MOTS2016

David Cattin As owner of Cirrus Aviation, David Cattin still has the same passion for aviation that he had as a pilot in the French Air Force during the 1980s. After his discharge Cattin wanted to continue to fly, a very difficult task in Europe, and decided to come to Sarasota to become a commercial pilot. As a young man, Cattin worked hard to earn his FAA licensure, including his instructor ratings. He went on to instruct for his alma mater and when that school closed, Cattin opened his own flight school. Cirrus Aviation now is one of the top schools in the state and its Part 141 status means it meets the most stringent FAA requirements. It currently has a fleet of 11 planes for training and rentals and has recently split off a growing division as an aircraft maintenance facility, Aero Maintenance Services.

Cirrus Aviation has trained pilots who currently work for various airlines around the world. Ground and flight training dovetail nicely to provide thorough training, and use of the full-motion flight simulator polishes off the experience. Cattin credits his dedicated staff as well as his wife and business partner, Nayda, who keeps things running smoothly.

They have taken years to build a now-robust infrastructure, allowing training under the GI Bill, international students under proper visa status and FAA inspectors alike.

Cattin keeps an open door for all and enjoys mentoring customers and guiding them through the industry, whether for pleasure or career. That personal attention has helped the school achieve a high satisfaction and success rate amongst customers. Cattin branches out into the community hosting aviation events, and launching a high school outreach initiative that includes Sarasota Military Academy. With an acute shortage of pilots, he believes this training provides a path to a well-paying and adventurous career for many.

Men on the SCENE 2016