Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine February/March 2023 Digital Issue
Max Platts joined the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics (BOA) as Aeronautical and Technical Services (ATS) Section Chief in October 2022, following Scott Brummond’s retirement in July after 25 years with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The section Max leads has 12 team members who manage over a dozen unique programs. The section works with and serves not only the Engineering and Program sections within the Bureau, but also a wide variety of external aviation partners and stakeholders. The ATS section focus areas are aviation safety, operational support, compliance, process improvement, as well as education and outreach initiatives.
Max comes to BOA from the Washington State Department of Transportation Aviation Division where he led the state’s aviation land use planning efforts and was project manager on numerous studies and division initiatives. Prior to state service, Max worked for CubCrafters in Yakima, Washington. There, Max helped develop the builder assist program for their incredibly popular Carbon Cub FX series and performed production test pilot and ferry pilot duties. Before moving to Washington state, Max worked at EAA in Oshkosh serving in various roles including Vintage Aircraft Association Administrator and Museum Educator.
Originally from Wyoming, Max holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Lewis-Clark State College, along with an Associate Degree in Aviation
Flight Science from Casper College. He also holds a Commercial Pilot Certificate and Instrument Rating.
After relocating from Washington state, Max and his wife, Tobie, live in Oregon, Wisconsin. Their hobbies include flying, hiking, and camping. They own a 1955 Cessna 170B and are looking forward to exploring Wisconsin by air.
You can reach Max at 608-266-1745 or thomas.platts@dot.wi.gov.