Reel Urban News Exclusive
By Michael Reel
Like every other industry, the world of aviation has undergone significant challenges and changes since the onslaught of the global pandemic of 2020.
“We are all one aviation ecosystem, and we are interdependent on one another,” noted Christa Lucas, National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) senior vice president of government affairs, in an online forum for the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) annual conference. “The general aviation airports, the businesses, the flight schools, the FBOs – it’s all connected, and COVID-19 has had a dire effect on our industry.”
In a rare on-camera interview and profile, Levi Stockton, president and founder of Hawthorne, California-based Advanced Air, LLC addressed some of Lucas’s concerns as he provides a first-hand account of who is traveling now. “We’re seeing more charters. We’re not seeing as much of the business travel of the corporate company. We’re seeing a lot more of the traveler that knows this is an option and is shying away from the airlines or the airlines are no longer servicing where they need to go.”
Stockton, a towering figure, has been flying planes since high school. Raised primarily by his mother, Stockton and his sister were shuttled between his mom’s house in Poulsbo, Washington where they grew up, and Fairbanks, Alaska where their father lived. “As a kid, my sister and I would get the unaccompanied minor sticker, and the flight attendant would walk us on the airplane and we’d get to see the cockpit and see the captain and the co-pilot. And so at a young age, I knew that’s what I wanted to do – my original goal was to work for Alaska Airlines. That was the path I started to go down,” recalled Stockton.
Stockton’s parents were 100 percent in support of their son’s goal to become a pilot. “My dad bought a small single-engine piston airplane when I was 13 – so I kinda started riding around in that to get the feel for it,” Stockton remembered.
And get the feel for it, Stockton did. “My mom supported it. She worked two jobs and said, ‘You’re going to go to school’ and right out of high school I went to flight school.”
A natural-born adventurer, Stockton admits his early days of flying were viewed as fun. “I moved away from home and was on the road. I first started flight school in Oklahoma and then I moved to one in Northern California, Oakland. I was excited and so eager. I was confused why everyone wasn’t being a pilot.”
At the age of 20 Stockton had earned his pilot’s license and was a certified flight instructor teaching in both the Air China and Korean Air programs.
“Aviation is fascinating, right? Flying is somewhat a mystery, especially when you’re at that age – it’s just really exciting,” said Stockton. “I’m still amazed. It’s a time capsule – you can get somewhere so quick and the other option is days compared to hours. I think that is always fascinating.”
The intersection where Advanced Air is located, 120th and Crenshaw, is a notable crossing if you reside in greater Los Angeles or one of her neighboring suburbs to the South. The City of Hawthorne, a bedroom community, is one of several L.A. suburbs that has its very own municipal airport. Stockton and the Advanced Air team are responsible for airport operation through the Fixed Based Operation (FBO) Jet Center Los Angeles.
If it is true location is everything in business, Advanced Air being housed at Hawthorne Airport should be considered a major business breakthrough. “One of my partners always says, ‘You know, airports are like oceanfront property. They’re not making any more airports.’ So we’re very fortunate to be in the City of Hawthorne,” said Stockton.
The continued development of Hawthorne Airport and the intersection of 120th and Crenshaw is what initially caught our attention and propelled this story. According to Stockton, the Hawthorne Airport had its problems. “When we came here this airport was run down. There were no hangers with hanger doors and every hanger that was here had a leaky roof – and there wasn’t an airplane based here that burned jet fuel. Back then we had vision and I think now that vision is something other people can see. It’s been a fun ride and we’re really excited about what’s growing around us,” said Stockton. There are a lot of businesses that are around us and we’re coming up on our first Super Bowl in L.A. in years – and that’s right next door – we’re extremely excited about it,” stated Stockton.
As our time with the pilot turned president came to a close Stockton discussed the planes that were parked in the hangar where our exclusive profile took place. “This is a King Air 350 Twin-Turbo-Prop 9 passenger – cruises at about 350 knots with a range of about 1800 nautical miles – this is a machine – it can go shorter runways and haul a lot of people. We use it in both the charter and airline products, informed Stockton.
Advanced Air is right next door to SPACEX West Coast headquarters and TESLA Automotive. “They’re going to space and making electric cars – it’s fun to go in the restaurant here and pick the brains of engineers while taking a lunch break and discussing the amazing things they are building,” said Stockton.
Speaking exclusively with Michael Reel of Reel Urban News Levi Stockton placed a few nuggets within reach for those persons both young and old who are inspired by his wisdom and imprint at Advanced Air, LLC. “My advice to young people is to look forward to the future and say 5 to 10 years from now where do you want to be – start taking steps backwards and when you get back to today now you know where your next step is forward.”
