Adam Magee
DPE, President of The Balloon Training Academy, NAFI Treasurer
Adam Magee is a considered by the FAA as a leading safety advocate. A Certified Public Accountant working as a Finance Director in his day job, Adam brings the same level of attention to detail, critical thinking, problem solving, and analytical skills to his aviation passion. Adam has been flying for 19 years, he is a Commercial hot air balloon pilot/Flight Instructor, NAFI Elite Balloon Instructor, Designated Pilot Examiner, and active FAA Safety Team Lead Representative. He serves NAFI as a member of the Board of Directors, Treasurer, and Chair of the Finance Committee.
Adam is co-founder and President of The Balloon Training Academy, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to training new balloon pilots and providing safety and educational resources to balloon pilots and instructors. He has provided continuing education to thousands of pilots and helped train hundreds towards their pilot certification. Adam is passionate about collaboration with the FAA and has assisted the FAA on many projects including being a frequent writer in the FAA Safety Briefing Magazine, leading FAA Safety Team Representative training, airman counseling, editor/contributor/commenter to handbooks, policies, ACs, and testing standards.
In 2021, Adam was recognized by the FAA as the National FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year. In 2019 Adam received the District and Central Region FAA Flight Instructor of the Year awards.
Adam received his bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting from the University of Missouri. While attending the University of Missouri, Adam was an economics tutor for the athletic department helping high profile student athletes maintain their eligibility. From those interactions, he improved his own flight instruction techniques. His presentation at Summit will focus on those techniques learned from an eventual Super Bowl Champion and how application of those techniques improves instruction and aviation safety.
