Management
Behind Every Seamless Flight: Inside Pentastar Aviation’s Operations Control Center
Sep 28, 2026
An exceptional flight experience should feel effortless for passengers. Behind the scenes, however, every successful trip is supported by a team monitoring weather, coordinating logistics, anticipating potential challenges and keeping every detail moving in the right direction.
At Pentastar Aviation, much of that work happens within the Operations Control Center (OCC), where flight operations team members work together to support aircraft and clients before, during and after every trip.
We sat down with members of Pentastar’s flight operations team to learn more about the people behind the OCC, how they work together and what it takes to make complex operations feel seamless for clients.
What role does the Operations Control Center play in a Pentastar flight?
Lisa Hibbard, Flight Operations Systems Administrator: There are so many steps that happen before a trip is actually launched, including safety and security risk assessments, pilot flight and duty time review, route planning, fuel planning, ground transportation, catering and so much more. The OCC brings those different pieces together, so our team has the information and resources needed to support each flight.
Our flight-following team is also monitoring operations 24/7. They are watching weather, FAA traffic patterns and airport conditions that could affect a trip. Trip coordinators are more closely focused on their individual clients while flight followers are looking across the broader operation. Everyone is looking at a different piece of the same picture.
What does that behind-the-scenes coordination mean for the client?
Jake Hartman, Trip Coordinator: In aviation, the experience really needs to be seamless for the client. There is a lot of communication happening behind the scenes around safety, crews, duty days, rest, weather and logistics. By the time the passenger boards the aircraft, the goal is for the experience to feel completely effortless.
Annie Williams, Trip Coordinator: I think of my role almost like a lawn mower going out ahead of the trip. I am looking forward and trying to smooth out anything that could potentially get in the way. I am talking with pilots, maintenance, clients and the flight-following team, while coordinating details like catering and ground transportation. A big part of the job is anticipating what could happen before it becomes an issue.
How does the OCC help Pentastar take a proactive approach to safety?
Ashkahn Rahnavardan, Flight Follower: Communication is extremely important in aviation because it creates awareness. As flight followers, we track scheduled aircraft and monitor weather, air traffic delays, NOTAMs and airport information. We use multiple resources and references to confirm the information we are seeing because the safety of the aircraft and the client always comes first.
Dan Wojtonek, Trip Coordinator: When I come in early in the morning, one of the first resources I look at gives us an overview of what is happening throughout the National Airspace System. We can see weather, air traffic control delays and other potential concerns.
That information can help us identify a challenge before it affects a client. If someone is traveling to New York for an important meeting, for example, and we see a significant delay developing, the
team can start looking at other options. We work together to find the best path forward and make the flight as seamless as possible.
Every morning begins with a stand-up call. What happens during that meeting?
Lisa: Every morning at 9 a.m., we meet and discuss trips across the upcoming seven days. We review the schedule, weather, ground transportation and other details that could affect an upcoming trip. It gives everyone a broader view of the operation and allows us to prepare together.
Flight Operations team participating in daily stand-up meeting.
Annie: The stand-up is incredibly valuable because everyone walks through their trips together. I can share where my aircraft are headed, what I am seeing and then ask the group if anyone has been there recently or knows something I should be aware of.
Someone may have just had an aircraft at the same airport and heard about upcoming runway work, an event in the area or another consideration that has not reached everyone yet. That information might never come up if we were all working separately. Having that shared conversation is priceless.
How does having the team together in the OCC improve that collaboration?
Ashkahn: Having everyone together makes it much easier to communicate. Each person brings a different perspective, and everyone is interacting throughout the day. That communication helps us maintain awareness across the operation and support one another when something changes.
Nick Long, Trip Coordinator: It is nice to have your coworkers right there with you. If you have a question, you can ask someone immediately. You know the people around you are working toward the same goal and there is a real sense of camaraderie.
Lisa: The renovated OCC has also given us a major technical upgrade. We have the ability to view information across multiple screens at once and a dedicated environment where the team can collaborate. There is a lot of information to consider throughout the day, so having the technology and the space to see it together is a major benefit.
How important is experience when every flight can present a different challenge?
Dan: Every person on the team brings different experiences. Someone may have handled a destination or situation that another person has not encountered recently. Nobody is afraid to go to a coworker and say, “I haven’t been there in a while. Can you give me a hand?” We all learn from each other.
I have been with Pentastar for 27 years and you never stop learning. The aircraft, destinations and technology continue to evolve. Having that collective knowledge in the office helps all of us better serve our clients.
Lisa: Aviation is a constant learning career. Ten years into it, I am still learning something new every day. We complete recurrent and annual training, and many members of the team have completed dispatch training and certification. Every experience also gives us knowledge we can apply the next time we encounter a similar situation.
What is most rewarding about working behind the scenes?
Nick: There is a lot that happens that most people never know about. When all of that work comes together, the client is happy and they get where they need to go when they need to be there, there is a real sense of pride in knowing you were part of making that happen.
Lisa: Seeing a mission go successfully is one of the most rewarding parts of the job. It might be an everyday trip, a business trip, an anniversary or something special for the client. At the end of the day, seeing that successful outcome is what makes us proud.
Annie: We take every trip and every detail seriously, but we also genuinely enjoy working together. There is so much experience across the team and people are always willing to help. Even though I am based in Grand Rapids, I talk with the OCC team throughout the day so often that it can feel like we are sitting right next to each other.
What ultimately defines the OCC approach at Pentastar?
Jake: Everybody strives to be excellent in their individual role and that helps the entire organization succeed. Even on the tough days, we get through them together.
Dan: We all look out for each other. The coordinators, flight followers, crews and teams across Pentastar are working together to make each flight happen. When it all comes together, the client simply knows they had a successful trip. That is what we are working toward.
At Pentastar, a smooth flight begins long before an aircraft leaves the ground. Through constant communication, proactive planning and a shared commitment to safety and service, the Operations Control Center helps turn hundreds of behind-the-scenes details into one exceptional experience for every client.
Experience the difference of having a dedicated team behind every flight. Learn more about Pentastar Aviation’s aircraft management services and how we help make every journey safe and tailored to you.
