Westminster College
April 13, 2016
Brandon McQueen, assistant professor of aviation at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, UT, said the No Plane No Gain advocacy campaign bolsters his efforts to teach his students about the benefits of business aviation.
McQueen, who recently requested and received 50 No Plane No Gain lapel pins to distribute to his students, teaches a business aviation course, in which his students gain an understanding of business aviation flight operations and develop leadership and management skills that are valued in business aviation flight departments.
“The perspective of this course is to help prepare students with the knowledge base and skills that are expected of aviation professionals such as aviation department managers or chief pilots,” he said.
McQueen’s involvement in business aviation goes well beyond the classroom. He serves on the advisory board for the Utah Business Aviation Association (UBAA), and has connected students with scholarship and volunteer opportunities through UBAA and National Business Aviation Association-sponsored events.
He led a group of students and alumni on a trip to NBAA’s 2015 Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA2015) in Las Vegas, NV, and also serves as a student adviser connecting young people with internships in the local business aviation community.
McQueen’s experience with business aviation began several years ago as a contract pilot for a private company that operated a Cessna Citation CJ3. He later became a full-time professional pilot for an aircraft management company, where he was involved in operating a privately owned Citation CJ2 that flew all over Northern and Central America.
“I had many positive and unique opportunities, being involved in both the flight operations and management side of operating a private business jet,” he said.
Earlier this year, Westminster College was awarded a custom-branded Cessna Skyhawk 172 by Cessna Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of Textron Aviation Inc., as part of the 2016 Top Hawk program. Westminster is one of only four colleges and universities selected nationwide to receive the custom aircraft, which will be used to support flight training, recruiting efforts and promotional activities throughout the year.