Dear Colleagues and members:

As we begin our summer vacations it’s important to reflect on the accomplishments of the GMAA and others in this great Aviation Industry that we chose .

A lot of our members will take short vacations and get back to their hard work and dedication as professionals in this Industry ..24/7 as they say !

Our GMAA Board members will be busy reviewing over 30 applicants for the Geroge Batchelor Scholarship AWARDS …We have Received over 30 applications from excited students and are hoping to give over 125K dollars this year .

It’s a tough assignment that our scholarship committee does not take lightly it’s a privilege and an honor to move young aviators and pay it forward …

As a member of this committee and having worked for George Batchelor , knowing the George Batchelor foundation personally it’s an honor to move his vision in helping this industry and promoting its young talent 

This is what we do at the GMAA thanks to all the institutions in South Florida that help US Promote and teach our young Talent ..  

This summer we also celebrate 99 years of the GMAA as we also celebrate the 250 years of our Country …

Let Us reflect on the accomplishments of this country in its short 250 years while also reflecting the short time since the Wright Brothers accomplished the first flight and how quickly Aviation has evolved in its technology 

Please come and celebrate this year at our Gala for the Starts and Stripes tribute commemorating the 250 years of our country 

We want to congratulate our partners and friends at American airlines on their 100 years of Service ..

We welcome the University of Miami as they move forward in their Goal to establish the leasing and Finance Programs in the Aviation Industry ..

Carry Forward your truly

Nelson Gonzalez

Compliance Manager

Aviation is still a relationship driven industry. People do business with people they know, trust, respect, and feel comfortable recommending. That has not changed.

What has changed is what often happens before the first meeting, the first referral, the first phone call, or the first handshake. Today, people often verify you digitally before they trust you professionally. They look you up.

They check your LinkedIn profile. They may visit your company page. They notice whether your message is clear, whether your experience is current, and whether your professional presence reflects the credibility you have already built in the real world.

For aviation professionals, this matters. Our industry runs on reputation. Whether you work in maintenance, flight training, charter, airport services, aircraft sales, aviation consulting, or supplier support, your LinkedIn presence is no longer just a digital resume. It is part of how people understand your professional credibility.

Someone may have years of aviation experience, strong relationships, technical knowledge, operational expertise, and a respected name in the industry. But when someone visits their LinkedIn profile, that credibility is not always easy to see.

The headline may only show a job title. The About section may be outdated. The company description may be vague. Recent activity may not reflect the person’s actual expertise or current role.

That does not mean the person lacks authority. It simply means their online presence is not supporting the reputation they have already earned. This is why aviation professionals should consider a simple LinkedIn authority audit.

A LinkedIn authority audit asks one important question: Does your LinkedIn presence match your real world credibility?

Start with your headline. Your headline should do more than list your title. It should help people understand what you do, who you serve, and what type of value you bring to aviation.

For example, “President at ABC Aviation” gives a title. A stronger version may say, “Helping aircraft owners and operators improve aircraft availability through specialized maintenance support.” One tells people your role. The other gives context.

Next, review your About section. This section does not need to sound flashy or overly polished. In aviation, clear and credible is usually better. It should explain your background, your area of expertise, the type of clients or partners you work with, and what you are known for.

Then look at your company page. If someone lands on your company’s LinkedIn page, can they quickly understand what your organization does? Can they tell which part of aviation you serve? Can they see what problem you help solve? Can they find a simple way to contact you?

Your recent activity also matters. This does not mean you need to post every day or become a LinkedIn influencer. That is not the goal.

The goal is to show that you are active, relevant, and engaged in your field. A thoughtful company update, event recap, customer education post, article, or industry observation can help people understand your perspective before they ever speak with you.

This becomes especially important before aviation events, association meetings, trade shows, sponsorship opportunities, recruiting conversations, and sales outreach. People are busy. They often make quick decisions about whether someone is worth a conversation.

LinkedIn will never replace real relationships. It will not replace a strong referral, a good meeting, or years of earned trust. But it does support all of those things.

It gives people context before the conversation. It reinforces your professionalism after the introduction. It helps someone remember who you are, what you do, and why your experience matters. It is about making sure your professional presence matches your real world credibility.

In aviation, your reputation walks into the room before you do. Today, your LinkedIn profile often does too.

If your LinkedIn profile or company page does not clearly reflect your aviation experience, credibility, and current role, send us an email at rebekah@becksandthejets.com. At Becks & The Jets, we help aviation professionals clean up, reposition, and strengthen their LinkedIn presence so it supports the opportunities they want to attract. Visit www.becksandthejets.com to learn more.

Arthur Carson, a former Board member who worked for George Batchelor’s IAL, AAA-Interair, and Arrow Air, received FAA approval for QNH LLC Aircraft Dispatcher School last September. Mr. Carson was on the Board of Directors in the 1990s under the presidencies of Gil Gursky, Howard Davidow and Konrad Walter. He also introduced many new active members to GMAA including Ted Gregor who rose to president with his company Aero Kool.

Mr. Carson flew for Eastern Airlines until their last day in 1991, after which he joined IAL as Director of Global Marketing. After IAL’s divestiture, Mr. Carson began teaching at Miami Dade College where he became the Chief Ground Instructor for the college’s FAA Part 141 pilot courses and the Aircraft Dispatcher course. The college’s last aircraft dispatcher course graduated in 2020 and was suspended during (and since) Covid. Mr. Carson realized that with the loss of Sheffield School in Plantation last year, there was no viable school alternative.

Mr. Carson founded QNH LLC and the first class began last October and graduated seven new dispatchers this March. The classes were held evenings from 5:30 to 8:30 and six of the seven students were already local airline employees working as dispatcher coordinators for Global Crossing Airlines.

The spring class is currently in session through August. The fall class (Sept. 14^th) will be a daytime class from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM Monday through Thursdays.

In addition to Mr. Carson as the Chief Instructor, QNH also employs experienced aviation professors and current dispatchers. QNH offers the college experience to dispatcher students. Each class makes field trips to the National Weather Service, and the MIA ATC Control Tower. 

Class visit to National Weather Service

College credits are available at Everglades University and Miami Dade College when the license is earned. For information on upcoming classes please go to www.QNHLLC.com.

Aviation Workforce Solutions is conducting an aviation and aerospace industry survey on behalf of Miami Dade College to gather input from employers, industry leaders, HR professionals, and workforce partners across South Florida.

The survey is designed to help identify current workforce needs, priority skill gaps, emerging technologies, and future training priorities for the region’s aviation and aerospace sectors. Industry feedback will help inform future training programs that better align with employer needs and regional workforce demand.

Aviation and aerospace employers are encouraged to complete the brief survey and share it with others in their organizations who are involved in hiring, training, workforce planning, operations, or technical leadership.

Survey link: https://forms.office.com/r/B6iDqSJdkx

For additional information, please contact Sean Gallagan, Ph.D. at Sean@AviationWorkforceSolutions.com.

Sean Gallagan, Ph.D.

AviationWorkforceSolutions.com 

LinkedIn.com/in/drseangallagan

AMTSocials.com – In person social networking events for AMTs

Part147Solutions.com – Getting FAA Part 147 AMTS up and running

Front Desk Associate 
(Part-Time) Pan Am Flight Academy – On-Site

Pan Am Flight Academy is seeking a dependable, customer-oriented Part-Time Front Desk Associate to be the first point of contact for our visitors, clients, and team.

Must have excellent communication and computer skills and be available to work flexible shifts, including weekends and holidays.

Professional appearance and reliable attendance are required. English is a must, Spanish is a plus.



How to Apply:

Please send your resume to Ms Celine Cohen at ccohen@panamacademy.com

This initiative reminds me of the “Ride Board” from the pre-internet days at the University of Maryland. Anyone who needed a ride—anywhere—filled out a pink card and placed it on the hook for that destination. Anyone with a car who wanted riders to help share the cost of gas filled out a blue card and placed it on the same destination hook. It was highly effective: students helping students in a true win-win situation.

I have spent the better part of this year seeking a new position with a local MRO that is looking to expand its global footprint and product range; especially as DER and PMA-approved articles have become significant revenue drivers. After finding that responses through LinkedIn, Indeed, and Broward County’s job board have been supremely unproductive, I have realized that the ideal networking opportunity may be much closer to home: our own GMAA community.

We have outstanding companies among our members. Many are growing in multiple directions: expanding product and service offerings, entering new overseas markets, and pursuing mergers and acquisitions. How do these firms find new talent? I suggest they start by looking in GMAA’s own backyard. If employers could connect with experienced talent within our community, it would benefit both GMAA and its member companies by reducing recruiting costs and strengthening our network. A simple “Help Wanted” column in the GMAA newsletter could be an effective first step.

Likewise, members who are seeking the right fit with an ambitious company could post a brief profile under a “Hungry & Available” column. Employers could review that column, while job seekers could study the opportunities and positions listed in “Help Wanted.”

I welcome your perspectives on this initiative.

In the meantime, through my roles as VP/Director of Business Development, I have built extensive experience in global sales, strategic partnerships—particularly in the Middle East and Africa—and product sourcing and development with a wide range of factories. I bring a broad skill set and am eager to help my next employer develop new business opportunities and pursue meaningful growth.

I look forward to hearing from fellow members about the initiative outlined above—and, where appropriate, to discussing how I may be able to contribute to your company’s continued growth.

David Gordon

Tel/Whatsapp: 786-598-6535

Dsgordon1962@gmail.com

The Airplane Shop moved its warehouse from New Jersey to Kentucky and shipped Scratch & Dent models to MIA. Attached is a list of available models. All are Executive Series.  The models are located at Atlantic Models and are $100 each plus FL sales tax OR $30 shipping out of state. Doing this by "word of mouth" so feel free to share with other aviation lovers.  

By Eric Santa María, CPA/ABV/CFF

Florida has long been recognized as a business-friendly state, particularly for manufacturers. While many companies take advantage of exemptions on manufacturing machinery and equipment, one of the most overlooked opportunities involves sales tax on utilities—specifically electricity and natural gas used in the manufacturing process.

A properly performed Predominant Use Study can generate significant savings by allowing qualifying manufacturers to eliminate sales tax on future utility bills while also recovering taxes paid in prior years. As utility costs continue to rise, this often represents one of the highest-return state tax planning opportunities available.

What Is a Predominant Use Study?

A Predominant Use Study is an engineering-based analysis that determines whether electricity, natural gas, or other qualifying utilities are predominantly used in manufacturing or related exempt activities. If the study demonstrates that the predominant use threshold is met under applicable state law, the manufacturer may qualify for a sales tax exemption on those utilities.

Many manufacturers continue paying sales tax simply because they have never evaluated whether they qualify.

The Financial Benefits

The benefits of a Predominant Use Study are generally two-fold:

Future Sales Tax Savings

Once approved, qualifying businesses may purchase eligible utilities exempt from sales tax, reducing ongoing operating costs every month.

Recovery of Previously Paid Taxes

Depending on the applicable state statute of limitations, businesses may be eligible to recover sales tax previously paid on qualifying utility purchases, creating an immediate improvement in cash flow while reducing future operating expenses.

Why Manufacturers Should Consider a Study

Manufacturing facilities often devote substantial electricity and natural gas consumption to production equipment, fabrication, processing, packaging, quality control, and other exempt activities.

In addition to identifying refund opportunities, a Predominant Use Study may also:

• Improve cash flow through recovery of previously paid sales tax.
• Review and align ERP coding, vendor invoices, and exemption certificates.
• Strengthen documentation supporting future sales tax compliance.
• Provide a systematic approach to claiming utility exemptions moving forward.

When Should a Study Be Performed?

Manufacturers should consider a Predominant Use Study if:

• One has never been performed.
• Production capacity has expanded.
• New facilities or production lines have been added.
• Utility providers have changed.

Certain states also require updated studies periodically, even when operations remain substantially the same.

Final Thoughts

As manufacturers continue to face rising labor, energy, and operating costs, identifying opportunities to reduce recurring expenses is more important than ever. A Predominant Use Study may provide both immediate cash flow benefits through the recovery of previously paid sales tax and ongoing savings through future utility tax exemptions.

Because qualification depends on the specific facts, facility operations, and applicable state law, manufacturers should consult with experienced tax and engineering professionals to determine whether a study is appropriate.

For many Florida manufacturers, this represents one of the most underutilized state tax planning opportunities available—one that can generate meaningful savings without changing how the business operates.

About the Author

Eric Santa María, CPA/ABV/CFF, is the Tax and Valuation Practice Leader at Garcia Santa María De Armas Trujillo PLLC (GSM CPAs). He advises manufacturers, closely held businesses, and multinational companies on federal, state, and international tax planning, business valuations, and strategic advisory services.

FEAM Aero Helps Make a Wish Take Flight

FEAM Aero was honored to partner with Atlas Air, Miami International Airport (MIA), and Make-A-Wish Southern Florida to help create an unforgettable aviation experience for a very special guest, Ryan, and his family.

Ryan, accompanied by his mother and two older brothers, spent the day immersed in the world of aviation through a series of behind-the-scenes experiences across Miami International Airport. The day began with a private motorcade escort into the terminal, where the family was welcomed by representatives from the participating organizations before enjoying a tour of the terminal and one of MIA's air traffic control towers.

From there, Ryan rode airside aboard an airport fire truck to the Atlas Air facility, where he had the opportunity to fly an aircraft simulator and was surprised with his very own captain's uniform.

The experience concluded at FEAM Aero's facilities, where Ryan explored several aircraft alongside FEAM team members. From climbing aboard the aircraft to learning more about aircraft maintenance, the visit offered a unique glimpse into the work that keeps the aviation industry moving safely every day.

For FEAM Aero, participating in this event was about more than showcasing aircraft maintenance; it was about helping create lasting memories for a deserving family. The company is grateful to the many FEAM team members who volunteered their time and enthusiasm, as well as to Atlas Air, Miami International Airport, and Make-A-Wish Southern Florida for making this meaningful collaboration possible.



FEAM Aero is proud to support opportunities that strengthen its community partnerships while inspiring the next generation of aviation enthusiasts. Seeing Ryan's excitement throughout the day served as a powerful reminder of the positive impact the aviation community can make when it comes together with a shared purpose.

“We welcome you with gratitude for becoming a member of our association. Your Support fuels our mission and we are honored to have you as part of our community"