David Silkey
VP of Flight Crews
What I do at Silver Air Private Jets
Dave, VP of Flight Crews at Silver Air, plays a vital role in supporting the operations department in a manner similar to that of a Chief Pilot. He is deeply involved in every aspect of pilot-related activities, from scouting top talent to training and beyond. He's the ace up our sleeve when it comes to ensuring our pilots have the tools, training and support necessary to execute their missions with precision. Guided by an unwavering commitment to safety Dave helps our organization identify risks while implementing thoughtful risk control measures in a collaborative manner. Dave sees himself primarily as the “pilot’s advocate.”
Why Silver Air Private Jets
Dave learned early on in his Navy career that Culture drives good organizations to become great. The best squadrons had the best cultures. Their planes always looked better than the others on the flightline. Their Mission success rates always outpaced their competitors. Their people were proud to be a part of that team. This commitment to Culture permeated every aspect of the squadron – Operations, Safety, Admin, and Maintenance. Since leaving the Navy, Dave has hungered to duplicate that commitment to “Culture”. Silver Air represents the “best in class” culture Dave enjoyed in the Navy – a Team of dedicated professionals seeking be better today than we were yesterday.
Who am I?
I am who I want to be remembered as – “a Husband, Father and Grandfather” This legacy far surpasses anything I can do professionally. I am also exceedingly grateful that the Navy would give a surf bum like me the opportunity to fly frontline fighters in the United States Navy for 26.5 years…
Advice for prospective candidates
Dave firmly believes in the critical importance of Integrity and Trust – Integrity builds Trust and Trust is the most critical component to high-functioning teams. He encourages individuals to step out of their comfort zones, take calculated risks, and continuously push their boundaries to improve. At Silver Air, no task is too big or too small. He emphasizes the importance of teamwork in every aspect of his professional life. He is “Glad to be here!”