Over the next several issues, Wingtips will profile the members of the Texas Aviation Advisory Committee. The six members are appointed by the Texas Transportation Commission for six-year terms and assist the Texas Department of Transportation with its aviation development programs. Committee members also work with members of the legislature on various aviation issues. Members must have at least five years of experience in the field of aviation and a strong interest in supporting Texas’ general aviation program.
In this issue, we profile Committee Member Greg Jones.
When Greg Jones became a board member of the Texas Transportation Advisory Committee five years ago, he was 35 and the youngest member ever. Today, at age 40, he still is. Jones has always been a bit unconventional.
Jones became a first-generation licensed pilot while attending the University of New Mexico, where he was planning a career in Waste Management. His new hobby got him a parttime job in-between classes and on weekends for a regional freight delivery company. After graduation and on a whim, he placed an ad in an aviation publication seeking a piloting job.
“The phone rang, and on the other end was a man named Rick Perry who said he was the Texas Agriculture Commissioner, and he was looking for a pilot,” Jones recalls. “That one phone call changed my entire career.” After working for Perry for six years, Jones took a job with Southwest Airlines, working his way up to captain, flying Boeing 737s.
“It’s a lot different than flying single and twin engine Cessnas on regional flights,” Jones says. ”Today, we fly all over the country and I’m away from home for 60 hours. The good part is I’m home for four days straight.” Jones says the time at home allows him to do things most spouses and parents with traditional jobs can’t do. He has a wife and two children at home in The Woodlands, ages three and six.
In 2004, Jones got another phone call, asking him to serve on the Aviation Advisory Committee. “It’s not only an honor serving on the committee; it’s been a big learning experience highlighting the vital role regional aviation plays in the economy of Texas communities.”
It was just a hobby 20 years ago, but it blossomed into a full-blown career. “I can’t imagine doing anything else,” Jones says. “Had I known then what I know now, I would have taken this flying thing a lot more seriously.”
Wingtips: How important is aviation to you?
Jones: Initially flying was just a weekend habit. Now, it’s how I make a living. I am lucky enough to work for an incredible company, Southwest Airlines. They treat me very well, and they are fun to work for. So, over the last 15 years, aviation has become increasingly more important to me.
Wingtips: What was your motivation in accepting the appointment on the 1exas Aviation Advisory Commission?
Jones: Flying as a corporate pilot for six years, almost exclusively in Texas, taught me not only how nice most Texas airports are, but how important aviation is for this state on many levels. Now, flying all over the country, I have learned Texas has the best airport system in the country. However, there is always room for improvement. From a recreational level to a Fortune 500 company level. Whether you are flying the Cessna for that $100 hamburger or the Gulfstream for a high power business meeting, I want to help with further improvements, expansions and even building new airports to continue and enhance aviation and our economy.
Wingtips: Was there a memorable experience that you can share that has occurred during your term?
Jones: We had a meeting in Sugar Land and TxDOT honored one of the greatest advisory members Texas has ever had, Bill Knowles. Afterwards we all had lunch together and I sat next to Bill. We talked about his family, his love for aviation and about a new airplane he ordered. It was the last time I saw him. Unfortunately for all of us, he died a few months later.
Wingtips: What are the biggest challenges you see for general aviation going forward?
Jones: With the economy in a recession, aviation as a whole is suffering. So, there are many challenges. The advisory committee will continue to better general aviation. There are airport improvement projects that not only focus on safety but also focus on attracting more business. Right now, that’s a tall order-but if we continue to make general aviation in TX attractive and affordable-everyone will benefit, not only now but when our economy turns around. I’m assuming that Texas general aviation will have to do more with less because of government cutbacks. But, I feel confident we can do it.
Wingtips: What would you like the public to know about general aviation in Texas and why non-pilots should care about it?
Jones: General aviation is very diverse and every aspect of it is important. Some folks use general aviation for vacations, day trips and even lunch. Some use general aviation for business because of its convenience. Either way, general aviation has been, and will continue to be, vital to the Texas economy-both directly and indirectly.
