Charles Simmons

About Charles Simmons

I didn’t take the traditional route into aviation leadership. I never earned a college degree. Instead, I built my career the hard way—on the ramp, in the cockpit, and inside the operations office—learning every part of this business from the ground up.Over the past 29+ years, that path has become one of my greatest strengths.I’ve led multiple Part 135 certificates with worldwide authorization, managed fleets of up to 30 aircraft, and built high‑performance teams of 60–100+ people across flight operations, maintenance, dispatch, and safety. I’ve served as Director of Operations, VP of Operations, Chief Pilot, Check Airman, and AOSC/DER, and I’ve maintained both ARGUS Platinum and IS‑BAO Stage II environments—most recently achieving IS‑BAO Stage at Leviate Jet Management.My expertise isn’t theoretical. It’s lived.I understand Parts 61, 91, 119, and 135 because I’ve applied them daily for decades. I know how to build a compliant, efficient, scalable flight department because I’ve done it repeatedly. And I know how to lead pilots and operational teams because I’ve been in their seat, earned their trust, and held the responsibility myself.I’ve also learned how to work with FAA, TSA, and DOT officials in a way that earns trust and accelerates progress. Regulators respond to people who know the rules, respect the process, and communicate with integrity. Those relationships have been invaluable when navigating OpSpec changes, certificate management, safety reviews, and time‑sensitive approvals. In an industry where delays can cost time, money, and credibility, having regulators who trust your judgment is a real advantage.Today, I help organizations strengthen their operational control, elevate their safety culture, and build aviation departments that run with discipline, transparency, and professionalism.If you value practical leadership, regulatory mastery, and a steady hand in complex operational environments, we’ll get along well.

Experience

1. Director of Flight Operations Aircraft Management

   Leviate Air Group

   Mar 2022 — Present · US

Education

• Flight Safety International

  Recurrent, Hawker 750 with Proline 21

  2010 — 2017

Skills

• Process Scheduler
• Flights
• First Class Medical
• Flight Operations Management
• Management
• Sabre
• Flight Safety
• Human Factors
• Aeronautics
• Business Aviation
• Aviation Industry
• Charter
• Personnel Management
• Defense
• Aircraft
• Flight Dispatch
• Operations Management
• Commercial Piloting
• Operational Planning
• Commercial Pilot
• Operations Control
• Federal Aviation Regulations
• Aircraft Engines
• Atp
• Commercial Aviation
• Aviation Regulations
• Gulfstream
• Civil Aviation
• Airlines
• Flight Planning
• Flight Operations
• Organizational Leadership
• Cfi
• Easa
• Radar
• Aviation
• General Aviation
• International Flight Operations
• Aviation Manager
• Type Rating