Michael Carnarvon’s Carnival of Aviation Careers – Culminating at the Michigan Office of Aeronautics

If anybody could assess -- say from an overview of 10,000 feet -- the impact of aviation on the vitality of the state of Michigan, it would be Michael Carnarvon. 

That's because the 2015 alumnus of the Western Michigan University College of Aviation is currently the supervisor of the facility-inspection and licensing unit of the Michigan Department of Transportation's Office of Aeronautics.  And he brought to that position some dynamic perspectives gained working for Northern Jet Management in Grand Rapids, the Westchester County Airport 30 miles north of New York City, and the Wayne County Airport Authority that operates the Detroit Metropolitan and Willow Run airports. 

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Carnarvon was almost destined to be a Bronco in his higher-education pursuit even before learning about Western's renowned aviation program because the university runs deep in his family.  "My father pursued a degree in business at Western," he says, "while several uncles and cousins on both sides attended as well." 

While none of his kin had a background in aviation, the world in, around and above airports had always piqued his interest.  It was during his student days at Riverview High School, located 15 miles south of Detroit in his home Wayne County community of 13,000 folks, when he stumbled upon the College of Aviation's web page while researching what Western had to offer.  Such a deal -- following in his family's footsteps while in pursuit of a career he really wanted. 
 
So Carnarvon headed west to the Kalamazoo campus after his 2011 graduation from Riverview High where, as a Western freshman, he majored in aviation flight science and earned his private-pilot license, and then switching to the college's program in aviation management and operations.  On his way to his degree in 2015, he particularly enjoyed the course in aviation safety taught by Lisa Whittaker. 
 
"That's where I garnered a mindset centered on safety-risk management," he says.  "It taught me that anything, no matter how big or small, can be worth discussing as a potential hazard or as a link that can lead to dangerous situations.  I didn't realize how relevant that knowledge would be to my job responsibilities in the following years." 
 
Carnarvon was among the pioneer members of Western's chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives and he has witnessed how that unit has grown since then.  He believes the organization was pivotal in helping him secure future positions, and he says its certification programs build on the knowledge gained during classroom and on-the-job experiences. 
 

A Northern Jet internship at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport led to full-time employment as an aircraft-parts manager in the maintenance department.  Admitting to not being a "natural gearhead," Carnarvon said being immersed in that kind of environment and observing aircraft mechanics at their tasks schooled him well in this aspect of the aviation industry.  And more enlightenment was to come. 
 
"Watching an airfield snow-removal operation," he recalls, "I realized a new passion was unfolding.  There's so much more than meets the eye when it comes to the world of airport management, and I wanted to absorb as much of it as I could." 
 
His next "adventure" in this line of work took him to New York as an airport-operations coordinator, and then supervisor.  The White Plains airport is home to seven airlines, five fixed-base operators, four flight schools, corporate-aviation tenants, and several charter services, one of which took members of the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers to their next basketball and hockey games in 757s. 
 
Because this was a "primary small-hub airport," Carnarvon had his hands in a variety of activities -- being something of a "generalist" as opposed to a "specialist.”  In addition to airport inspections and Federal Aviation Administration compliances, he got up close and personal with rescue procedures, firefighting, snow removal, and the weather-reporting systems that are mandatory for all kinds of aviation traffic. 

"We had to be ready to respond to a large mix of air traffic," he says, "from Cessna trainers to the big boys. I trained in rescue firefighting at JFK and the Boston Logan airports.  That provided an extremely realistic scenario of being in a deadly environment.  Then there was the 60,000-pound OshKosh Striker (a specialized rescue and fire-fighting vehicle).  Training in that was very humbling." 
 
To him, airfield snow removal was the job's "biggest challenge" because it involved keeping the main runway in a safe, operating condition 24 hours a day, seven days a week to accommodate all traffic.  "Working night and day operating OshKosh plows, sweepers and blowers was extremely taxing," he says, "but an incredibly rewarding experience." 
 
Throw in what he had to know about weather reporting and Automated Surface Observing Systems, and the result is what he liked best about his New York stint -- variety.  "No day was ever the same," he says.  "Knowing that our direct action -- or lack thereof -- carried the potential for major safety and economic consequences provided the motivation to push ourselves for a higher cause.  It was eye-opening to realize the impact one small-hub airport could have on both a domestic and international scale." 

Carnarvon was thus ready for the next chapter of his career -- back in his home state at the international airport 10 miles from where he grew up along the Detroit River, and where those boyhood memories of travel planted an aviation-career seed in his persona.  First task was to know the airfield layout "like the back of my hand." 
 
The mind-boggling task? Being part of the 2019 reconstruction of a major runway -- replacing more than 1.7 million square feet of pavement in the heart of one of the busiest airports in the country with a minimal impact on daily operations.  "That was a testament to the expertise and professionalism of all involved," he says. 
 
His role was overseeing the daily movement of hundreds of large and small pieces of construction equipment across an active airfield.  A slow-moving dump truck making contact with an airliner was a no-no.  "Delays in these movements," he says, "meant delays in the project, but the safety of the aircraft and the vehicle operators trumped everything." 
 
Once that was on Carnarvon's resume, along came another opportunity -- this one put him on the state's payroll.  Under his purview are more than 215 Michigan airports, 100-plus heliports, and in excess of 50 flight schools.  "It is our unit's responsibility to ensure that inspections are carried out and that each facility is in compliance with the Michigan Aeronautics Code and federal regulations," he says.  "With airports in particular, it is a fantastic opportunity to confirm an old industry saying -- When you've seen one airport, you've seen one airport." 
 
His inspection teams look at pavement, safety issues, markings, signs, lighting, navigation aids, airport emergency plans, and certifying that what was funded by federal and state assistance is accomplished.  His office can also be a partner in those facilities receiving that financial assistance, as well as being part of design-and-planning phases of an airport's operation. 

There is also an "Emerging Aviation" function "centered on facilitating the regulation and use of UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) technology and newer aircraft concepts such as VTOL (Vertical and Take-off Landing) aircraft in the aviation system," he says.  "Stay tuned because a lot of exciting things are in store for the future." 
 
All of this is the best part of his state job, he says -- "the opportunity to travel to every corner of Michigan to see the impact of the aviation system.  It's a humbling experience to work with local municipalities and airport managers, and to see firsthand the care that goes into their community's airport.  It's also refreshing to work with a team of highly experienced individuals who really care.  My personal goal is to be a leader in the always-changing aviation environment and inspire others." 
 
One of his very special journeys was to a spot where relatively few go -- the remote North Fox Island and the rectangular airstrip carved into it.  The uninhabited chunk of land is near the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula 10 miles south of Beaver Island.  "The island airport is impeccably maintained by volunteers with the Recreational Aviation Foundation and is inspected every three years by our team.  It's likely the most isolated place you can travel to in Michigan." 
 
Reflecting on his days as a Bronco, there are fond memories -- WMU football and hockey games, plus interacting with like-minded people in and out of the classroom.  A jamming and open-mic guitarist for 15 years, he spent many an evening in downtown-Kalamazoo establishments during his junior and senior years.  "It was great to bring your instrument to a local bar and find other musicians to improvise with. Kalamazoo has a big local-music scene and I always looked forward to being a part of that." 
 
As Carnarvon spans the state in his duties, he says he often finds himself in conversation with folks who have Western ties.  "There seem to be Broncos everywhere you look.  I want to get involved in future activities and increase awareness about career pathways in aviation above and beyond piloting.  There are so many interesting jobs and support systems that are part of our aviation infrastructure." 

Carnarvon himself has returned to his roots.  He started flying again in 2019 after he purchased part ownership in a Piper PA-28 Cherokee that is based in Ann Arbor.  His credentials now include an instrument rating and a commercial pilot's certificate.  Next is a multi-engine rating and to qualify as a flight instructor.  He has a personal link to the Cherokee too. In his own version of "Fly Me to the Moon," he proposed to wife Fernanda some 5,000 feet above terra firma. 
 
Because of retirements in his industry, Carnarvon has some concerns about the loss of some of aviation's legacy.  While new faces and perspectives are welcome, the other side of that coin is that decades of some historical context might go missing and that gaining access to past wisdom could be more difficult.  "It might take months -- even years -- to get up to speed," he says.  "Therefore adaptability, resourcefulness and initiative are important traits.  This being said, it makes the journey all the more rewarding." 
 
And one final piece of advice.  "Don't be afraid to take a leap of faith in order to get experience in the career pathway you want to follow," he says.  "Even if that means jumping to different states and being completely out of your comfort zone.  It might be the best decision of your life." 
 
Michael Carnarvon is symbolic of that.