WISCONSIN AVIATION

43 Years of Promoting & Serving General Aviation

by Dave Weiman

Over four decades ago, Wisconsin Aviation, Inc. was born – 43 years ago to be exact. Starting in Watertown, Wisconsin in 1981, with a single 3,200-foot runway, no jet fuel, and just three employees, the company has blossomed over the years to 170 employees, full services at three locations – Watertown, Juneau and Madison – and a fleet of 45 aircraft. As its founder, president and chief executive officer, Jeff Baum, puts it, “Baby, we have come a long way!” Baum said the company has grown with a constant emphasis on doing right by the customer, strong financial management, and a great group of dedicated teammates. “I am forever grateful to all who have helped make this happen.”

The first time I met Jeff was shortly after he started the business. I landed at Watertown Municipal Airport (KRYV) in my 1946 Cessna 140 to introduce myself. Working by his side was his partner at the time, Pete Schoeninger, now a feature columnist for Midwest Flyer Magazine. The two of them proudly and boldly walked up to greet me and offer their services. This was, and still is, standard protocol at Wisconsin Aviation.

“Welcome to Watertown” (or Dodge County Airport) became the familiar response over unicom upon announcing one’s arrival – and is still used to this day. And if you are a regular, you could be greeted by Jeff Baum himself at Watertown.

Watertown was the first of several airports where Jeff Baum established fixed base operations. The operation at Dodge County Airport (KUNU) in nearby Juneau, Wisconsin, was established in 1983, and like Watertown Municipal Airport (KRYV), Jeff was awarded the management contract for the airport – both under the corporate name Wisconsin Aviation Activities, Inc.

The company changed its name to Wisconsin Aviation, Inc. in 1986, and Wisconsin Aviation Maintenance, Inc. was established in 1987.

Eager to spread his wings nationwide, Jeff Baum formed Air Sinclair in Milledgeville, Georgia in 1985.

The company continued to gain momentum and established a European flight training affiliate in Germany called Wisconsin Aviation-Europe in 1991.

Jeff’s biggest break came in 1994 when he purchased Four Lakes Aviation on the east ramp at Dane County Regional Airport (KMSN) in Madison, Wisconsin, establishing Wisconsin Aviation-Four Lakes, Inc. A year later in 1995, he purchased Coldstream Aviation on the south ramp and became the sole fixed base operator at the airport.

Other major accomplishments followed. The new “North Arrow” terminal at Dodge County Airport was completed in 1997; an avionics department was added in Madison in 1998; aircraft interior services began in Madison in 2001, later relocating to the Watertown facility; a new $2.5 million general aviation terminal was dedicated in Madison in 2002; a new avionics hangar was added to the Technical Services Complex in Madison in 2008; Jaeger Aviation and its “Spatial Interior” upgrades for Mooney aircraft was acquired in 2020; and the assets of Beaver Aviation’s aircraft maintenance facility at Dodge County Airport were acquired in 2022.

Jeff Baum was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, graduated from Oconomowoc High School and attended the University of Wisconsin in Whitewater. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (BBA), majoring in Finance and Economics. Continuing his education in post-graduate school, he obtained a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA), and initially served as Assistant to the Chancellor at UW-Whitewater, where he was a lecturer in the Department of Finance and Business Law.

Jeff has amassed over 20,000 flight hours in a myriad of aircraft. He holds an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate and is a Certified Flight Instructor (CFII) with single-engine, multi-engine, and instrument ratings on each certificate. He is also an FAA-designated check airman under FAR Part 135.

Nationally, Jeff Baum is a founding member and former chairman of the Board of Governors for the “Air Charter Safety Foundation,” a national organization dedicated to raising the bar of safety for charter operators. He is a long-standing member of the prestigious “Twenty Group,” a national organization dedicated to providing outstanding service to air travelers. Previously, Jeff has been on the board of the General Aviation Task Force, National Air Transportation Association (NATA), and National Learn to Fly Promotional Team, Inc.

Wisconsin Aviation maintains memberships in the National Business Aviation Association, Inc. (NBAA) and Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), as well as many other local, regional, and national organizations. These memberships have resulted in numerous contacts for Jeff Baum which have led to new and improved services at each of his three locations.

Jeff has served on the Governor’s Airport Financing Committee in Wisconsin and has testified before the state legislature on matters that affect aviation in the state.

He is currently on the Boards of Directors of the Wisconsin Aviation Trades Association (WATA) and Wisconsin Business Aviation Association (WBAA).

For his superior achievements in aviation, Jeff was named “Businessperson of the Year” twice (1988 and 1997) by the Wisconsin Aviation Trades Association (WATA), and “Aviation Person of the Year” (2003) by the Wisconsin Airport Management Association (WAMA). Jeff was also inducted into the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame (WAHF) in 2013. Outside of aviation, Jeff is past chairman of Watertown Area Health Services.

The company’s mission statement as an aviation service provider is to be a company customers want to do business with, and where their employees take pride in working, providing uncompromising safety, convenience, and value.

All one must do is stand in the lobby of one of Wisconsin Aviation’s three locations to witness an action-packed business; or arrive by private aircraft to experience how Wisconsin Aviation’s ramp crew takes good care of you. I’ve witnessed both many times, including once arriving with a passenger who had an emergency medical situation. The ramp crew met us with a car so we could immediately drive to a nearby hospital. An advanced call on Wisconsin Aviation’s discrete unicom frequency, 122.95 Mhz, gave them time to prepare, but I am confident the staff’s response would still have been excellent! A plea for help is taken seriously at Wisconsin Aviation, whether a medical emergency or a dead battery on the ramp.

Not once, but several times I have commended Wisconsin Aviation’s staff for their quality work and helpfulness without them knowing I knew the boss, and I have never received poor service. Never!

When Jeff says their focus is on delivering the best possible customer service, he means it.

With 170 employees combined at the three locations, Wisconsin Aviation has a leadership team that oversees operations.

Pete Schroeder is Vice President of Technical Services. He provides oversight for the aircraft maintenance, avionics, and aircraft interiors departments. Being a part of Wisconsin Aviation since 1987, Pete helped to develop and expand the company’s technical branch from an empty hangar 37 years ago, to a full-service maintenance and repair facility today. Pete holds an FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) mechanic’s license with Inspection Authorization (IA) and is a multi-engine instrument-rated commercial pilot.

Grant Goetsch joined Wisconsin Aviation in April of 1988. During his tenure, he has served multiple roles including Chief Flight Instructor, FAA Part 135 (charter) Pilot, Instructor Pilot and FAA Check Airman.  He also served as General Manager for Wisconsin Aviation-Four Lakes in Madison during its early years. Since 1997, Grant has been serving as Vice President of Flight Operations.

Grant served for 8 years in the U.S. Air Force and 8 more in the Wisconsin Air National Guard.  He holds an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate and is a Certified Flight Instructor (CFII) for single and multi-engine aircraft (land/sea). Grant has logged over 40,000 flight hours so far in his career.

Linda Kuklinski is Vice President of Administration and Human Resources. She began her aviation career with Wisconsin Aviation in 2018. In college, Linda majored in Finance, and later added certification in Human Resources. Prior to joining Wisconsin Aviation, Linda started her career in the insurance brokerage field, and later held roles as treasurer and benefits director for two other organizations. Linda is a key contributor on company and employee policies and compliance.

Krys Brown is Director of Airport Operations at the Watertown facility and Director of Payroll for the corporation. She joined Wisconsin Aviation in 2001 as Payroll Manager and Accounts Receivable Clerk. Krys holds degrees in Business Management, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, with a minor in Information Technology, which has proven beneficial in helping to implement the company’s first email system.

In 2010, Krys took on the added responsibility of Airport Operations Manager in Watertown, where she is frequently involved with the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics and FAA on continuous airport improvement projects and regulatory compliance. She also oversees line service and front desk administration.

Krys obtained her Private Pilot Certificate in 1983 and has been involved with the Wisconsin Chapter of the Ninety-Nines International Organization of Women Pilots for 40 years. Krys was inducted into the International Forest of Friendship in 2010 for her contributions to the aviation community through the Ninety-Nines.

Rick Petroff is Director of Airport Operations in Madison. He joined Wisconsin Aviation in the summer of 2022, relocating from North Dakota, where he served as the manager of Western Edge Aviation for almost 10 years. Before getting into the fixed base operation business, Rick was an air traffic controller in Madison in 2010 and 2011. He holds a degree in Aviation Administration from Western Michigan University and is a Private Pilot. Rick’s knowledge and experience in the aviation industry has proven to be most valuable.

Tom David is Director of Airport Operations at Dodge County Airport in Juneau, Wisconsin. He joined the Wisconsin Aviation team in 2022, and is a driven, hardworking professional with experience in construction business management. His love of aviation and management skills makes him the perfect pick for this role.

With no ramp fees, and regardless of the size of the aircraft, all aircraft are warmly received at Wisconsin Aviation. Their slogan, “No ramp fees…we prefer to earn your business,” is true.

Wisconsin Aviation has a fleet of 30 aircraft, from a Citabria taildragger to Piper Seneca twins, for rent and flight training.

Wisconsin Aviation is an authorized service center for Cessna and Cirrus Aircraft; a dealer for Garmin, Avidyne and other top-named avionics manufacturers; and holds the STC for “Spatial Interiors Upgrades” for Mooney Aircraft.

The air charter department has a fleet of 14 aircraft, from twin piston-engine Piper Senecas to Cessna Citation jets. Jeff Baum – and most of the pilots in Wisconsin Aviation’s charter department – are qualified to fly them all. Wisconsin Aviation also has the fuel contracts with the air carriers operating at Dane County Regional Airport. Wisconsin Aviation is the oldest continuous AvFuel dealer in the country.

Wisconsin Aviation is committed to developing employees within its organization with aircraft technicians maintaining a key role. The company offers in-house apprenticeships and academy-supported apprentice programs. The on-the-job training and mentoring programs aid new employees and provide support throughout their apprenticeships. The goal is for the apprentice to be FAA “test ready” by the end of their 30-month apprenticeship.

Wisconsin Aviation also offers a Professional Aeronautics Certificate (PAC) program through Madison College, which is a 21-month (two academic years) accelerated program designed for students seeking a fast-track pathway to a professional flying career. The PAC program is certified under Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 61, using best-in-class technology. The program takes students through ground school and flight training to earn the pilot certificates and ratings required to become a professional pilot.

Jeff Baum will always be a grassroots aviator at heart and welcomes the opportunity to support their local EAA and Ninety-Nines chapters by making his facilities available for fly-ins, hangar dances and warbird rides. Wisconsin Aviation also hosts an annual customer appreciation party during the holidays which is second to none!

WisconsinAviation.com

For flight training and aircraft rental,

call 608-268-5024 or email FlightSchool@WisAv.com

To buy or sell your aircraft on consignment,

call 800-657-0761 or email ACsales@WisAv.com

For avionics sales and service,

call 608-268-5006 or email Avionics@WisAv.com

For aircraft maintenance,

call 608-268-5033 (MSN)

call 920-206-6374 (RYV)

call 920-386-2636 (UNU)

or email Maint@WisAv.com

For aircraft interiors,

call 920-206-6389 or email Interiors@WisAv.com

And what pilot is not looking for an airport restaurant?

Private, commercial and military pilots converge daily for breakfast and lunch at the “Madison Jet Room” restaurant, located in the Wisconsin Aviation terminal at Dane County Regional Airport (KMSN). The restaurant, which is owned and managed by Nic Tarczynski, not only has great food, but offers excellent views of the ramp at Wisconsin Aviation.

For additional information on Wisconsin Aviation’s services, contact Jane Seeber at JaneS@WisAv.com or call 920-261-4567. Jane is also the editor for the company’s newsletter, “Talewinds,” which recognizes both customers and employees for their accomplishments and helps to keep them informed on local industry issues.