2006
2021
Our Story - A Rich History of Service and Expertise
The Nomadic Aviation Group - Established 2021 - is a new brand-identity established by the core-team that once comprised industry standard-bearers: JETTEST & Avia Crew Leasing. Unlike other providers, our management team is also our operations team; regularly at work in the field, in the air, on-and-between 6 continents, 24-hours a day, 365-days per year. With limited overhead and complete operational portability, we are NOMADS.
Bob Allen and Steve Giordano are well known within the industry as transactional aircraft movement gurus; and have been trusted by lessors and air carriers around the world for years with the most complex and challenging projects imaginable. Each with decades of domestic and international Part 121 air carrier line-flying experience on multiple aircraft types, Allen and Giordano began delivering aircraft in the early 2000's as Avia Crew Leasing. From 2015-2021 Allen and Giordano were Managing Partners at Jet Test International LTD (JETTEST) before dissolving the business in favor of Nomadic.
Chris Heber now rounds out the US Management team, bringing over 20 years of military flight-ops and test-flight experience, after having served JETTEST as a contract DFO. Chris Fochuk remains at the helm of planning and flight support as the SOC Director with Nomadic. Ed Fanning remains on board as the Chief of Technical, and Mark Lawrence as Lead Dispatcher.
Nomadic Aviation Group Management Team
Robert Allen
Managing Partner
Originally hailing from Lexington Kentucky, Bob Allen has been flying professionally since the late 1980s. Prior to forming Avia Crew Leasing in 1999, Allen flew for various airlines including Eastern Airlines, Great American, Legend, Far East Air Transport, and Eva Air. Allen was the first of the Managing Partners to break from the Airlines, and was an innovator in the 3rd party flight ops Test and Ferry world. For over 20 years, Allen has commanded thousands of worldwide test and delivery flights on nearly every transport category aircraft flying. Allen has over 20,000 flight hours with command ratings on the B727, B737, B757, B767, B777, B787, A320, A330, A340, and DC-9. Allen is also a co-founder and volunteer with the Humanitarian Lift Project where he has committed his time, resources, and skills in sourcing and distributing aid to people in need. Outside of flying, Allen is an avid adventurer, athlete, and practices Krav Maga at a high level.
Steven Giordano
Managing Partner
With over 25 years of Aviation experience, Steve spent the majority of that time directly involved in flight operations, management, and business strategy. Prior to Nomadic, Giordano co-founded Jet Test and Transport and worked for several Part 121 and 135 Airlines including: (10 years) at Allegiant Air, preceded by Mesa Airlines, Shuttle America, & Cape Air. Giordano is entrepreneurial by nature and leads Nomadic's strategic planning and commercial side in addition to his general management and flying duties. Giordano also has a great deal of experience in Aircraft Trading and Leasing, as well as a good working knowledge of maintenance and MRO operations. Giordano has over 20,000 hours of flight time and holds ATP/ATPL certificates with command ratings on the B737, B757, B767, B777, B787, A320, A330, A340, DC-9, DHC-8, and CE550. Giordano attended Arizona State University and ERAU, and also served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Giordano is involved in the community where he founded the Humanitarian Lift Project, an Aviation-oriented 501C3 relief organization, and also runs Nomadic's collegiate internship program. Along with all of his business activities, Steve produces unique aviation and travel-related videos including the "Cockpit Casual" series under the brand "SpeedtapeFilms" which can be found on YouTube. Giordano resides in the Suburbs of Philadelphia with his Wife, Avery and 4 sons. Giordano is also heavily involved in general aviation as the proud owner of an Aerostar 600 which he also uses to conduct "Pilots and Paws" shelter-animal rescue missions in his spare time.
Chris Fochuk
Director of S.O.C. / Planning
Chris Fochuk is an Aviation Professional with over 30 years of experience in flight operations support and services, including flight planning, aircraft performance, permits, weather, contract fuel, ground handling and management. Chris consistently demonstrates strong customer service and support skills and has developed excellent relationships all over the world with customers, agents, and vendors. Chris has achieved many years of success with well established aviation companies such as World Fuel Services Corporation, Colt International LLC, and Skyplan Services Ltd.
Starting at Skyplan (Calgary), Chris spent the first couple years of his Aviation career learning the various forms of Flight Operations Support (airline, private, corporate, ferry) which also lead to living a year in Moscow, Russia as well as Toronto, Canada as Flight Operations Manager. After 10 years at Skyplan, it was on to Colt International where Chris spent the next 15 years, first as Manager, Flight Operations of the Canada office (Calgary) and then as Vice President of the Canada office which included sales and customer service responsibilities. Chris then spent the next 3 years with World Fuel Services Corporation as Vice President of Sales (flight ops support and contract fuel).
Chris currently resides in Calgary, Canada with his wife and son.
Chris Heber
Vice President - Flight Operations
Chris Heber retired from the US Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2018 after 20 years of service. In the USAF, Heber served as an Operational Test Instructor Pilot on the F-16, as well as a Developmental Test, Operational Instructor Pilot, and Operational Fighter Pilot all on the F-16. He also served as an Inspector General and Chief of Training in Korea. Heber holds a BS in History from the University of Texas Arlington, a Master of Science in International Relations from Troy University, and a Master of Arts in Political Science from Yonsei University in Seoul Korea. Heber was an Air Force Olmsted Scholar, holds a Top-Secret security clearance, and is fluent in Korean.
Heber also heads up the Aircraft Operational Test component of Nomadic, and is adding command type ratings on a variety of civil aircraft platforms. He currently holds an FAA ATP with a PIC rating on the B737, B757, B767, A320, and DHC-8.
Brianna Dittman
Flight Operations Administrator
Brianna joined the Nomadic team in 2022. In 2020 she received her Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Administration from Polk State College and received her master’s in Aviation Safety and Space Operations from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2022. Brianna has worked within the aviation industry since she was 19 years old and has a variety of experience working line service and customer service in FBO’s, flight coordination within Part 91 and Part 135 helicopter operations, and parts administration and logs and records within Part 145 helicopter maintenance.
When Brianna is not working for Nomadic, she is the Administrative Assistant for Jax Navy Flying Club located on Naval Air Station Jacksonville. She also volunteers as the President of Women in Aviation Jacksonville, Florida Chapter, and volunteers for her local Civil Air Patrol squadron as Assistant Aerospace Education Officer and Assistant Safety Officer.
Wes Gardner
Vice President - Commercial
Wes serves a multifaceted role at Nomadic working as the Asia-Pacific Region Commercial Director, as an Operations Manager, and as a pilot. Gardner's background is in Part 121 Airline Management where he served as the VP Flight Operations for Mega Maldives. As a pilot he is type rated as Pilot-in-Command on the B-737, B-757, and B-767 and also holds a US and Canadian ATP with a Multiengine Sea rating. Wes resides in Bangkok Thailand and manages most of the commercial, operations, and planning for trips originating out of Nomadic's Asia-office.