California Pacific Airlines has announced that Lawrence A. "Bud" Sittig, who has been in the aviation industry for 43 years in numerous leadership positions, has been named the company's new president and chief operating officer.
Sittig said the first big hurdle for California Pacific Airlines is getting the Federal Aviation Administration's air carrier certification. It's a long process, but Sittig has previous experience.
In 2004, Sittig was part of the founding team of Skybus Airlines, a start-up carrier in Columbus, Ohio. As vice president of operations for the Ohio-based airline, he led the FAA air carrier certification and operational start-up of the airline.
With a fleet of 11 Airbus A319 aircraft, Sittig was responsible for daily operational control with oversight of pilots, flight attendants, flight dispatchers, crew resources, technical publications library, operations IT and all corporate training. He was also the airline's primary contact with the Federal Aviation Administration.
At California Pacific Airlines, Sittig says he faces new challenges along with some familiar ones, but added that he looks forward to getting the new Southern California-based airline off the ground.
"The FAA certificate journey is long and arduous, representing the first significant milestone in launching a start-up airline," Sittig said. "The CPAir team has already worked for more than two years, documenting the policy and procedures that the company will employ to safely and efficiently operate the carrier … We are beginning to see the light at the end of a very long tunnel."
Sitting, a South Dakota native, began his military career as a fighter pilot in the Air National Guard. He rose through the ranks to that of brigadier general, retiring as chief of staff of the Colorado Air National Guard. During his years as an air National Guard officer, Sittig managed a civilian career in the airline industry from line captain to executive leadership positions in flight operations.
In 1976, Sittig began his airline career as a pilot with Western Airlines. In 1987, when Western merged with Delta Air Lines, he moved on to become a Delta captain, later serving as general manager of flight operations and chief pilot where he had operational oversight of some 10,600 Delta pilots. He later moved on to become the director of flight safety for Delta's world-wide operation.
Sittig said the first big hurdle for California Pacific Airlines is getting the Federal Aviation Administration's air carrier certification. It's a long process, but Sittig has previous experience.
In 2004, Sittig was part of the founding team of Skybus Airlines, a start-up carrier in Columbus, Ohio. As vice president of operations for the Ohio-based airline, he led the FAA air carrier certification and operational start-up of the airline.
With a fleet of 11 Airbus A319 aircraft, Sittig was responsible for daily operational control with oversight of pilots, flight attendants, flight dispatchers, crew resources, technical publications library, operations IT and all corporate training. He was also the airline's primary contact with the Federal Aviation Administration.
At California Pacific Airlines, Sittig says he faces new challenges along with some familiar ones, but added that he looks forward to getting the new Southern California-based airline off the ground.
"The FAA certificate journey is long and arduous, representing the first significant milestone in launching a start-up airline," Sittig said. "The CPAir team has already worked for more than two years, documenting the policy and procedures that the company will employ to safely and efficiently operate the carrier … We are beginning to see the light at the end of a very long tunnel."
Sitting, a South Dakota native, began his military career as a fighter pilot in the Air National Guard. He rose through the ranks to that of brigadier general, retiring as chief of staff of the Colorado Air National Guard. During his years as an air National Guard officer, Sittig managed a civilian career in the airline industry from line captain to executive leadership positions in flight operations.
In 1976, Sittig began his airline career as a pilot with Western Airlines. In 1987, when Western merged with Delta Air Lines, he moved on to become a Delta captain, later serving as general manager of flight operations and chief pilot where he had operational oversight of some 10,600 Delta pilots. He later moved on to become the director of flight safety for Delta's world-wide operation.