PAI
Team
Kelly Akhund, Aviation Analyst
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Bachelor of Science, Professional Pilot, 2007
Minor, Art
Certifications and Ratings
Commercial Pilot—Airplane, single- and multi-engine land; Instrument–Airplane
Type Ratings—CL–65 (Canadair Regional Jet) SIC
Flight Instructor Certificate—Airplane, single- and multi-engine land; Instrument–Airplane
Ms. Akhund has more than 7 years of experience within aviation. She continued her education with an internship at Banyan Air Service, an executive FBO (fixed base operator), while finishing her commercial ratings at Delta Connection Academy, followed by gaining her flight instructor certificate at Airline Transport Professionals.
Ms. Akhund also held several aviation related jobs while completing her education. She worked at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport with Mesaba Airlines holding several different positions: catering agent, ramp personnel, baggage handler, and gate agent. This job, combined with her aviation college courses, gave her an introduction to 14 CFR Part 121 requirements.
Ms. Akhund gained general aviation knowledge while working at Banyan Air Service as a customer service representative. This occupation gave her the skill of multi-tasking while working with the public on 14 CFR Part 91 and Part 135. During Ms. Akhund’s flight training in the state of Florida, in multiple airspace and airports, she was able to gain experiences she would not have received if she had accomplished her training elsewhere. In addition, Ms. Akhund became a flight instructor at Airline Transport Professionals, where she trained a large number of students for many different ratings enabling her to widely expand her bank of knowledge to accommodate every student from private pilot through airline transport pilot (ATP) rating.
In 2008, Ms. Akhund was hired as a first officer on the CRJ–200 (Canadair Regional Jet) at
Air Wisconsin Airlines where she flew the CRJ, an aircraft equipped with electronic information systems (EFIS), a flight management system (FMS), terrain collision avoidance system (TCAS), and altitude and heading reference system (AHRS). She was based at New York’s LaGuardia airport (LGA), operated in and out of the Ronald Reagan Washington National airport (DCA), and several international Canadian airports, which all required additional training. Also in 2008, Ms. Akhund accepted a position with Mesaba Airlines as a CRJ–900 first officer where she obtained experience in a NextGen aircraft that included full authority digital engine control (FADEC) and inertial reference systems (IRS).
As an Aviation Analyst at PAI, Ms. Akhund uses her industry experience to assist as a
subject matter expert on aviation studies and special projects, help other aviation analysts with their work, and provide support for a number of PAI clients.