OUR CREW
MEET OUR TEAM
From hangar to cockpit our certified, professional staff are highly skilled to ensure your safety and comfort.
Flying with Outer Banks Aviation is a consistently great experience that we highly recommend. Their friendly and accommodating staff is a pleasure to deal with, and the pilots are attentive to our needs and comfort in flight. It's fascinating to observe the plane's radar screen and the pilot's interaction with the air traffic controllers en route, and, of course, the "bird's eye" view of the scenery and landmarks below. Flying with Outer Banks Aviation gives us more time to enjoy our Outer Banks vacation. It's a thrilling experience you won't want to pass up!
- GLORIA G.
Jason Stacy
Jason D. Stacy, M.D is a partner and founder of The Venable Group, the parent company of Outer Banks Aviation. A 2005 graduate of Hampden-Sydney College, he is a Board Certified Neurosurgeon by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. He serves as President of the Company and has nurtured a fascination with aviation since his childhood.
After purchasing an airplane for the predecessor company, Outer Banks Airlines, he saw that a unification of services was needed in the Dare County/Outer Banks Area. After that, he helped lead a small group of individuals to purchase and merge existing, separate businesses on the airfield to form Outer Banks Aviation so that it can offer a full range of aviation services to its clients.
Through these efforts, clients can access private charter services, air tours of the outer banks, aircraft management, and maintenance all at one location, making it easier than ever for customers to access the Outer Banks area by air.
Chuck Buterbaugh
DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE
Chuck received his A&P license in 1983 and has over 45 years of experience in Aircraft Maintenance, servicing military, commercial, and general aviation aircraft. Prior to receiving his A&P, Chuck served in the US Navy. Today, he serves as the Director of Maintenance and holds an Inspection Authorization at OBXA.
Chuck and his wife are residents of Manteo, NC, having moved from Virginia Beach in 2021. Besides keeping OBXA’s aircraft in operation, Chuck spends his free time working on his home projects and enjoying their four dogs.
Brady Lozaw
BUSINESS MANAGER
Brady is the business manager at Outer Banks Aviation, having accepted the position in 2021. Since then, he has been using his entrepreneurial spirit and growing business acumen to help the company reach its potential. Brady honed his business skills during time spent at Hampden-Sydney College studying Economics and Business - time he cherishes greatly.
While not at work, you can find Brady running, playing golf, and exploring the NC coast. He is passionate about business and entrepreneurship, and is always looking for new ways to expand his knowledge. Brady is an avid reader and podcast listener, and enjoys learning about different cultures and history, another trait he gleaned from H-SC.
In the future, Brady hopes to help catalyze growth at OBXA by building meaningful connections in the community.
Sam Long
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, PILOT
Sam started working with Outer Banks Aviation in 2020. He is currently serving as the Director of Operations, having held the Assistant Director of Operations previously, and is one of the company’s lead charter pilots. He also serves as a Check Airman and Company Instructor, and heads up our Fleet Development Team.
A 2006 graduate of Hampden-Sydney College, Sam worked as a Fireman/EMT in the City of Norfolk, Virginia until 2018. He began his flight training in August of 2017 and has flown nearly 2000 hours since then, with over half that time in OBXA aircraft. In that time, he has earned a Commercial Pilot Certificate with Multi-Engine and Instrument ratings, and plans to continue his professional development by earning his Airline Transport Pilot certificate. Sam maintains his Flight Instructor credentials and provides flight instruction out of our Manteo location (KMQI), and looks forward to earning his Multi-Engine Instructor rating in the near future.
Despite having the best office view in the world, Sam values very much the time he gets to spend with his wife, Jennica, and their four children. As a family they thoroughly enjoy time at home, traveling to places both new and familiar, as well as enjoying friendships built with OBXA co-workers and clients, an OBXA benefit that means a great deal to Sam and Jennica both.
Michael Groothousen Jr.
CHIEF PILOT
Our Chief Pilot Michael Groothousen began his career in the military. Groot started as an Air Defense Artilleryman in the Virginia Army National Guard in 1998 before being discharged to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. After graduation in 2004, he was selected for flight training in Pensacola, FL and Corpus Christi, TX. After earning his coveted Wings of Gold in 2006, Groot was assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Light Squadron 42 in Mayport, FL flying the SH-60B Seahawk including a 2008-09 combat deployment to Iraq. After his tour at HSL-42, Groot went back to the Naval Academy as a Company Officer and instructor, responsible for the professional development of over 150 Midshipmen. Eventually he found himself back in the Norfolk area at US Fleet Forces Command as a Fleet Watch Officer.
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Groot left active duty in 2016 and began flight instructing at Horizon Flight Center in Chesapeake before signing on as a contractor with Phoenix Air Group Flying Learjets out of Newport News, VA in 2018. In March 2021, he joined the OBX Air team as the Chief Pilot overseeing the training and certification of all our Outer Banks Air pilots.
When he isn’t flying, Groot enjoys spending time with his family, building legos and models, general tinkering projects around the house, and trying to figure out where his hair went.
Jennica Long
OFFICE MANAGER
Jennica joined Outer Banks Airlines in June 2020, assuming the position of Office Manager. In addition to the back office work required to keep OBXA in the air, she also manages client reservations and ensures customer satisfaction.
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When not on the phone with clients or working in the office, Jennica enjoys spending her time with her three children and her husband (a pilot and flight instructor.) She also loves plants (specifically helping pollinators), animals, family tent camping and attending music festivals. Over the years, she has been a principal in two small businesses, earned her certification in Occupational Therapy, and worked in environments where she used her skills to assist those with special needs.
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“I am excited to bring my experience and background into the aviation industry. I enjoy dynamic and fulfilling interactions with other people, and I have certainly found that here.”
Joshua Sheppard
COMPANY INSTRUCTOR / PILOT
Josh has been working at Outer Banks Aviation since 2021. He is an active duty US Air Force Air Traffic Controller where he has served for over 19 years. He has over 1400 hours of flight experience and is also a company instructor.
Josh earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is currently working toward his Masters in Divinity at Liberty University. He is a commercial pilot, certified flight instructor, instrument instructor, and multi-engine instructor.
When he is not flying he is pulling for the Clemson Tigers, volunteering at church, and spending time with his wife Rachel of almost 20 years and their 4 boys.
Chris "Sid" Taylor
PILOT
Chris started flying with Outer Banks Aviation in early 2022. Another Naval Aviator among our crew, Chris enlisted in 2006 as an Avionics Technician on the F/A-18 before earning a commission in 2015. He earned his Wings of Gold in September of 2017 and logged over 800 hours flying the MH-60S "Knighthawk" on two deployments and a number of overseas detachments.
Chris maintains his Active Duty day job and is currently a Naval Science Instructor for the Hampton Roads Naval ROTC program at Old Dominion University. When he's not at work or in the air, Chris prefers to be home with his wife, their two dogs and beautiful newborn daughter.
"Right from the start OBXA has treated me like family. I couldn't be happier working with everyone on the team and our amazing clients & I'm excited to see what the future holds!"