From humble beginnings in 2004 as a flight school in Boise, Idaho, Jetstream Aviation has evolved into an established aircraft management and air charter provider. Ten years after its launch, founder and owner Tim Griffin set his sights on a second location, to extend services across the Pacific Northwest. He worked with good friend and strategic partner Wayne Werner to establish a facility at Boeing Field in Seattle. Now the company is expanding its presence at the airport, this time increasing its workspace at FBO Modern Aviation's leasable offices, to accommodate current and future growth based on the business projections of both Griffin and director of flight operations Glenn Osborne.

“We employ the region's best pilots, aircraft mechanics and client support staff, but a large amount of credit must be shared with our exceptional clients,” says Griffin. “Their belief in us and their loyalty have propelled our growth and stability in Seattle.”

Mechanic Jacob Tuttle joined the company at the beginning of the year. Tuttle is a small town Utahn now residing in Washington, who discovered aviation when he was just 12 years old. His father was a pilot and certified instructor who ran a small flight school. Tuttle took the opportunity to learn to fly, going solo when he was 16, and then decided to get his airframe and power plant maintenance qualification.

Tuttle has been an aircraft mechanic for 21 years. He spent his first year on helicopters, the Hughes 500D, E and F models, before moving on to fixed wings. He is an experienced mechanic who prefers the avionics side of things, but also enjoys composites and systems. He has had special training on types including MD500, Dash-8s, CRJs, Embraer EMB 120 and ERJs, Boeing 737, 757 and 767, and the Fokker F28.

Having familiarised himself with Jetstream through contact with one of its mechanics, Kevin Laddusaw, Tuttle saw that he could excel in the company. He says: “I am always up for a challenge, and I saw that I could make a difference here and put the skills I've gained to some use.”