A little bit of history
Reno B. Jaton is a IFR Captain on twin turbine helicopter, ATP, CFI 8,500hrs of flight time, 1,100+hrs of flight instruction, 1,400+hrs of ground instruction.
He always had a passion for aviation, and anything that flies for that matter, see page "Reno's Bio" where he made motorcycles and cars fly too.
He always had a passion for aviation, and anything that flies for that matter, see page "Reno's Bio" where he made motorcycles and cars fly too.
He started to build model airplanes as a teenager, later he wanted to learn to fly, but in Europe in general, and Switzerland in particular, one has to grow up in a rich family in order to afford the flight school, he tried three times to get his licenses, but he was stopped by finances.
Then he came in United States, after touring the USA with his super bike stunt show, the family needed to settle somewhere, his son Lakota had to go to school, the life on the road 11 months of the year was not suitable anymore for the new family.
Reno checked his options:
- Go back to electronic engineering, but his swiss diploma was not recognized in the US, that meant back to school for 2 to 3 years
- Embrace a new career in flying, and go to school for something new he was dreaming of, for a long time
- Flipping greasy hamburgers in some fast food somewhere singing "O sole mio" to keep the mood up...
Well, guess what was his first choice? #2? -man, you are good!
"I had some second thoughts, having already made three attempts in Europe, but Cleo told me that I was in United States now and "everything is possible here" she was right
There was another bump on the way though, Reno settled everything to start end of October 2001 in Norman, OK to begin his pilot license.
Question: what is before October? -September, yes - and the year was 2001, and the chosen school was neighbor to some other one who taught terrorists pilots! Ooops indeed!
When Reno called the flight school, to inquire what to to after the event of 911, the admin lady told him with a deep southern drawl:
-"...Honey, with your accent, I would keep a low profile around aviation for a while!"
He thought: -"I have a swiss accent, swiss pilots are not flying airplane in the side of buildings; mountains perhaps, lakes too, but not buildings; oh and by the way, speaking of deep accent... never mind"
Great things happens in 2002, Reno met his mentor Dennis McCall, who recommend him to look at a helicopter career.
Dennis provided guidance and advices which always led to sound decisions, Reno made first his airplane licenses, then he transferred to helicopter; what good advices it was!
Later he hired with an outfit in the Gulf of Mexico, flying personal and parts back and forth to the oil platforms, there he became IFR Captain on twin turbine helicopters.
He never stopped to dream about his own aviation business (we are in the USA where everything is possible, right?) this is how TEX AIR AMERICA was born, with the help of Lakota and Cleo, as well as Mike the county commissioner.
