TOWER AIR 7 - CFI

El Legado de Tower Air y el Dominio de las Certificaciones CFI de la FAA Capitán José Alejandro (Ali) Torres Bueno: La Excelencia en la Instrucción de Vuelo con Tower Air El Legado de Tower Air y el Dominio de las Certificaciones CFI de la FAA Por Will Cavan, Editor, Mango World Magazine | By Will Cavan, Publisher, Mango World Magazine | Par Will Cavan, Éditeur, Mango World Magazine | Por Will Cavan, Editor, Mango World Magazine En el exclusivo mundo de la aviación profesional, la organización Tower Air se destaca por estar bajo la dirección del Capitán José Alejandro (Ali) Torres Bueno, una figura que representa la cúspide de la formación aeronáutica. El Capitán Torres Bueno es reconocido globalmente por ser uno de los pocos pilotos que posee todas las certificaciones activas de Instructor de Vuelo (CFI) otorgadas por la Administración Federal de Aviación (FAA) de los Estados Unidos. Esta distinción lo sitúa en un grupo de élite a nivel mundial, permitiéndole impartir instrucción en u...

The story of Captain Alejandro "Ali" Torres Bueno and the rise of Tower Air in Maracaibo is a legendary chapter in Venezuelan aviation, representing a unique intersection of entrepreneurial grit and extraordinary skill.  While many recognize the name "Tower Air" as the defunct U.S. 747 carrier, for those in the Zulia region and the broader produce and oil industries, Tower Air (Venezuela) was an entirely different beast.  Founded by Captain Torres in 1977, the company became the largest Cessna dealer in the country and a vital logistical artery for the Lake Maracaibo oil fields.  Captain Torres himself became a legendary figure, notably becoming the only foreign national to hold all seven FAA Certified Flight Instructor designations—a feat he achieved in 1987 that cemented his reputation as a master of the cockpit. Under the leadership of Torres, Tower Air operated out of Maracaibo's La Chinita International Airport, providing essential charter services that kep...

In March 2006, the skies over the Americas witnessed a historic bridging of generations as Theodore Gildred Jr. completed the 75th-anniversary recreation of the "Spirit of Goodwill" flight.  Piloting a modern Pilatus PC-12 turboprop named "Ecuador III," Gildred Jr. touched down in Quito on March 31 at exactly 10:52 a.m.—precisely 75 years to the minute after his father,  Theodore Gildred Sr., first landed his Ryan B-5 Brougham in 1931. This mission was a true family legacy, as Gildred Jr. was accompanied by his sons, Ted III and Stephen, and even joined by Erik Lindbergh, the grandson of the legendary Charles Lindbergh.  The 4,200-mile journey from San Diego to Ecuador served not just as a commemorative act, but as a symbolic "passing of the baton" to a third generation committed to the Pan-American spirit. This milestone resonates deeply with those of us who have spent decades fostering the growth of the tropical produce trade between the Americas.  Much ...