MANAGEMENT

Mid Island Air Service, a full service Long Island FBO, has been a family owned and operated business since 1946. Started by Louis Mancuso, Sr., the family tradition continues through his children, Louis Jr.serving as president, Gail Mancuso Jensen as vice president, as well as grandson, Michael Mancuso, and partner, Vincent Basile overseeing the business.

Founder

Louis Mancuso, Sr. An Aviator’s Life.

Surely, folks might be forgiven if they think of Louis Mancuso, Sr. as deux ex machina (literally “god from a machine” -in the early 20th century, pilots were often thought of as “sky gods”).

In 1933, less than a decade after Charles Lindbergh took off from muddy Roosevelt Field, Lou followed suit taking his first airplane ride from that now famous Nassau County pasture. While Lindbergh flew on to Le Bourget changing the dimensions of the globe along the way, Lou soared towards Farmingdale, Deer Park, Islip and Brookhaven, forever changing our relationship to the Long Island landscape. Lou, like the modest Swede from Minnesota, was a pioneer – a young man with courage and a sure sense of adventure. His image is writ large on the soil of our island and, in this 60th anniversary issue of MID ISLAND NEWS, we celebrate his achievements.

Lou took his first flying lessons in 1934, earning money to fund his passion while working as a caddy and farmhand. Initially he was discouraged with his progress and told his instructor, Jack Looney, “I'll never be able to land that plane.” Thanks to a pep talk from Looney, Lou hopped back in the seat. In 1937 he made his first solo from Grumman’s grass strip airfield. Long Island aviation would never be the same again.

While working at Republic Aviation, Lou earned his CFI, bought a Piper J-3 and instructed on weekends. His routine however – as with most of America — was interrupted in 1941 by Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. The government ordered all civilian aircraft away from the coast and Lou left Republic to join the Navy. Slight of stature, Lou was unable to enlist and instead journeyed to Clewiston, Florida where he instructed in a program training Scottish and English cadets to fly PT-17’s and AT-6’s. Although a civilian, Lou wore an RAF uniform and was extremely proud of his association with the Brits. He observed that “the British really had their training down to a science” and was quite impressed by their patriotism and sense of mission. By 1942, Lou’s flying talents were recognized by the US Army and he was sworn into the Army Air Corps Enlisted Reserve — then immediately put on inactive status so he could continue training airmen for the RAF.

When the war ended, Lou toyed with the idea of opening an FBO in Florida. However most of his family was still in the Northeast. So along with his new bride, Connie Savino, they returned to their Long Island roots.

Lou was able to purchase another J-3 and for a time gave flight lessons at Zahn’s in Amityville as he waited for town approval to build Deer Park Airport. Once permission came, Lou again showed his pioneer ethos, clearing enough brush from the oak and pine lands of central Suffolk to make a useable runway. The maiden flight into Deer Park was on January 27, 1946. With two J-3’s and a surplus Army Fairchild, the Mid Island Flying School – and soon to be charter service — became a reality.

In the early 1950’s Lou met – and flew — horse/driver trainer Billy Haughton on frequent charters. A friendship developed and Lou purchased his first race horse at auction in 1954. While aviation still held first claim on Lou’s vocational affections, the equine paddock began to attract him.

In the following years Lou expanded operations at Deer Park and by 1964 signed a lease agreeing to open a branch at Brookhaven Airport. By the 1960’s hundreds of veterans, under the GI bill, had earned their wings at Mid Island. Lou gave most of the flight tests and the school grew to over 20 aircraft. By 1967 he had logged over 20,000 flight hours.

The worlds of aviation and horse racing continued to intersect for Lou. In the mid-60’s he traded a Cessna 337, twin engine Sky Master for a half interest in Rum Customer, a 2 year old standard bred pacer. It was a propitious move.

In 1968 Rum Customer won the Triple Crown. Lou took some of the earnings from Rum Customer’s success and invested in registered Black Angus cattle. It was a good move. In 1969 Lou purchased a 700 acre farm in Carysbrook, Virginia where he continued to raise Black Angus and added a training track to exercise race horses. Still, aviation was never far from Lou’s thoughts. The long end of the track was extended to a 2,000’ plus runway. Horses and cattle were still going to have to share Lou’s heart with an airplane.

Due to rising taxes at Deer Park, in 1974 Lou signed a lease with the town of Islip to relocate and establish an FBO at Long Island Macarthur Airport. ISP was almost exclusively a general aviation field back then and Mid Island’s operations expanded rapidly.

In 1993, Lou sold the Virginia farm and divided his time between New York and Florida. In recognition of how much aviation contributed to his wonderful life and family, Lou and Connie used the proceeds from the sale of the farm to establish a trust for Dowling College. The trust will generate scholarships for many years to come, so that future students will be able to advance their aviation careers.

In November 1997, surrounded by his wife Connie, their four children; Juanita, Louis, Jr., Gloria and Gail, three of their five grandchildren; Michael, Kari Anne and Susan, a host of good friends and family, Lou was honored by his peers; The Long Island Aviation Recognition Council. In saluting Lou, the Council made it clear, that few had influenced the tone and scope of Long Island aviation as much as he had. Beyond a doubt here was a giant, who forever changed the way people would understand their relationship between the dimensions of land and sky.

Lou Mancuso’s life is emblematic of all those virtues that we so cherish as Americans; hard work, love of family, generosity towards others. Mid Island Air Service’s commitment to customer service and desire to hold the leading edge in technological innovation, is a reflection of the man who built it. Aviation has always been the realm of those who can imagine, what most believe to be impossible. Flight gave Lou his dream. In what is obviously the measure of the man, he leaves a legacy that allows future generations of dreamers to look at the sky and say, “why not.” Trust me. I’m one.

Lou and Connie reside in Manorville and are visited often by their children, five grandchildren and
five great-grandchildren. Life is good!

Albin Cofone

Louis Mancuso, Jr.
President

Louis Jr. received a BS in Business Education from the University of Dayton in 1969.  He taught “Introduction to Business” to Long Island ninth graders for two years while teaching flying at Mid Island on weekends.  The call of the skies and the family business quickly took hold and Louis joined MIAS full time in 1971. Over the next few years he logged over 2000 hours as an FAA Certified Flight Instructor.  His concentration turned towards aircraft sales and in 1973 & 1974, Mid Island was the number one Piper dealer in the United States, selling over twenty new Pipers per year.

Lou has the philosophy that one must continually learn to grow and in 1992 earned his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Dowling College.  It was at that time that Lou formulated the MIAS mission statement… “We are steadily improving our processes and procedures in order to make our customers ecstatically happy while maintaining the dignity of our entire family of employees”.

In the early 90’s, the face of general aviation was becoming easier, however, it seemed that on occasion, pilots were still making poor decisions and getting in trouble.  Lou wished he could help with their decision making to make them safer pilots.  Following these thoughts and concerns, Lou authored the “Personal Limitations Checklist…Think like a Pro” booklet and questionnaire.  It is one of his proudest accomplishments to see his customers flying safely by adhering to their PLC.

Lou has grown the FBO by reinvesting in the business and increasing hangar capacity to over 140,000 sq ft.  The FBO’s hangars can accommodate aircraft up to the Gulfstream. 

Lou has been guiding the FBO for over 37 years and is still enthusiastic as he promotes the new Sport Flying aspect of Mid Island Flying School.  The only thing that excites him more than the new Sport Aircraft are his Piper Turbo Twin Seneca and his three grandchildren…but not in that order!

Gail Mancuso Jensen
Vice President

Gail began working during the summers for the family business after graduation from high school.  She experienced the thrill of her first solo flight in a Cessna 150 at Deer Park Airport in the summer of 1972.

Each summer, while attending Kutztown State College in Pennsylvania, she continued to work for Mid Island.  In 1976, she graduated with a B.S. in Art Education, certified to teach K-12.  In 1978 she had the opportunity to fill in for an art teacher on leave at Hauppauge High School and taught courses as diverse as fashion illustration and jewelry making.

After graduation, she began to work full time at Mid Island’s Brookhaven Airport location as the flight school dispatcher.  She earned her Private Pilot’s Certificate in February 1980 and in the Fall of that year, she attended a 200 hour, FAA Aircraft Dispatcher, training course and successfully completed this certificate.  From 1981 until 1987 she worked at LaGuardia Airport for New York Air, a regional airline, which operated DC9-30’s, MD-80’s and Boeing 737’s.  She began as a dispatcher and not long after, was promoted to Flight Control Manager, responsible for overseeing the operation of 35 aircraft and a staff of ten dispatchers. When Continental and NY Air merged, the dispatch office was relocated to Houston and Gail came back to the family business.  (But not before spending a month in the South Pacific)           

Michael Mancuso
Partner, Aerobatic Pilot

Michael started flying gliders when he was 11 years old. He soloed in an airplane
on his grandfather’s farm when he was only 13 years old! What else would you expect a 13 year old to do in an airplane up there all by himself than to teach himself aerobatics? By the time Michael was 18 years old, he had his commercial pilots license and was off to a successful aerobatic career. Michael retired from aerobatic competition in 1998 to join the Northern Lights Aerobatic Team. He stayed with the world famous, award winning team until their retirement in 2000.

2007 will be Michael's 10th year as a full time air show superstar! In addition to the solo show he is now so well known for, Michael has combined forces with Matt Chapman to create 2 ship formation aerobatic routine that is the stuff legends are made of! Michael is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild and is looking forward to a career as a major motion picture stunt pilot.

Visit his web site at www.mmairshows.com.

Vincent Basile
Director of Sales

Vince joined Mid Island back in the 70's while we still operated at Deer Park Airport. He is a CFI with a BS from Dowling College. His passion is aircraft sales and his expertise speaks for itself in the hundreds of aircraft, everything from singles to jet aircraft and helicopters, which he has sold. If you are looking to lease or purchase a plane, Vince will find the right plane for your needs and pilot experience.

Vinnie has been a Mid Island partner since 1993.

Robert Osinski
Chief Pilot

Growing up near New York City's Curtiss Field and Idlewild Airport in the 1940s and '50s would naturally influ ­ence anyone with a spark of interest in aviation. Bob Osinski was no exception. As a schoolboy biking to these air­ports to watch airplanes, he was certain he would one day command an airliner for a living. But, like George Bailey, Jimmy Stewart's character in It's a Wonderful Life, things kept getting in the way. He never did find his way to the airlines.

What he found instead was fulfillment in the heart of Long Island's general aviation community. Today, thousands of pilots there have come to know him in his roles as instructor and pilot examiner. And if the definition of mentor encompasses one who inspires and teaches others, then Bob is a rightful contender for the title of Long Island's preeminent general aviation mentor, too.

At age 16, Bob traded up from a bicycle to his first car, a 1955 Ford. Inspired by the airliners he saw at Idlewild, he used his new-found mobility to visit Zahn's Airport in nearby Amityville, where he signed up for flying lessons. He soloed in a PA-11 there in 1958, with the definite aim of flying for a living. To round out his credentials while building time, he went to Inglewood, California, a few years later and enrolled in the Northrop-Institute of Technology's Airframe and Powerplant School. He emerged with an A&P ticket in one hand and his new wife Marsha on the other. An opportunity to hire on with Pan American Airways as a sheet metal mechanic came up, and Bob took it, mindful of his new responsibilities as a family man. The couple headed east and settled on Long Island, where Bob began work at Idlewild (soon to be known as John F. Kennedy International) Airport. He later moved into Pan Am's jet engine overhaul division.

Mechanically minded, he enjoyed his work with the carrier, but he knew all along that his ultimate goal was to fly the airplanes he was working on. After several years with Pan Am, he left to work for Mid Island Air Service, a Long Island FBO based at Deer Park Airport. The company was in need of someone qualified as both flight instructor and mechanic. By now, Bob had added the CFI rating to his ticket, and to him the job seemed a more natural stepping stone to an airline cockpit. It was 1965, and the aviation world was ripe with opportunity. Little did he suspect he would spend the next four decades working for the same FBO. But as it turned out, he would have preferred it no other way.

The mid-1960s were boom years for general aviation, and Bob soon rose to the chief flight instructor position at the busy company. He managed a staff of 15 or so full-time instructors and found he really liked the job. With his reputation as both instructor and manager growing, he was selected by the FAA in 1968 to become a designated pilot examiner. At last count, he had more than 5,000 pilot examinations under his seat belt.

With 26,000 hours of general aviation flying experience (" it would be a lot easier to try and name the GA aircraft I haven't flown than the ones I did").

The fun part of my job is working with new and prospective student and pilot customers on a daily basis.  I also organize activities like trips, flying partners, safety seminars and courses, specials, as well as being the liaison to the Mid Island Pilot Club.  And of course there is the occasional opportunity to fly.

I started at Mid Island in 2002 and love the people, the atmosphere, and just being in-and-around aviation.  Prior to that I was Technical Support Manager with AXA-Equitable in NYC [formally Equitable Life Insurance Assurance Co.] for over 30 years supporting the different application environments, which included programming, design, development, disaster recovery, and application/computer support.  I received a BA from Adelphi and an MBA from Fordham and somewhere in those early years my interest peaked in flying and I considered Navy Flight School after college, but "life took me in other directions".  Finally in 1985 I buckled down and got my private and bought a Piper Warrior.  For 10 years I flew all over the east coast as far south as Key West.  Unfortunately I never went for my instrument rating, but did accumulated over 700 hours of flying time.  However, the IFR is definitely in the cards for the near future.  I am checked out in the Cessna 152 172 and RG, as well as the Piper Warrior, Archer, and our newest Evektor LSA.

I have lived on Long Island since college and in addition to my flying enjoyment, I also like traveling, swimming, biking, golf, and hiking the woods of VT.  If anyone needs a seasonal TONIC, come see me as our trips and specials and remote courtesy car are all designed to help our Mid Island customers that might be getting Tired Of Navigating In Circles.

Gary P Spence
HWV Assistant Chief Pilot

Gary was introduced to aviation in 1962 when he was 11 years old.  He won a kite-flying contest at school and the pay off was an airplane ride in a Cessna 150, his first lesson.  He took a short break from training, (approximately 30 years) military, family; career and resumed his training in 1992 at our Mid Island Brookhaven location. 

Through Mid Island, Gary earned his Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multiengine & Instrument Flight Instructor.  In 1998 Gary started instructing part time at our Brookhaven location and is currently working on his ATP, (Air Transport Pilot).  Near the end of 2006, Gary retired after a 34-year career in the financial services community and is now working full time as Assistant Chief Pilot providing standardization training and progress checks.

When not instructing, Gary attends SUNY Empire State College and is in the process of completing his degree program.  Gary is happily married to Linda, his wife of 35 years.  Gary has 3 children and 4 beautiful grandchildren.  In his spare time, Gary enjoys his family, friends and playing the piano.

Jim Orehosky
ISP Flight Operations Manager

Jim’s first memory of wanting to fly was in the 7th grade. He was interested in hang gliding. Since LI is not known for hang gliding, he had to wait a few years to fly. In 1986 he took his first flight lesson in a Cessna 152 at Mid Island. He flew on and off while attending Suffolk County Community College where in 1987 he finished with an associates degree in Criminal Justice. Soon after, he transferred to Dowling College where he majored in Aeronautics and Management. In 2001, while in his mid 30’s, his love of aviation motivated him to change careers and he began working full time at Mid Island. While still working part time in the printing field, he started working as a dispatcher for our Islip branch as well as dispatching for a year at our Brookhaven branch on weekends.  In 2003 he was promoted to Flight Operations Manager. Jim proudly holds a Private Pilot certificate which he earned here at Mid Island.  He lives in Port Jefferson Station with his wife Kathy and children James and Kayla.  In his free time he likes reading, following the Yankees and spending time with his family.

John Coluccio

Director of Maintenance

Our Director of Maintenance graduated at the top of his class from L.A. Wilson Tech School.  John Coluccio is a Certified A & P mechanic with an Inspector Authorization.  In his twenty plus years in aviation maintenance,, he has received factory training from Cessna Aircraft on their Single Engine and Multi-Engine Piston aircraft as well as the Conquest and Caravan turboprop aircraft.  He has also received factory training from Piper Aircraft on the Malibu, and from Gulfstream on the GII series.  He has also received training from US Air on their 737 series, DHC-8, Beech 1900 and Jetstream Aircraft.  American Airlines has trained him on their MD-80 and F-100’s.  John also has experience working on Mooney, Grumman, Beechcraft singles, multis and King Airs.

The FAA has given John numerous award certificates and letters of appreciation for the many times that he has helped in accident recoveries and investigations. 

John lives in Sayville with his wife, Deborah and sons, Dario and Jayson.  John and Deborah are certified foster parents for Suffolk County.

For those aircraft owners and aviation enthusiasts whom have met and had dealings with John, know he puts 110% into giving his customers the best service possible and will always go out of his way to meet their needs.

John Ogozalek
ISP Assistant Chief Pilot

John started his flight training in 1958 at the early age of 15 on a grass strip in Pennsylvania. He obtained his flight instructor rating in1986. During the years 1965-1972 he was an avionics engineer at Grumman Aerospace.
John then entered the insurance field becoming a broker in 1972, where he remained until his retirement in 2000. During these years John was an avid pilot and was part owner of a Seneca for 14 years.
After his retirement in 2000, he joined Mid Island Air Service as a part time instructor and assistant chief pilot, where he remains today.

John has been married to his wife for 41 years and has 3 grown children and 4 grandsons. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family and golfing and skiing.

Eddie Sheffield
Line Operations Manager

Eddie was born in northwest Arkansas where he lived with his family until he was twelve.  At that time his entire family relocated to the Southern California desert where his love of aviation was born.  Watching C-141s and C5s flying low on training missions over the desert was what prompted him to enlist in the U.S. Air Force.  Eddie served his first tour at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota before being stationed at Aviano Air Base in Italy. 

After his military service drew to a close Eddie started his road to a career in civilian aviation by working part time for TWA, while attending the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.  The constant pull to the air landed him a job as a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines where he was soon promoted to Purser and transferred to New York.  While plying the skies between JFK and Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Amsterdam he began to plant roots in New York, calling it home.  His desire for a less transient lifestyle prompted his search for a land based position.  This search led him to his present position as Line Operations Manager at Mid Island where he has obtained his Private Pilot Certificate.

Chris Dahlem

HWV Line Manager

Chris was introduced to airplanes at the age of twelve when his parents brought him to the airport for an introductory flight; from that moment on he was hooked on aviation.Years later after high school Chris had joined the U.S. Navy where he was a jet engine mechanic on the A-7E Corsair II but not before he spent 17 months as a plane captain on the same aircraft and was a host plane captain for the F-14 Tomcat.

After Chris left the navy he worked full time for Pan Am at JFK airport painting aircraft parts and working in the jet shop when they were short handed.

When Pan Am closed its doors in 1991 Chris opted to drive tractor trailers for a while. Still the aviation bug was always in his mind. Chris then went back into aviation which led him to MacArthur airport and Mid Island Air Service in august 1997 where he was a lineman at first then after 3 months became supervisor and equipment/facility mechanic for the next 8 years.

In January 2006 Chris was promoted to line manager at our Brookhaven facility where he is constantly improving our facility to give our customers better service.