Birmingham Flight Center

Our Team

Steven Pickett 

Chief Executive Officer

Born and raised in South Florida, Steven grew up flying with his father, Harley Pickett. After high school, he came to Alabama in 1983 to join the united states air force, where he was in the security forces. After serving for 3 years at Incirlik air base, turkey, he returned to Alabama to attend Troy university. His college plans at Troy were put on hold when his daughter was born, so he began pursuing maintenance certification and eventually obtained his A&P certification while serving the Army national guard as a flight engineer for CH47-D.  He later transferred to the Air national guard to serve as a Pneudrolics mechanic. During that time, he applied for and passed the selection process to become a boom operator on the KC-135. While serving as a boom operator, he shifted gears in his aviation career by pursuing his pilot license. Starting with a Cessna 172 (that eventually grew into an entire flight school) he earned all of his certifications up to ATP certification. He then worked full time in a corporate aviation department while serving part time in the Guard.

Credentials 

All certification up to APT

Type Ratings: BE-300;BE-400;CE-525s;CE-560XL;CE-650;MU-300
with sic privileges in the A/G-1159 and the A/G-IV.

Greg Floyd

Director of Operations

Born and raised near Albuquerque New Mexico, Greg always had a passion for aviation. He grew up flying sailplanes on the weekends, achieving his Private Sailplane certification at age 17. After graduating High school, he first attempted to join the Air Force academy. Not making the final cut, he decided to go with the competition and attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (AZ) and earned a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Science with a minor in Aviation Safety. In June 2010, he moved to Birmingham to start working at BFC, and progressed steadily through the ranks of line instructor, Chief instructor, and presently is the Director of Operations. Though most often in meetings or corporate flights, he has a deep passion for teaching and regularly flies with the students at BFC.

Credentials 

CFI,CFII,MEI,AGI,IGI, ATP

Type Ratings: BE-300;BE-400;CE-525s;CE-560XL;CE-650;MU-300 with sic in LR-45.

Jacob Wilson

Chief Instructor

Since the age of four, Jacob always knew he wanted to fly. While in college he was able to acquire his ratings through FBO rentals, a flying club, and a 141 collegiate program. Jacob Has been flying since 2013 and instructing since 2017. Since he started working with the Birmingham Flight Center he has acquired his CFI, CFII, and MEI before becoming an Airline Transport Pilot with Envoy Air, a regional airline for American Airlines. He has since returned to fulfill the duties of Chief Flight Instructor. He is well versed in many types of piston and jet aircraft and both instructs and flies corporate aircraft. In his spare time he enjoys working on cars, golf, and flying aerobatics.

Credentials 

CFI, CFII, MEI, ATP CE-525(s),

Type Ratings: EMB-145

Andrew Roy

Instructor

Drew has always had a curiosity about aviation, but it wasn’t until his newborn son would point up at planes flying overhead that he decided to see what the view was like from up there. He became a private pilot in Van Nuys, CA. Continuing his journey, he completed every rating he could starting the day after his Private Pilot Checkride. After learning to fly in the picturesque and complex airspace of Southern California, he and his family of four decided to move back to his home state of Alabama to continue his passion for flying while being a bit closer to family. 

Credentials 

CFI, CFII, MEI

Wade Cleckler

Instructor

 Wade grew up in Mobile but moved to Birmingham to pursue a career in aviation through a local 141 program. After a year and a half he left that program to train at the Birmingham Flight Center. During this time Wade fueled aircraft for Atlantic aviation where he eventually worked his way up to a management position. While training with us, Wade acquired all his ratings through CFII and Multi-Commercial and is continuing to both train and be trained. If he is not instructing or flying for our owners, he is likely playing golf in his spare time. He plans to stay with the Birmingham Flight center and has no interest going to the airlines. He enjoys teaching people how to do the thing he loves and help them pursue their dreams.  

Credentials 

CFI, CFII

Forrest Winkle

Instructor

Forrest is a first-generation pilot who began his training at Birmingham Flight Center in 2010. He then went to Auburn University, enrolling in their flight program obtaining his private and instrument rating. He graduated from Auburn with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in aviation management and supply chain management. He then returned to with Birmingham Flight Center and completed his multi-commercial rating in 2017. In the fall of 2018, he became a certified flight instructor and has been working at with us since. He plans on completing his CFII in the near future. 

CFI

Credentials 

Joshua Hammond

Instructor

A first generation pilot who began flying when he was 18 years old, Josh’s inspiration for starting a career in aviation began on his first commercial flight in 2013. From that moment on, he knew he had to become a professional pilot. He received the Kelley Chandler Wings Scholarship his senior year of high school to begin his aviation career. 
In 2017 he received his Private Certificate at Lanier Flight Center, and he would finish his remaining certificates and ratings at Auburn University. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Professional Flight. In addition to his instructor certificates, Joshua is a Commercial multi and single engine certified pilot with an instrument rating. 

Credentials 

CFI, CFII

Bryce DeLozier

Instructor

Bryce is a first generation pilot that has had an interest in aviation since a young age. He grew up in Dalton GA. After taking a discovery flight in 2015, he then went on to MTSU to train in their 141 program where he graduated Bachelor of Science Professional Pilot with Cum Laude. He earned private through CFI-I there and went on to instruct at Auburn where he was selected for MEI. Bryce chose to move to the Magic City to be closer to family and to expand his experience working with more diverse people. 

CFI, CFII, MEI

Credentials 

Dalton Derr

Instructor

Dalton is a Birmingham native and a first generation pilot. He went to Auburn University graduating Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Aviation Management in 2018. After graduating, Dalton pursued flight training full time at a flight school located south of Atlanta before returning home to finish his Certified Flight Instructor Training at the Birmingham Flight Center

Credentials 

CFI

Col. (Ret.) Scott Grant

Part time Instructor

Born and raised in West Virginia, Scott attended West Virginia University and graduated in 1987, as a USAF 2Lt. In USAF pilot training, he flew T-37 and T-38 aircraft at Columbus AFB, MS. Scott was selected to fly KC-135 tanker aircraft being stationed at Griffiss AFB, NY and Dyess AFB, TX achieving instructor and evaluator pilot status. In 1994, Scott came to Birmingham, AL as a functional test flight pilot on the KC-135 at Pemco Aeroplex . In 1996, he left the active duty Air Force and joined the AL Air National Guard as a part-time KC-135 Instructor Pilot and also became an FAA Aviation Inspector (ASI) at the Birmingham FSDO. In 1998, Scott left the FAA and entered full time employment with the 117 th Air Refueling Wing where he elevated to the rank of Colonel and served his last 2 ½ years as the Wing Commander. In August, Scott retired after 33 years of flying service in the KC-135. In addition to his flying at BFC, Scott is a part-time KC-135 simulator instructor for CAE at Altus AFB, OK.

CFI, CFII, MEI. ATP, FE turbojet

Type Ratings: B-707/720, SIC in CE-650, CE-525 and CE-560XL

Credentials