Newsletter
Meet Mr. John O'Brien
Vice President of Maintenance and Operations
You have probably seen him around the DCA Campus but do you know Mr. John O’Brien
the Vice President of Maintenance and Operations at Delta Connection Academy? Since accepting the
position in July 1999, he has restructured the Maintenance Department to increase the morning aircraft availability
from an average of 60% with a goal of 75%, to the daily average of 90%. John restructured Flight Operations to
include Safety and Flight Standards departments. Prior to coming to DCA, O’Brien developed and operated a Part 145
FAA and JAA approved Heavy Repair Station specializing in SD3-60, SF-340, and EMB-120 aircraft,
served as Vice President of Operations for Business Express overseeing its growth to 70
turboprop and turbojet aircraft, and was Director of Operations and Chief Pilot at Allegheny Airlines where he
also served as a Line Pilot and Check Airman. Prior to his Regional Airline Career, O’Brien served as Vice President and
General Manager of Technical Aeroservices, a Part 141 and 135 Operator. He taught Aviation Science classes at Harvard
and Tufts Universities in Cambridge, Massachusetts. O’Brien received his aviation training at Executive Flyers Aviation
Academy, New England Aeronautical Institute, and the U.S. Army Aviation School. He has served as Chairman of
the Regional Airline Training Committee, Beech 1900 Operators Committee, SD3 MMEL Advisory Committee, Flight
International Ab Initio Advisory Board, and Massachusetts Flight School Committee. He has also served as President
of the Pennsylvania Airlines Pilots’ Association, and currently serves on the Broward Community College Advisory
Board. He is a member of the RAA, NBAA, AOPA, and NHA. He has been featured in Aviation Daily, April 3, 1998, and September 22,
1995, editions as well as the Commuter Regional Airline News, September 4, 1995, edition. He was also featured in
the cover stories of Professional Pilot Magazine, in July 1987 and June 1990. Mr. O’Brien is an Airline Transport
Pilot with over 19,000 flight hours. He is Type Rated in N262, SD3, SF-340, and BAe 146 aircraft.