American Virtual Restructuring and Important Corporate Changes

Happy New Year to all our awesome virtual pilots! I hope this year is packed with exciting challenges, personal growth, and success. I really appreciate your dedication to this hobby, and I can’t wait for another year of working together and achieving great things. Here’s to a year full of creativity and amazing achievements!

As we embark on this new year, I would like to take a moment to announce some administrative changes that will be implemented immediately. These changes are not anticipated to affect our daily operations but will enable us to continue striving for excellence in our pursuit of being the premier virtual airline.

Effective immediately, we are establishing the AAVA Board of Directors, with myself serving as the President and Chair. The Board will be tasked with providing guidance, advice, and leadership on critical objectives such as Risk Management, VA Policies, Culture and Vision, and Strategic Planning, convening quarterly to address these matters. The other members of the Board include Will Matteoni, Paul Ledford, Mike Schultz, and Jerry Taylor.

Also, Effective immediately, AAL002 William M. will take on the position of Chief Operations Officer. Will has proven to be an indispensable asset and a wellspring of knowledge regarding all aspects of AAVA. He has served as the technical lead, ensuring the seamless operation of the crew center and all technological facets, while actively seeking and implementing innovative solutions. Additionally, he has fostered partnerships with other organizations to enhance our reach and capabilities, demonstrating his competence as a leader. It is a logical decision to confer this title upon him, as he is already fulfilling the responsibilities and exceeding expectations. He has ambitious plans for the future, many of which are already underway. We eagerly anticipate the developments at AAVA under his guidance.

You’ve had a special spot in my heart since I joined (US Airways VA) all those years ago. Together, we transformed a mostly quiet VA into the vibrant community we have today. To keep that momentum going, we need to stay active and push our creativity further than ever. This past year, we’ve seen a big boost in our crew numbers, launched a training center for new members, and developed our staff into the amazing team they are now.

Being your CEO has been such an honor. While I’ll still be around as President and Chairman, I’m diving into my next adventure—taking care of my two energetic kids, ages 2 and 5. Trust me, that’s a full-time gig with hardly any downtime! You’ll still see my name pop up on the flight board every now and then since I’ve got to keep up with that one flight every 30 days rule!

My friends say I tend to ramble, so I’ll wrap it up here. It’s been a true joy working with all of you. Here’s to an amazing 2025! Will, it’s your turn!