About Pilatus Owners & Pilots Association (POPA)
The Pilatus Owners & Pilots Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the interests of owners and pilots worldwide who fly Pilatus Aircraft. POPA was founded by a group of original owners in 1996, the first year following initial commercial delivery of the Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. Full Membership is available to any registered owner and/or operator of Pilatus aircraft. You may have up to 3 people on your account (pro pilot, co-owner, DOM, etc.). Associate Membership is available for any qualifying individual or organization involved with or providing a service for the Pilatus line of aircraft. Should you not fall into these two categories, please contact the POPA Home Office for membership options.
This website was created as a means of communication between owners/pilots and operators of the PC-12, Pilatus and various vendors. Staying in touch, by means of a quarterly magazine with articles written by members and a yearly convention, keeps us up-to-date on various operating concerns, new products available, and modifications made by others to their aircraft. During our yearly convention, we mix business with pleasure taking time for lectures, question and answer sessions, demonstrations, great meals and other activities.
POPA is proud to say that we currently have over 850 members, who represent over 700 PC-12 aircraft and over 100 PC-24s in the worldwide Pilatus fleet.
The camaraderie since the inception of POPA has been outstanding. Our membership spans the world boasting participants from the U.S., Canada, Europe, Africa, South America and Australia. Performance, safety, versatility and price are the reasons you acquired your aircraft. These are the same reasons you should join POPA.
Have Questions?
Laura Mason (Executive Director) will be glad to answer any questions you have.
Contact LauraOfficers, Board Members and Advisors
Sam Schwerin
President
Sam has been flying for nearly 30 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…
Scott Martin
Vice President
I've been flying since I soloed at 16. Primarily for recreation and in support of our growing Handbag business. I've had a Legacy PC12 for the last 14 years, and moved up to a PC24 two years ago. I frequently…
Mike Hensal
Secretary / Treasurer
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…
Mark Greksa
Board Member
Mark earned his private pilot certificate in 2000, followed by instrument, commercial, and finally, his ATP in 2015. His first airplane was a 1979 Piper Dakota. He has accumulated almost 4,000 hours. With a strong desire to build multi-engine time,…
Kirk Grimes
Board Member
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,…
Adam Schaefer
Board Member
With over 25 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 Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Science. He currently holds an Air Transport Pilot…
Benny Benson
Board Member
Understanding that a mile of road only gets you a mile further while a mile of runway can take you anywhere, flying for Benny started as an option to simply avoid street traffic, and has since turned into a passion…
Erik Rheinheimer
Pro Pilot Board Member
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…
Jessi Jenison
Pro Pilot Board Member
Jessi Jenison began flying in 1998 and has over 20 years in the aviation industry, holding Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multi-Engine, CFI, and CFII certificates. While earning her Business Management degree, she gained early experience working at an aircraft interior shop,…
Laura Mason
Executive Director
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!…
Colin Marrer
Pilatus Advisor
Colin Marrer joined Pilatus Aircraft USA Ltd in 2022 as Director, Customer Relations, and currently serves as Interim Vice President, Customer Service, supporting Pilatus customers across the Americas. In these roles, he oversees Customer Relations, Technical Support, Engineering, Parts Sales,…
Phil Winters
Pilatus Service Center Advisor
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…
Paul Bell
Past President Emeritus/Advisor
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…
Sara Camarda
Administrative Director
Sara officially joined POPA in 2025. She holds an academic background in psychology, sociology, and philosophy, bringing a thoughtful, people-centered perspective to her role at POPA. She is a mother of three and, outside of work, enjoys traveling, design, and…
