LEADERSHIP OF THE MINNESOTA PILOTS ASSOCIATION

Mike’s first airplane ride was in a Super Cub out of a cow pasture when he was about 6 years old. After that short flight, he knew he wanted to be a pilot. He started flying in high school and received his private pilot’s license just after his 17th birthday.

Although not pursuing aviation as a career, it has been an important part of his life. “Every time I push the throttle forward I get goosebumps! If I wasn’t flying full size aircraft, I would be flying radio-controlled models”. Over the years he has owned a Pietenpol Aircamper, a Piper PA18-150A, and a Cessna 182Q.  Mike currently owns a beautiful 1942 Stinson V-77 Gullwing and a Javron Super Cub that he just recently finished building. He notes that his interest in general aviation has always leaned to the older general aviation airplanes.

When Mike was getting his private pilot license, he recalls how busy airports were, with many young people learning how to fly. He recalls that most of the ranchers where he grew up had either a Piper Cub or an Aeronca Champ. “Today, airports are fenced off and look more like a prison than a place of enjoyment. There is nothing like flying into a grass strip and having people come over and visit with you about your airplane and ask questions about how they can learn to fly.” He encourages young people to get into aviation, if not for a career, for a place of relaxation where they can “gather their thoughts and enjoy the beauty of the world around them.”

Get to know Michael Bergeson!

Favorite Aircraft

Without question, my favorite airplane is a PA-18 Super Cub. I make a couple of long cross-country flights a year, but I primarily use my Cub for relaxation. There is nothing better than starting your day by taking off early in the morning and watching the sunrise.  Every time I watch the sunrise from the Cub it is a humbling experience that makes me realize how fortunate I have been in my life. 

My wife frequently tells me that I need to go to my happy place. Without a doubt, flying in the Cub and seeing the world from a different perspective is my happy place.

Favorite thing about the MNPA?

Mike joined the Minnesota Pilots Association shortly after it was formed. Mike’s favorite thing about the MPA is that they are a positive force in promoting aviation throughout the state of Minnesota through lobbying governmental agencies, scholarships, and the annual Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering.

Fun Fact

Mike and his wife, Jill, have 8 kids and 18 grandkids. He states “Christmas gets a little crazy!” With his desire to figure out how things work, Mike worked in manufacturing, producing various products such as air filters and air intake systems for turbine engines, refrigerators, microwave ovens, building products, and most recently cookware and bakeware.

Daisy, currently serving as the secretary of the Minnesota Pilots Association, is a dedicated aviation professional with a remarkable career. As a first officer at Delta Air Lines, she distinguishes herself with an unwavering commitment to safety, boasting a flawless record of zero incidents, zero accidents, and zero checkride failures.

Her dedication to aviation education shines through her achievements as a Gold Seal Flight Instructor. Recognized further for her excellence, Daisy was honored with the AOPA Distinguished Flight Instructor award for 2021 to 2022, underscoring her significant contributions to flight instruction and influence on the next generation of aviators.

Daisy's passion for aviation safety extends to her active involvement with the FAASTeam, where she contributes to fostering a culture of excellence and adherence to safety protocols. Her aviation journey includes a noteworthy tenure as a captain at Endeavor Air, where she showcased leadership skills and also served as assistant chief pilot.

Beyond her professional achievements, Daisy generously dedicates much of her free time to mentoring aspiring students and volunteering for various organizations. This reflects her commitment to sharing knowledge and passion for aviation, positively contributing to the growth and development of individuals within and beyond the aviation community.

Get to know Daisy Saenz!

What is your favorite aircraft?

Daisy favorite aircraft is her personal Cherokee 180, which is because it is her first aircraft she has purchased.  This personal connection to flying showcases Daisy's enduring love for the skies and underlines her commitment to the aviation world, both in her career and recreational pursuits.

What do you like most about the MNPA?

Daisy favorite aspect of her role within the Minnesota Pilots Association, is the strong sense of community support and the collaborative efforts of dedicated board members. This engagement reflects her commitment to fostering a tight-knit aviation community, where mutual support and shared enthusiasm for flying contribute to a thriving and supportive environment.

Fun fact about Daisy

A notable fun fact about Daisy is that she holds the distinction of being the first pilot and aircraft owner in her entire family, marking her as a pioneer in aviation within her familial lineage. This achievement underscores her trailblazing spirit and passion for aviation, setting a unique and inspiring precedent for generations to come. 

In summary, Daisy's impressive career not only showcases her technical proficiency in the flight deck but also highlights her unwavering dedication to ensuring the highest standards of safety and her significant impact on aviation education and community development.

Board of Directors

Mark Cook knew he wanted to be a pilot since junior high. Mark started his professional pilot career as “freight dog” flying Beech Queen Airs for Bemidji Aviation. He is currently working as contract pilot for two construction companies and specializes in Pilatus PC12s and Socata TBM aircraft. Mark has flown over 10,600 hours with 3,000 hours of dual instruction given and piloted 70 different types of airplanes. Mark and his wife operate a flight school named Barnstormers Flight Training at the Bemidji Regional Airport. He is an active CFI who has a special fondness for tail wheel, skis and float plane instruction. As a Minneapolis FSDO, FAA Safety Team Representative and NAFI Master Flight Instructor, Mark has hosted and presented aviation safety seminars throughout northern Minnesota, on topics ranging from winter operations to airplane performance. The FAA has recently granted Mark Designated Pilot Examiner privileges. He enjoys flying in his Champion 7GCB floatplane on his free days. In recent years he has kindly led a team of flight instructors in providing seaplane ground school courses at the Great Minnesota Aviation Gatherings.

Patrick Halligan was born and raised in north Minneapolis.  He started his flying lessons at Anoka Airport with Jerry Wolfgram Jr. whose dad owned the flight school, soloing as a high school senior and then receiving his private pilot license.

Pat attended the University of North Dakota (UND) and graduated in 1976 with a B.S. B.A. and a major in aviation, graduating with his commercial and instrument ratings. He took his CFI training at IFT, located at the St. Paul Downtown Airport and worked as a flight instructor at the Beech Center at Flying Cloud and then went to work for Waldo Anderson at the University of Minnesota Flight School at Anoka Airport. 

While teaching flying lessons at Anoka he was picked by the MN Air National Guard to attend pilot training. He spent a year at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, Texas and flew the T-37 and T-38. After graduation he returned to MN and flew the C-130 for the MN Air Guard, serving as a co-pilot and aircraft commander.

While flying for the Air Guard Pat was hired by Republic Airlines in 1980. Serving as a flight engineer, Convair 580 co-pilot and captain, DC-9 co-pilot and Northwest captain of an Airbus before retiring from with Delta Airlines, after going through the mergers with NWA and Delta. 

For the past twenty years Pat has been involved with EAA Chapter 25 at the Airlake Airport. He was chapter president for 3 years back in the early 2000’s, helping turn the chapter into a well-financed organization. He remains on the chapter’s Board of Directors. He serves as banquet “chairman for life” and the scholarship committee leader having started 3 scholarships. Pat is one of three owners of a Pietenpol that is being built as a chapter project. Pat is serving his second, 3 year term on the MN Aviation Hall of Fame BOD, also serving as scholarship committee chairman.  He also has served multiple terms on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Pilots Association (MNPA), and he leads the scholarship program with the MNPA.

Pat owned a hangar at the Airlake Airport, has owned a Cessna 172, 182 and was part owner of a Hawk XP on floats.  He currently owns and flies a C206 on amphibs.  Pat was a member of the Prescott Flying Club where he flew a Cirrus. 

Pat has outstanding passion for general aviation.  His military and airline experience has been invaluable as he has served a variety of aviation organizations.  He has flown airplanes from J-3 Cubs to four engine machines, and he says he “loves them all!” He feels that his vast experience in aviation helps him key in on what Minnesota pilots want, and he loves aviation.  He feels the best testimony comes from his wife…” she says I love airplanes more than her.  It’s not true, but it is close.”

No stranger to honors, Pat was inducted into the University of North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame based upon his outstanding aviation career and for his tireless efforts to promote aviation.

Steve began flying at the age of 15. He attended the University of North Dakota (UND), which is where he first began his flight instruction career. After graduating from UND with aviation and business degrees, he returned to the Twin Cities and began flight instructing at the Anoka County Airport. Since then, Steve has made the training of pilots his profession.

During his 44 years of flying and 39 years of flight instructing, Steve has accumulated over 22,000 hours of flight time, provided more than 20,000 hours of flight instruction in airplanes and 2000 hours of instruction in flight simulators, has given an unknown number of hours of ground instruction, and has flown over 100 different types of airplanes.

Steve is the owner of FlightProficiency, a flight training company; and co-owner of Sim Flite Minnesota, a simulator company. Both companies are based at the Anoka County Airport.

Steve was one of the founding members of the board of directors of the Minnesota Pilots Association.  His inspiration as an outstanding flight instructor and his devotion to flight safety helped shape the Association.  He has remained on the Board of Directors since our inception.

Get to know Steve Thibault!

What is favorite your favorite aircraft?

The PT-17, Boeing Stearman biplane. I have been lucky enough to have logged 150 hours in Stearmans.

What do you like most about the MNPA?

There are many things I like about the MNPA. Two of my favorite things are the social and learning aspect of the MNPA. Both of these are on full display at the annual Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering (GMAG). It is important to never stop learning, and it’s always fun gathering with other pilots in a social setting.

Fun fact

In 2023, while training a couple of pilots in Boston, I was able to do a training flight with a landing in Rutland, VT (RUT). I can now say that I have been in all 50 states. This would never have happened if I wasn’t a pilot and a flight instructor. There is so much to see in our beautiful country from the cockpit of an airplane. 

Mike’s passion for aviation started when he was very young. Mike’s Dad took him to his first air show at their hometown in Iowa at the age of 10. That show made an everlasting impression so deep that at 14, Mike rode his bike to the airport for two weeks straight and bugged the owner of Dwyer Aircraft in Mason City, IA for a job washing airplanes and cleaning hangars just to be around airplanes. He traded his work of washing airplanes for flying lessons and received his Pilot’s License on his 17th birthday. His first flying job was with Lundstrom Ministries is Sissiton, S.D. After a year, he started working as a Freight Dog flying Cessna 207's the eventually Beech 18's. “This is really where I cut my teeth in aviation.” He flew cargo for 5 years, then purchased his first company, an aircraft charter company based at the Minneapolis Airport.

Forty years later, Mike has accumulated more than 30,000 flight hours and has qualified in more than 40 aircraft. Mike was a 2002 U.S. National Aerobatic Champion, and a member of the 2004 U.S. Aerobatic Team. His excitement for aviation and willingness to share his experience with people around the country is nothing short of contagious in his attempt to help encourage kids of all ages, to not only dream, but to live their dreams and never give up! Wiskus just retired as a full-time airshow pilot for 23 years. Mike owns and operates West Metro Aviation at the Buffalo Municipal Airport (KCFE). West Metro provides aircraft maintenance and aircraft sales.  He is also the inventor of PlaneSkates, an apparatus for moving disabled aircraft.  Mike has served on the board of directors of the Minnesota Pilots Association for several years and has been instrumental in hosting the Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering at KCFE.

Jason Jensen has been a pilot since 2003 and a Conservation Officer Pilot for the State of Minnesota since 2006. Jason holds ASEL, ASES, CFI, Instrument, Commercial, Rotary, Part 107 UAS ratings and has over 5000 hours of time in his logbooks.  Most of his logbook time involves circling somewhere over Minnesota in a Cessna 185 looking for things or people. Jason also has been a presenter at the Minnesota Seaplane Association since 2006. Jason presently serves on the FAAST team in Minnesota and is a member of the Airborne Public Safety Association and serves on their Natural Resource Aviation Working Group. 

Get to know Jason Jensen!

Favorite thing about MNPA?

This group allows pilots from all walks of life and backgrounds to communicate and push Minnesota’s aviation resources to a higher level.  Student to cargo to instructor…if you are a pilot, you are welcome here.

Favorite airplane?

Cessna 185 has my heart but I sure wouldn’t mind flying a Staggerwing!

Fun fact

My uncle, who introduced me to flying, traded Bob Leaders a snowmobile for flight lessons in the 1960’s. I visited Bob once in 2005 and he still had the snowmobile!

Ashlyn grew up in Annandale, MN and went to Rasmussen College in Brooklyn Park, MN to become a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA). In May of 2022 Ashlyn made a career change to work as the office manager at West Metro Aviation where Ashlyn was introduced to the Minnesota Pilots Association. Ashlyn likes the Waco aircraft. She has never flown in one but “they seem like they would be fun aircraft to take a flight in!”. 

Get to know Ashlyn Landa!

What do you like most about the MNPA?

What Ashlyn likes the most about the  Minnesota Pilots Association is how it brings people together, provides a way to support aviation, and a way to build relationships with others who have similar interests and values.

Fun fact

A fun fact about Ashlyn is that she comes from a large family and her favorite pastime is spending time with them.