The OAS Crew
Flight Instructors
Nick DiGiacomo
Flight Instructor
Nick, an instructor hailing from Nashville, TN, developed his love and passion for aviation from an early age, starting with flying RC planes and his grandad’s Cessna 172. His journey towards a career in aviation led him to obtain all his ratings at Middle Tennessee State University. He holds a CFII; Commercial Pilot, Instrument & AMEL. Nick is thrilled to play a role in helping students achieve their aviation dreams. Outside the cockpit, Nick finds joy in cheering on the Tennessee Titans and the Nashville Predators. His enthusiasm for aviation and commitment to guiding aspiring pilots make Nick a valuable asset to the aviation community.
Cooper Buessing
Flight Instructor
Cooper was raised in the Wichita area, where he tended to animals on a small farm. He studied at Bishop Carroll High School and earned his private pilot license during his senior year. Following graduation, Cooper continued to enhance his pilot skills at OAS, obtaining his instrument, Commercial, and CFI ratings. When he’s not flying, he enjoys working out, woodworking, and playing sports.
Eric Tippin
Flight Instructor, Manager of Flight Operations
Eric spent a decade as a university teacher and professor before transitioning to a flight instructor role. Originally from Kansas, he has taught in both the United Kingdom and South Florida. In 2023, he returned to Kansas and completed his flight training with OAS, obtaining his instrument, commercial, multi-engine, CFI, and CFII ratings. In his leisure time, Eric enjoys reading extensively, writing, playing the piano, and cherishing moments with his expanding family.
Phoebe Turcios
Flight Instructor
Phoebe’s journey in aviation began in elementary school – flying with her grandpa in his Cessna 150 and watching his Air Tractors fly through the summers. Growing up around agricultural aviation piqued her interest in the field and pushed her to pursue aviation professionally. Originally from rural Nebraska, Phoebe moved to Kansas where she completed flight training and received a bachelor’s in aviation science from Hesston College. She now holds a Commercial certificate with an Instrument Rating and Multi-Engine add on, as well as CFII. Phoebe’s experience in both part 141 and 61 training environments has given her a unique perspective which she hopes to use to help others grow and achieve their aviation goals. When not in the air, Phoebe enjoys dance, painting, and spending time with her husband.
AARON HUNT
FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR
Aaron Hunt discovered his passion for aviation at an early age and learned to fly in 1992. Earning his Flight Instructor certificate in 1998, Aaron brings a depth of knowledge that’s rare in the training world — holding a Gold Seal CFII & MEI, Commercial Pilot certificate with Single and Multiengine Land ratings, Cessna 525 and 500 Series type ratings, and an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanic certificate.
Aaron’s sweet spot is helping pilots take the exciting step into multi-engine flying. Whether you’re pursuing your Multi-Engine Add-On or working toward your MEI, Aaron’s structured, encouraging approach makes the transition feel natural and confidence-building.
What truly sets Aaron apart is nearly 30 years of hands-on industry experience with Boeing and Cessna — meaning his instruction goes far beyond the textbook. When Aaron explains how an aircraft works, he’s drawing from decades of experience in the aircraft manufacturing world.
When he’s not in the right seat helping a student nail their Vmc demo, Aaron enjoys woodworking, building furniture and spending time with his family.
Charles Lloyd
Flight Instructor
Charles Lloyd is an ATP CFII with over 70 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 Airs plus Caravan turboprop 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 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 the 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 focuses on instruction in the OAS Frasca RTD Advanced Aviation Training Device configured for ce172 Garmin G1000 NXi, Seminole Twin Garmin G1000 NXi and ce172S Classic Six Pack Garmin GNS430W configurations., He also developed and teaches ForeFlight Workshops for VFR and IFR Pilots where he will take you where you have never gone before in ForeFlight.
John F. Morgan, Sr
Flight Instructor
John teaches flying for enjoyment! He earned his Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) credentials in 1994 and became a Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII) a few years later. He believes that once you’ve experienced piloting an aircraft in the air, your perspective on the skies will change forever. As a Private Pilot ground instructor at OAS, John is eager to assist you in starting your aviation journey.
Ground Support
Cindy Todd
Executive Administrator
Cindy greets you with a warm and friendly smile as the first contact at the OAS building. With extensive front desk and customer service experience before joining OAS, she aims to ensure every interaction is positive and pleasant.
Cindy values teamwork, positive vibes, and gaining knowledge about aviation at OAS. Outside of work, she is happily married to her high school sweetheart, has two sons and a grandson. Cindy finds joy embracing the beauty of nature and road trips with her husband.
Holly Chambers
Accounting Manager
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.
Kirby Chrisman
Director of Contract Administration
With over a decade of experience in aviation Kirby has developed a proven track record of enhancing customer experience. Her career began with Textron Aviation as a customer support representative in the aftermarket sector supporting 24/7 AOG parts needs. Kirby specializes in developing solutions for improving customer experience and customer engagement, while creating new processes and building high quality relationships. Her skills span beyond just quality customer support, but also to strong team leadership. This leadership is recognized in her ability to serve her community and peers through engagement and support. Her goal will always be delivering high calibar customer support in high pressure environments while also maintaining peak professionalism and a passion to give back and help others.
Owners
Teresa Ortega
Managing Partner
Teresa Ortega boasts close to three decades of experience in the aviation sector. Her journey commenced in 1995 at Cessna Aircraft company, where she supported the international sales department in various administrative capacities. Following the completion of her degree in Organizational Management and Leadership from Friends University, Teresa advanced to the role of Regional Sales Director for ProAdvantage programs in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Russia. This position remained hers until her retirement from Cessna in 2018.
Having roots in Wichita, aviation runs deep in Teresa’s family. Both her father and grandfather were involved in aviation, instilling a passion for the industry in her from a young age. Teresa currently holds a Citation Mustang type rating, along with a commercial certificate featuring multi and instrument ratings.
Post her tenure at Cessna, Teresa and her husband, Kirby, fused their aviation expertise and enthusiasm to establish Ortega Aviation Services, a venture aimed at assisting others in achieving their aviation aspirations.
While aviation remains a significant interest for Teresa, she also finds joy in traveling, family activities, cooking, volunteering, and spending quality time with her grandson, Daichi.
Teresa’s zeal and broad experience in general and business aviation render her an invaluable consultant. Her mission is to ensure a stress-free and pleasurable aircraft ownership experience for you, backed by her wealth of knowledge and resources.
Kirby Ortega
Kirby Ortega embodies the essence of a seasoned pilot. With over five decades of experience flying various aircraft from the Cessna lineup and other manufacturers, Kirby’s expertise is unparalleled. Beginning his career at Cessna Aircraft Company in 1980, he initially worked as a flight instructor in the Air Transportation Department. Later, he transitioned to conducting aircraft demonstrations worldwide for potential customers and media personnel. Kirby concluded his flying career as the Chief Pilot for piston engine operations at Cessna Flight Operations.
Following his retirement from Cessna in 2013, Kirby assumed the role of Chief Pilot for Jet Management programs at Yingling Aviation, a position he continues to hold. Kirby’s impressive credentials include an ATP certificate, flight instructor certification, and multiple type ratings in Citation aircraft. He is recognized as an FAA Gold Seal Flight Instructor, a two-term NAFI Master Flight Instructor, and a member of the FAA FAAST Team. Kirby has been honored with various accolades such as induction into the National Flight Instructor Hall of Fame, being named the 2002 FAA National Flight Instructor of the Year, receiving the Master CFI designation and the FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. In 2024, Kirby was inducted into the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame. He has logged over 28,000 incident-free flight hours and provided more than 16,500 hours of dual instruction.
While aviation remains his foremost passion, Kirby also finds joy in travel, cycling, and college basketball, particularly supporting the Wichita State Shockers. A family man, Kirby has two sons and a grandson.
Driven by a desire to share his extensive aviation knowledge with aspiring pilots, Kirby, alongside his wife Teresa, established Ortega Aviation Services. In this venture, he focuses on delivering exceptional flight instruction and consulting services, specializing in pilot coaching and check rides in the CJ Series and Citation Mustang.