The OAS Crew
Flight Instructors
Nick Heiland
Flight Instructor - CFI
Nick began flying in 2017 while attending Kansas State University and earning a degree in Construction Science and Management through the College of Engineering. After serving the construction industry for 5 years, Nick decided to pursue his dream of aviation, and became a commercial pilot and CFI. Filled with adventure, he can't wait to pass on the excitement of flying through the air to others and teach about all of the amazing things the world of aviation has to offer.
Jason Wilgus
Flight Instructor - CFI
Jason is an Army Veteran, former Wichita Police Officer, and current CFI. Needless to say, he doesn’t scare easily! Getting a later start in his piloting career, he has learned many lessons while going through flight school, and has gradually paid his way through his certificates. He has obtained his commercial single-engine, commercial multi-engine, instrument, as well as his CFI, and currently working on his CFI-I. When Jason’s not instructing, he’s either spending time with his family, working as an Airport Operations Officer for the airport, or helping others obtain their type ratings at Flight Safety.
Dalton Brasser
Flight Instructor - CSEL,CMEL,IRA,CFI,CFII
Dalton began his flying journey when he was a junior in high school. He received his private pilot certificate shortly after graduating high school. He then attended Kansas State University for two years where he received his instrument and commercial certificates before returning to Wichita to become a flight instructor. Dalton comes from a long line of pilots including his great grandfather, grandfather, and most recently his dad. Dalton also had the opportunity to instruct his dad and help him join the ranks of pilots in his family! At just 21 years old, Dalton holds a commercial single-engine, commercial multi-engine, instrument, CFI, and CFII and has attained over 1,000 hours of flying and over 700 hours instructing. His favorite part of flight instruction is watching his students take their first flight, complete their first solo, or pass their check ride!
Brad Christopher
Flight Instructor
Brad Christopher has been a member of the OAS flight instructing team since 2021. Brad has been a licensed pilot since 1982. He has previously worked as a corporate pilot for a national restaurant chain and a production test pilot for Textron Aircraft Company in turbine models. He has logged over 6,000 flight hours, 4,500 in multi-engine aircraft including 4,200 in turbine aircraft. Brad holds an Air Transport Pilot license, and Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument and Multi-Engine. He holds five (5) turbine model aircraft type ratings. Brad likes telling people he “is passionate about providing high quality flight training; the success of my student client is also my success!” Brad has logged approximately 850 hours of dual given in single and multi-engine aircraft.
Charles Lloyd
Flight Instructor – CFII (SEL SES MEL IFR ATP)
Charles Lloyd is an ATP CFII with over 65 years flying experience. He holds the FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award and has experience in aircraft ranging from Piper J3 Cub, numerous piston aircraft, King Air plus Caravan turboprops and Citation and Hawker business jets. His professional flying experience includes crewmember time with Cessna Citation Marketing Used Aircraft Group, Raytheon Aircraft, and NetJets Aviation. He has also instructed for the AOPA Flight Safety Foundation in their Pinch Hitter, Mountain Flying and Instrument Procedure Courses. As an instructor for The Cessna Employees Flying Club, he developed and taught the club’s first Mountain Flying Course. He holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from University of Alabama where his research was a mathematical model and simulation describing a sub portion of the Saturn V Fuel System dynamics. As a member of the OAS Crew, he developed and teaches ForeFlight Workshops for VFR and IFR Pilots.
Jim Perry
Flight Instructor – CFII (IFR COM/SEL ATP/MEL)
Jim has a background in both general and commercial aviation. He attended the University of Iowa, with a major in broadcasting and film. While film remains a hobby for Jim, his career choice was aviation. With over 22,000 hours flying a variety of aircraft, his early years were spent instructing in almost all Cessna, Piper and Beech airplanes. Commuter work- and it WAS work! – in Embraer Bandierantes, big airline experience in MD 80s for Midway Airlines. But perhaps most satisfying years (25+) spent as a demonstration pilot for Cessna Citation Flight Operations, then as a Citation X+ pilot with Textron Aviation’s Pro Ownership group. Jim has an ATP, with Flight Instructor privileges in single and multiengine land airplanes, and Instrument Airplane authorization. He has been a CFI since 1975.
John F. Morgan, Sr
Flight Instructor – CFII (SEL MEL IFR / A&P)
I teach flying for Fun! I convinced the FAA that I could teach flying in 1994. They granted me my CFI. I achieved my CFII a few years later. Once you have experience controlling an aircraft in flight, you will look to the skies differently. I am here at Ortega Aviation as a Private Pilot ground instructor to start you on that journey. To learn it safely and make your learning experience enjoyable with just a touch of “FUN”!
John Penny
Flight Instructor – CFII (SEL MEL IFR COM)
John’s love of aviation began when he was a kid watching crop dusters in western Kansas. John has a background in aviation logistics with the U.S. Army, Boeing, and Spirit Aerospace. In 2012, he decided to change careers and focus on flight instruction. As a CFII, he enjoys preparing aviators for their instrument, commercial and instructor ratings.
Justin Brown
Flight Instructor
Justin began his aviation career back in 2013 when he joined the United States Air Force as a meteorologist. He supported Air Force and Army operations eventually finding himself at Ft. Riley here in Kansas. In 2018, as he was transitioning off of active duty to the Air National Guard, he decided to attend Kansas State University, and received his private pilot license. Following that, he went to ATP Flight school to complete his certificates all the way up through his CFI, CFII, and MEI. He found himself back at Kansas State University as an Assistant Chief, and check airman before joining Ortega Aviation. When he is not flying he enjoys spending time with his wife Maggie and son Rhodes. Justin’s favorite part of flying is teaching students and seeing their hard work result in a checkride pass!
James Oliphant
Ground Instructor – AGI (SEL MEL IFR COM)
James “Pepper” Oliphant is a commercial, multi engine instrument rated pilot. He also holds an Advanced Ground Instructor certificate and flies for a FedEx Feeder Airline as a captain in the Cessna Caravan. Prior to flying for a day job, he was an aviation risk manager for AOPA Insurance for twelve years. He had the distinct honor of teaching for nearly twenty years in the public and private schools as a band and orchestra director and holds a Master of Music Education degree from Wichita State University. In his spare time, he is the Music Director for the Delano Wind Ensemble and enjoys spending all his available time with his lovely partner, Marie.
Max Knorp
Flight Instructor
Max attended the University of Kansas where he earned a degree in Information Systems. His passion for flying stems from his family's deep roots in the aviation industry. Senior year of college, Max decided to follow his dream to become a Commercial pilot and Flight Instructor. His goal is to share with you his love for aviation and help you take the steps to get to the sky!
Ground Support
Cindy Todd
Ground Support (Receptionist & Admin)
Cindy is the receptionist and welcoming smile when you enter the OAS building. Prior to joining OAS, she has many years of front desk and customer service experience. Her goal is to make each encounter a positive/pleasant experience. Her favorite things about working at OAS are the teamwork, positive energy and learning about aviation. Cindy is married to her high school sweetheart has two sons and two rescue dogs. She enjoys acrylic painting and the wonders of nature.
Holly Chambers
Accounting Administrator
With 30+ years experience in accounting and commercial insurance, Holly is a tremendous asset to the team. She attended Oklahoma City Community College while working as a licensed property and casualty agent with an insurance brokerage firm. In 1998 she joined her husband in their family-owned construction company as a general contractor, building many churches and schools in Oklahoma. Over the years, they focused on building, owning and managing multiple apartment complexes and shopping centers around five cities. After a brief retirement, Holly decided to rejoin the workforce and joined Ortega Aviation Services.
Holly is no stranger to aviation. Her father was a decorated Air Force Colonel and pilot and her mother a private pilot and former Braniff Airlines flight attendant.
Holly’s goal is to help Ortega Aviation with growing needs and proficient accounting. She also loves watching the instructors and students experience their dreams come true in the air.
Owners
Teresa Ortega
Teresa Ortega has over 24 years of experience in the aviation industry. She began her career with Cessna Aircraft company in 1995, supporting the international sales department in various administrative roles. After obtaining a degree from Friends University in Organizational Management and Leadership, Teresa was promoted to Regional Sales Director for ProAdvantage programs Europe Middle East, Africa, and Russia. She held that position until retiring from Cessna in 2018.
Born and raised in Wichita, it is fair to say that aviation is truly in her blood. Her father and grandfather were both in aviation, so the “bug” got her at an early age. Teresa now holds a commercial certificate with multi and instrument ratings. She also has SIC privileges in the Citation Mustang and is working towards obtaining a 510-initial rating.
After retiring from Cessna, Teresa and her husband, Kirby, decided to combine their aviation savvy and passion into a business that would help others obtain their aviation goals. Hence, the beginning of Ortega Aviation Services.
While aviation has been a long-time passion for Teresa, she also enjoys traveling, family, cooking, volunteering, and spending time with her grandson, Daichi.
Teresa’s passion and experience with so many aspects of general and business aviation make her a great consultant to have on your side. Her goal is to make your aircraft ownership experience worry-free and enjoyable, and she has the knowledge and resources to make it happen.
Contact Teresa at teresa@ortegaaviation.com
Kirby Ortega
Kirby Ortega is a pilot in every sense of the word. With nearly 50 years flying every aircraft in the Cessna line-up as well as other manufacturers aircraft.
Kirby began his career at Cessna Aircraft Company in 1980. He started in the Air Transportation Department as a flight instructor, then moved on to flying Aircraft demonstrations for potential customers around the globe, and press flights with aviation media. He flew into his retirement days as Chief Pilot for piston engine operations within Cessna Flight Operations.
After retiring from Cessna in 2013, Kirby went to work for Yingling Aviation as Chief Pilot for Jet Management programs and still holds that position to date.
Kirby holds an ATP certificate and flight instructor, multiple type ratings in Citation aircraft. He is an FAA Gold Seal Flight Instructor, a two-term NAFI Master Flight Instructor, and an FAA FAAST Team member. He has been inducted into the National Flight Instructor Hall of Fame, named 2002 FAA National Flight Instructor of the Year, received the Master CFI designation, Cessna Aircraft recognized top instructor and the Citation Jet Pilot (CJP) Gold Standard Safety Award. He has logged almost 27,000 accident/incident-free flight hours and more than 15,000 hours of dual instruction given.
Aviation has always been Kirby’s passion, but he also enjoys traveling, cycling and college basketball with a particular enthusiasm for the Wichita State Shockers. He has two sons and one grandson.
Kirby wanted to build a business that would allow him to share his in-depth knowledge of flying and instructing with new and aspiring pilots. He and his wife, Teresa, formed Ortega Aviation Services to offer top notch flight instruction and consulting. His primary role in the company is providing pilot coaching and check rides in the CJ Series and Citation Mustang.
Contact Kirby at kirby@ortegaaviation.com