Flight Instructors

Mark Winton (Owner – CFII/DPE/MEI)

• Private Pilot • Tailwheel Rating • Spin/Upset Attitude Training • Aerobatic Training • Instrument Rating • Commercial Rating • Multi-engine • FAA Check Ride • CFI Training

Mark is a retired Air Force pilot who served on active duty until August 2000 and has been employed by UPS since January 2001, flying the DC-8 first as a Flight Engineer and for the past 6 years as a First Officer on the MD-11. He currently fly’s the MD-11 internationally around the world.

His father instilled the love of aviation in him at a very young age and taught him how to fly at the age of 17. Mark has been flying general aviation aircraft for the past 35 years. After High School he enlisted in the Air Force as an avionics technician working on F-4’s and F-105’s at George AFB, CA. Knowing that an education was the key to his future success in aviation as an Air Force Fighter Pilot, he got out of the Air Force in October 1980 and went to college at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. With the help of his wife, working full time as a manager at McDonald’s and the G.I. Bill, he was able to graduate in 3 years and 4 months from UTC in May 1984. Mark graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree and reentered the Air Force in October 1984, graduating from Officer Training School (OTS) in January 1985 as a 2LT.

Mark graduated from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) in January 1985 and went on to learn how to fly the F-16 at MacDill AFB in Tampa, Fla. Upon graduation from F-16 training, he had numerous assignments throughout the world. He was stationed at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, Kunsan AB, Korea, Luke AFB, Arizona as an instructor pilot and his last assignment was at Tyndall AFB, Panama City, Fla., where he retired in August 2000 and promptly returned to the Chattanooga area to be near his parent’s and finish raising his youngest child, his son (Kyle).

Mark has over 2000hrs in the F-16, as well as over 1000hrs instructor time in both the F-16 and OV-10 aircraft. He has flown numerous military aircraft to include the T-37, T-38, OV-10 and F-16. Although he never flew the F-4 or F-15 operationally, he was qualified to give evaluation checkrides in these aircraft from the backseat during his last assignment at Tyndall AFB, Fla. Mark also has flown numerous civilian aircraft over the past 35 years, to numerous to mention. He is also part owner in a 1942 Boeing Stearman Biplane a WW2 primary trainer aircraft. Learn how to fly at his flight school and you will earn a ride in the 1942 Boeing Stearman after you get your license.

Mark married his childhood sweetheart at the age of 18 and has been married to the same woman (Mary Jo) for 33 years. He has 3 adult children (Nicole, Michelle and Kyle) who all live in the Chattanooga area.

Mark’s vast aviation experience cover’s a wide spectrum of aviation, from general aviation to military to commercial airline, making him an extremely valuable knowledge base to tap into if you are looking to pursue a career in aviation. Stop by and meet Mark and his staff of instructor’s. He has some of the most qualified instructor’s in the Chattanooga area working for him at Dallas Bay Skypark.

Tom Bowen (CFII)

• Private Pilot • Tailwheel Rating • Spin/Upset Attitude Training • Aerobatic Training • Instrument Rating • Commercial Rating • CFI Training

Tom’s parents allowed him to explore his interest in aviation at a early age. Sitting in the pilot seat of a Piper Tomahawk at age 11 for the first time, and soloing at age 17. He then followed his love for the outdoors and adventure through rock climbing and kayaking throughout the country in the summers while completing his BS in Environmental Science concentrating in GIS at UTC.

He then spent 13 years working for a local municipality. During these years he opened a underground utility inspection service. 20 years after first soloing he wandered into the Hixson Aviation office to discuss with Mark and Bill his interest in using Aviation for Missions or Humanitarian work and has now found himself working as a CFI here at Hixson.

All Tom’s ratings have been earned at Hixson Aviation, IT CAN BE DONE!!!!!!

These days if you don’t find Tom instructing you will find him enjoying aerobatics in the Super Decathlon, out getting exercise on his bicycle, or enjoying some quality time with his wife.

First lesson through aerobatics!

Jason Odom (CFII, AGI)

Private Pilot – Instrument Rating – Commercial Rating – Multi-engine – Flight Instructor

Jason was raised in Trenton Ga only 25 minutes south of Chattanooga. He is a retired Air Force C-130 Flight Engineer who served on active duty from 1995-2017. His career started out as a crew chief on the mighty B-52 Stratofortress. He soon decided that he might want to fly on aircraft instead of work on them. He started his career as a Flight Engineer in 1998 where he moved from Barksdale AFB LA to Pope AFB NC. While at Pope AFB, Jason became a Flight Instructor only a year and a half later and realized that he loved to teach. He earned his Master Instructor Certification in 2010 while stationed at Little Rock AFB. He has been stationed at five different locations including Tokyo Japan, Little Rock Arkansas, and at Scott AFB IL. His AF career came to an end at Scott AFB where he had the pleasure of being one of the lead command flight engineer examiners. He amassed over 5300 flight hours with over 650 combat hours in the almost 19 years of flying.

He started his pilot flying career while in Tokyo Japan in 2012 and then after a delay in training finished his Private Pilot certification in June 2016 while at Scott AFB IL. He quickly built experience by joining the Civil Air Patrol and completing his CFI in May 2018. After retirement Jason moved back to the Chattanooga area where he started flying as a CFI at Hixson Aviation in November 2018.

Ethan Petit

Ethan grew up in Chattanooga TN, and developed an interest in aviation through extensive travel during his childhood. Ethan graduated from Covenant College in Chattanooga, then began working in business but knew he wanted something different as a career. His dream to fly became a reality after contacting Hixson Aviation in 2019.
Ethan earned his Private Pilots license with Hixson, then continued his education with ATP Flight School. After receiving his Instrument, Commercial, CFI, CFII, Commercial Multi add on, and MEI certificates, Ethan was thrilled to have the opportunity to come back and instruct where it all began in Chattanooga!
During his free time Ethan loves to golf, hike, fish, and do just about anything involving water, a boat, and some sunshine.

Jeremiah Masters (CFII, MEI)

Jeremiah was born in Washington DC where he lived for 11 years until he moved to Geneva, Switzerland. He graduated from the International School of Geneva and decided to continue his education at Covenant College on Lookout Mountain. After graduating in 2019 Jeremiah went on a discovery flight with Hixon Aviation and was instantly hooked. From that point on he knew his future was up in the air.
Jeremiah received his private pilot license with Hixon Aviation and finished up his training by going to ATP Flight School in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Wanting to live close to his family and continue to pursue his goal of being a pilot he returned to Chattanooga to become an instructor at Hixon Aviation.

Luke Bussey

Hello, my name is Luke. I started flying as a senior in high school at Hixson Aviation where I obtained my PPL. I then attended MTSU where I got my instrument, commercial, and multi ratings. I really enjoy flying as well as anything sports related. I’m now a flight instructor and I hope to be able to fly with as many people as I can!

Flight Instructors

Mark Winton (Owner – CFII/DPE/MEI)

Tom Bowen (CFII)

Jason Odom (CFII, AGI)

Ethan Petit

Jeremiah Masters (CFII, MEI)

Luke Bussey

Additional Instructors

Lance Robbins

Joshua Brown

Mike Weathers

Hixson Aviation Flying Club

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