Alabama Air Shuttle History

Alabama Air Shuttle was incorporated on March 9, 2004. We became operational on March 9, 2005. We are an FAA certificated, on-demand air carrier.

“Every once in a while in my careers in three different industries, I heard a provocative inner voice saying, ‘Why don’t you start your own company?’ After frustrating reflection that I had a mortgage to pay, car payments to make, and two children to put through school – without even considering that most businesses require some start-up capital – the inner voice would go away again.

“I have always wanted to learn how to fly. I never will know if that impulse came from thinking about my Dad, a World War II pilot-hero, or if it was simply in my bones from the beginning. My Dad gave me his wings when I was three -- which I promptly lost. Through my entire life, I always have looked up to see airplanes go by. Once, as an adult with two small children, I even telephoned an airfield to ask how much it cost to learn how to fly. Too much, I realized. When my second daughter went to college, the thought occurred that maybe I was getting close. Maybe only four more years! It seemed too long to even think about. Then, one day, as these things happen, she graduated, and a few months later I took my first flight lesson. As scared as I was, mostly because I was afraid I might not be able to do it, flight exceeded every expectation. It was better than a dream.

“One day in 2000, I flew my wife and second daughter back to Birmingham from our vacation on Jekyll Island, on the Georgia coast. It was a gorgeous two hour and fifteen minute delight, and I thought, ‘There must be people out there who would pay for this!’ I began to research the business side of flying, and my work helping companies start new lines of business and new products was valuable. I flew around the country in our personal aircraft (by then my wife had learned to fly, also). I talked to every air charter company owner who would give me time. I flew on a perhaps once-in-a-lifetime, solo flight to Taos, New Mexico. When I arrived in late afternoon, the line person asked the usual question, ‘Where did you come from?’ He did not reply when I said, ‘Birmingham, Alabama.’ Having no entrepreneurial experience in either of our families, my wife, Pam, and I found it possibly more difficult to take the leap of faith required before a company is born.

“After almost reaching the state of analysis paralysis, I decided I needed to begin, even if that meant starting small. I was fortunate that a young pilot, Paul Nation, joined our venture before we even had an FAA certificate or an airplane. Pam and I bought a Beechcraft Baron, a best-in-class, air-conditioned light twin with leather seats. When we finally got our FAA certificate, we had zero customers.

“A strong belief in providing first class service and in caring about our customers’ success has enabled us to grow encouragingly. In the fall of 2006, Pam and I bought our second Baron, almost a mirror image of our first. Our goal is strong, carefully managed, consistent growth in providing first class, economical air travel services – a smart value for increasing numbers of air travelers. Our growth may well involve partnering with owners of larger aircraft, but we will never neglect our specialty of providing solid value for the 250-500 mile trip.”

David Gentry
Owner and President
Alabama Air Shuttle, Inc.