Career news: Under the radar

As vice president of flight operations for Dynamic Aviation, Aaron Mingle manages the company’s pilots around the globe. He started at the company as a rookie pilot out of college.

As one of the largest providers of special-mission turboprop aircraft in the country, Dynamic Aviation doesn’t advertise its location with flashy neon signs. In the same way a home reflects its owners’ tastes, Dynamic Aviation’s home on a privately owned, public-use airport in the mountains of central Virginia reflects the company’s ethos. Dynamic Aviation works behind the scenes with an unassuming footprint, but its missions reach around the globe.

The company can trace its history in various forms back to 1936, when Chris Stoltzfus bought an airplane to spray crops. Son Karl started his company in 1967, and today Dynamic is run by Karl’s son, Michael. The legacy of agricultural roles continues in many forms, but the largest job in the company’s portfolio is special mission work for the U.S. Department of Defense flying Beechcraft King Airs and Bombardier Dash 8s. No one at Dynamic likes to describe the details of this work, but it’s publicly known that contract operators such as Dynamic do aerial surveillance, some light cargo work, and special ops support in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere. Look at one of the Dash 8s on Dynamic’s ramp and you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between it and an airplane parked on a military base. It’s painted matte gray with no livery except for a small “U.S. Army” on the tail. Large nosecones and various growths along the fuselages cover the specifics of what these airplanes do as they fly around the world in support of military missions.

Not everything Dynamic does is so covert. The company’s fleet of 70 King Airs supports a slew of varied operations. They drop rabies vaccine baits for wildlife in the Appalachian Mountains, conduct aerial surveys in support of climate and weather research, sit at the ready near the Gulf of Mexico in case there’s an oil spill, and the work of pest control and other agricultural missions continues decades later.

Despite its exciting range of flying opportunities, Dynamic has a desperate need for pilots. As airline hiring has accelerated and instructors are being poached from flight schools around the country, many charter and private operators have been hurt as well. With more than 140 airplanes to staff, Dynamic is feeling the pinch.

Unlike airlines and other jet operators, Dynamic Aviation isn’t looking for a glut of pilot-in-command time. A commercial pilot certificate and instrument rating with fresh ink will do just fine, assuming one important thing.

“We like to hire people who really buy in to the culture,” said Aaron Mingle, vice president of flight operations. Although Dynamic has hired pilots who have gone on to the airlines, Mingle said the company’s ideal candidate is someone who wants to do more unusual flying, work independently, and support a range of customers.

Mingle’s story with the company is a perfect example of how Stoltzfus likes to hire and promote from within. Mingle came to Dynamic out of college, and within his first had flown to five continents, more than 45 countries, and 45 states. Over the past 10 years or so he’s continued to fly around the world, became a PIC, upgraded airplanes, and then decided to try his skills in management. He found he loved working with all the pilots while being able to stay current.

Now Mingle gets to stay close to his central Virginia home and support Dynamic’s pilots around the world.

To differentiate yourself from other low-time pilots Mingle said you must believe in the mission, enjoy the variety of flying, and be willing to go anywhere and do anything. Pilots with more experience can come in and be freer to set their base or type of flying.

Dynamic is particularly interested in higher-time pilots who may have given the airlines a try and found it wasn’t for them. Recently retired airline pilots who want to stay active are also competitive.

For people who know they want to fly professionally but who aren’t attracted to the airline lifestyle, there are interesting options. For many of these operators it’s your personality, interest in the work, and future potential for leadership that make you more competitive than your logbook.