Denise Wilson, CAM, President and Director of Operations

Denise Wilson founded Desert Jet with the intent of bringing the desert’s corporate flight departments together as a cooperative to reduce the cost of aircraft operating expenses. This cooperative expanded to fill the need for a quality private jet charter service in the region. Denise’s experience prior to forming Desert Jet includes both flying and management positions for several airline, charter and corporate flight departments. Her expertise is in the efficient managing of flight departments and implementing programs to enhance the safety of flight operations. She also provides turbine transition, initial operating experience and standardization training for pilots new to aircraft type. Denise is qualified by the National Business Aviation Association as a Certified Aviation Manager (CAM). She has approximately 6700 hours of flight experience with type ratings in the Citation 500 and 525 series, Gulfstream III, Boeing 737, Hawker 1000, Westwind and the Saab 340. Denise was a finalist in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Entrepreneur of 2010 contest, in the Emerging Entrepreneur category. She was the keynote speaker at the Women in Aviation, International Conference in 2010 and has been featured, published, and quoted in publications such as Aviation for Women Magazine, Twin and Turbine Magazine, AutoPILOT Magazine, Aviation for Women Magazine, Palm Springs Life, FlyCorporate Magazine, and NBAA’s Business Insider. Denise attended the University of Southern California where she majored in Music Performance (Oboe), and attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree and minored in Aviation Safety.

Erik Neiderman, Chief Pilot

Erik Neiderman brings over twenty years of aviation and management experience to his role as Chief Pilot for Desert Jet. His diverse background encompasses entrepreneurial ventures as well as extensive aviation experience as a pilot and aircraft manager. Erik was the founder of several business ventures including the Coachella Valley’s first microbrewery restaurant and manufacturing facility while simultaneously building his flight career. As he transitioned to a full time aviation career, his savvy business experience contributed to him becoming a sought-after aircraft manager for private aircraft owners. As Chief Pilot, Erik ensures the pilot group delivers the highest levels of safety and customer service to our clients. He is type rated in the Lear Jet and the Citation 500 series.

Cliff Bruner, Director of Maintenance

Cliff Bruner brings to Desert Jet over 27 years of experience maintaining turbine aircraft. As the President and Founder of AOG Jet Support, he provides scheduled and unscheduled maintenance services for jet aircraft throughout Southern California. Previously, he worked for the Cessna Citation Service Center in Long Beach, California, where he was a lead mechanic and supervisor of aircraft maintenance. Cliff has attended Flight Safety, International maintenance training for every Citation aircraft as well as factory training for numerous other aircraft. Cliff attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University as well as several Dale Carnegie leadership courses. He is Six Sigma Green Belt certified.

Peter Jackson, Director of Safety

Peter Jackson manages Desert Jet’s safety program through fostering common-sense proactive innovations, to ensure the safest outcome for every venture. Trained by Flight Safety International, and other leading aviation safety training providers, Peter has been an annual attendee of the Bombardier Safety Standdown. Peter has been a professional pilot for eleven years, gaining almost 6000 flight-hours of which over 5500 flight-hours as captain. He has type ratings in the Citation 500 series, Lear 45, Hawker HS-125 series and King Air 350 and has served as a pilot, aircraft manager, instructor, check airman, Director of Safety and Assistant Chief Pilot at medium-sized charter companies in the past. A native of Ireland, he received his education at The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, before attending the University of Ulster to study Humanities. Peter was awarded a Flying Scholarship from the Royal Air Force, which inspired a move to Southern California, where a determination was made – become a professional pilot and work with like-minded people to create value in the workplace and society.

Melody Tharp, Dispatcher, Client Services

Melody Tharp is the front line with our clients, providing charter quotes, scheduling flights and making all detailed arrangements for flights while providing the highest levels of professionalism and personalized service. From ensuring that the perfect meal is onboard each flight to arranging the most special of requests, no detail escapes her scrutiny. Melody was the recent recipient of the NBAA Schedulers and Dispatchers scholarship award as well as the Universal Weather and Aviation FAA Dispatcher License Training and Certification Course, presented by Women in Corporate Aviation at the 2010 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) conference.  She is an FAA-licensed aircraft dispatcher.

Clair Burke, Client Services

Clair Burke brings a long history of customer service and sales experience to her role in the charter department at Desert Jet. Clair schedules client flights and coordinates specialty services such as passenger ground transportation and inflight catering. She provides the classic Desert Jet “above and beyond” service in an amazingly effortless manner. Clair’s professionalism, charming voice, and quick wit serve her well as she synchronizes the multitude of details needed to ensure a perfect trip for our clients.

 

Rob Wilson, CAM, Pilot

Rob Wilson has over 24 years of flying experience and is qualified by the National Business Aviation Association as a Certified Aviation Manager (CAM). His previous experience includes the positions of Director of Operations and Chief Pilot for several charter and corporate flight departments. Previous to beginning his corporate flight career, Rob was a Captain, Check Airman and standardization pilot for a large national airline. Rob has over 10700 hours, 9000 of this as pilot in command. He has type ratings in the Citation 500 and 525 series, Saab 340, Hawker 1000 and the Westwind. Rob attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where he majored in Professional Aeronautics and was on the Dean’s List.

Mike Jackman, Pilot