California operator Air 7 has appointed Ron Gottschalk as vice president of business development, aircraft acquisitions. His primary responsibilities will include the oversight and development of the company's Part 135 charter fleet and Part 91 management aircraft in addition to client development and client retention.

Gottschalk has over 38 years of aviation industry experience in charter fleet development, aircraft management, customer development, client retention and aircraft sales with several recognisable aviation organisations. He is a graduate of the Spartan School of Aeronautics, Oklahoma, and currently holds several different type ratings. He will be based in Wichita, Kansas, while working directly with the Air 7 executive team headquartered in Camarillo.

Gottschalk says: “I truly love aviation and I strongly believe in the power of consistent face to face interactions with clients. An aircraft owner is seeking an organisation that can provide the least amount of resistance for aircraft oversight. Direct, in-person interaction may seem like an old-fashioned method until you understand that is the exact reason why aircraft owners choose who they do business with. This method is traditional and old fashioned, however it is successful.”

Air 7 LLC is a private aircraft services company offering FBO services at Camarillo airport, charter sales, aircraft sales, aircraft management, in-house dispatch and flight operations and hangar filming production facilities.