10 Questions for Tom Benvenuto of Sunset Aviation LLC

“I wanted to be a pilot since I was a little kid,” said Tom Benvenuto. “There are so many things about it that I love.”

Benvenuto works for Sunset Aviation and mostly flies private and business clients in and out of the Napa County Airport. While he can’t name names, he’s flown professional athletes, CEOs and politicians around the world.

Benvenuto said that it’s the freedom of flying that he enjoys. “It’s just you and the world. It’s an awesome way to travel.”

Which three people would you most like to have dinner with?

Lance Armstrong, Henry Kissinger, Colin Powell.

What job would you like to try/not try?

Try: Mike Rowe’s position at Dirty Jobs.

Not try: Nurse or doctor. I don’t like being around sick people.

What’s the worst job you ever had? 

Working in a salmon/Dungeness crab processing plant in Alaska. I did that when I graduated from college. It was beautiful until I started to work. I decided this is not what I was cut out to do.

How did you get into this business?

After studying physical geography/climatology in college, I worked for four years as a flight instructor, and then spent a year in South Korea training Korean Air pilots. I secured a job with American Eagle Airlines and spent five years moving around the country. I finally landed my dream job — a pilot for United Airlines. Unfortunately, 9/11 occurred shortly thereafter and I found myself furloughed. Luckily, I was able to adjust my career path and started working in the charter aviation industry.

I can’t live without:

Michelle, Marti the dog and my bike.

What’s on your to-do list? 

Sail to Southern California, ride the Terrible Two (a 200-mile bike ride) in less than 12 hours, and scuba dive in Indonesia.

Who do you most admire in the business world? 

Herb Kelleher, co-founder, and former chairman and CEO of Southwest Airlines.

What’s something people might be surprised to know about you? 

That I was born in England to a British mother and Italian father.

What’s the most significant project you’ve been involved with in your career? 

Overseeing flight operations for 25 airplanes and more than 40 pilots.

What other business person(s) would you like to see featured in “10 Questions for…”

Diego Periasco, finish carpenter.

More from Tom Benvenuto

What was your first job? 

Ice cream server at Baskin-Robbins.

What’s one thing Napa could do to help local business?

Create a more dynamic downtown.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be? 

The dysfunctional structure of the FAA.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

9/11 and the aftermath.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in your lifetime that you haven’t yet? 

Fly the Boeing 777 and the Global Express.

What’s your favorite gift to give?

Recreational, outdoor and/or sporting equipment.

What is your favorite charity? 

Animal Rescue Foundation, ARF.

Each Wednesday the Napa Valley Register’s Business Focus asks “10 Questions” of a local entrepreneur or businessperson. Readers are welcome to suggest business people to be profiled. To suggest a candidate for “10 Questions” e-mail: jhuffman@napanews.com

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