen and was able to spend some time flying in Zimex Aviation’s PC-6 Porter. He was amazed at the capability of the PC-6. It was on his first trip to the 2010 POPA convention in Tulsa, OK where Kirk became enamored with the benefits, space and performance of the PC-12 that his uncle had purchased new. Shortly thereafter, Kirk’s company purchased a new 2012 PC12-NG, SN1334 from the Canadian dealer in Thunder Bay. His Aircraft helps support his Oil and Gas Service business in Northern BC, Alberta and Midland, TX.

Kirk has also done multiple international ferry trips from Malaysia, the UK, and Germany in the PC-12. He has accumulated 4300 hours of flight time. Kirk has been married to his wife Debbie, for 28 years, and has two grown children, one of which is a private pilot.

Erik’s passion for flying began as a teenager hanging around the local airport bumming rides in exchange for helping with airport mowing, wing covering, and other grunt work.  That led to a love for all things aviation and a career that eventually landed him with Duininck Companies operating a PC-12 part 91 for their road construction, plastic pipe manufacturing, and golf course building.  He has since flown over 2000 hours in the PC-12 in 8 different serial numbers including legacy and NGs. His company currently has an NGX on order.

In his spare time, you will find Erik water skiing with the Little Crow Ski Team competing on a national level, playing and coaching hockey, hunting, or even wrangling some yaks.  Erik Brings a look from the professional pilot side of the spectrum and hopes to provide valuable insights that can be helpful for all owners and pilots.

Phil has been involved with Pilatus since 1997, serving as a Regional Sales Manager for Western Aircraft for several years, and was named VP of Aircraft Sales in 2004. Phil has been flying the PC-12 for over 15 years and succeeded Mike Fitzgerald as the second representative of the Dealer Network to sit on the POPA Board as an Advisor in 2009.

A graduate of LeTourneau University in Longview Texas with a B.S. in Aviation Technology, he has held posts as a flight instructor, A&P Mechanic, Corporate Pilot and Trade Analyst/Demo Pilot for Raytheon Aircraft Company prior to moving to Boise, ID to join Western Aircraft. He and two young children reside in Boise, Idaho and enjoy flying, golfing, fly fishing, skiing and traveling.

Pete Wolak oversees operations in the Western Hemisphere, accounting for over 70% of the worldwide fleet of about 1,200 Pilatus PC-12s. Pete is proud to lead a team that provides service to Pilatus Customers and Service Centers in the Americas that includes Technical Support Engineering, Parts Sales and Services, Warehouse Operations, Maintenance Training and Warranty. Pete started his 12 year plus tenure at Pilatus Business Aircraft in April 2000 as VP of Customer Programs and took over the responsibilities of VP Customer Service in October, 2002.

Prior to Pilatus, Wolak was employed for 14 years at Continental Airlines, where he worked in Propulsion Engineering and later as a Project Manager, Engineering. He was responsible for the CFM56 engine program and handled new aircraft inductions, including Boeing 737-700/800, 767-200/400, and 777. Wolak holds a degree in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering from Rutgers University.

Pete can be reached at his Broomfield, Colorado office at 303-410-2720, on his cell phone at 720-201-3765, or by email at pwolak@pilbal.com.

Lori started as POPA's Director of Marketing in March, 2022. Having previously worked for Cessna Aircraft Company starting in 1996 as a marketing specialist, and over the course of her 16-year tenure, Lori was promoted to positions of increasing responsibility, eventually taking on the role of Director of Marketing.