Family ties fuel pair of new hires at Elite Jets

Veteran pilot, aircraft mechanic both hail from families with multiple aviation industry workers

NAPLES, Fla. (Aug. 19, 2024) – The lure of an aviation industry career can be powerful. Just ask the two newest hires at Elite Jets of Naples – both of whom hail from families with multiple aviation industry workers across the generations.

First Officer Dave Stetson is a Phenom 300 pilot with over 50 years of flight experience. The son of a United Airlines pilot of 32 years, he obtained his private pilot certification at 17 and graduated high school with a commercial pilot certificate.

His career highlights include living in Japan while working for a Japanese commercial airline. He also spent more than 20 years as a captain with FedEx before retiring in 2022. Stetson is a graduate of Florida Air Academy in Melbourne, Southern Illinois University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Technician Alexander Lents is responsible for maintaining Elite Jets’ fleet of aircraft as well as customer-owned aircraft to ensure safe, comfortable and luxurious flying experiences.

A Naples High School graduate and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Lents is also a graduate of Lorenzo Walker Technical College’s aviation maintenance program and previously worked for the Naples Airport Authority. His career choice was inspired by two family members who work as a pilot and mechanic.

“Dave and Alex’s backgrounds are proof positive that for many of us, aviation isn’t just a career but a lifelong passion,” said Stephen Myers, CAM, senior vice president at Elite Jets. “Our clients fly with the comfort and confidence that comes with the dedication we bring to the job every time the cabin doors open.”

Southwest Florida’s premier luxury charter service for affluent business and leisure travelers, Elite Jets owns four Embraer Phenom 300 jets and one Embraer Legacy 500 jet, transporting passengers to destinations across North, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean.

The company, which operates from a private terminal at Naples Airport, additionally has a Bell 407 helicopter that provides sightseeing and travel services across southern Florida.

For more information about job opportunities at Elite Jets, please visit EliteJets.com/careers or call 239-900-9000.

About Elite Jets Charters

Founded in 2016, Elite Jets is a premier, safety-focused charter aircraft service that serves destinations across the U.S. and abroad. Elite Jets’ fleet includes four Phenom 300s, one Legacy 500 and a Bell 407 helicopter. The company’s Embraer luxury jets are well-suited for business and leisure travelers while offering an eco-friendly, best-in-class carbon footprint. Elite Jets maintains an Argus Platinum Rating, a prestigious safety and quality designation earned by just 5% of charter operators nationwide. The company also is registered with the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (ISBAO), a set of industry-leading best practices, and the WYVERN safety data network, which displays its Safety Intelligence Report and regulatory compliance information. Elite Jets also offers aircraft management services, which include providing pilots, training, maintenance, fleet insurance, scheduling and additional services. Passengers enjoy concierge-level service from Elite Jets’ private terminal at the Naples Airport, 125 Aviation Drive South in Naples. Charter flights and empty leg flights are available. For more information, please email peterb@elitejets.com, visit EliteJets.com or call 239-900-9000.

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Media Contacts:

Alan Zagier, Priority Marketing, Alan@PriorityMarketing.com, 239-267-2638 or 573-356-7917 (cell)

Dave Breitenstein, Priority Marketing, Dave@PriorityMarketing.com, 239-267-2638 or 239-317-5424 (cell)