At Sweet Aviation, flying is more than a hobby or even a career — it’s a lifestyle propelled by passion. Our dedicated team is committed to cultivating that passion in each customer, whether new to the skies or a lifelong aircraft enthusiast.
You may recognize Chuck Surack as the Founder of Sweetwater Sound, as the owner of luxury car dealership SweetCars, or as a community leader, serving on the boards of many local non-profit organizations.
What you might not know is that Chuck is a helicopter pilot and aircraft enthusiast. Inspired by his aviator father, Chuck has loved flying since childhood, even keeping his Boy Scouts Aviation merit badge to this day. His first flying experiences were in his dad’s Aeronca Chief based right here at Smith Field. Chuck would go on to own many other airplanes and helicopters, such as the Cessna 414, Cessna Citations, and the Eurocopter EC130, just to name a few. He loves flying and can often be found at the helm of a helicopter. He and his wife, Lisa, have two sons and a daughter.
Tim started his journey in aviation over 36 years ago with an impressive array of flight experience ranging from service in the military to corporate flights. He also has thousands of hours of international, mountain, and overwater flights in helicopters and airplanes.
Tim graduated with a bachelors’s degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is a graduate of the FAA ATC Academy.
With well over 20 years of flight experience, Joel’s passion for flight knows no bounds. In 2002 Joel earned his private pilot certificate, later attending the International Air Land Emergency Resource Team (ALERT) Academy where he obtained his instrument rating along with his commercial and flight instructor certificates.
At over 5,000 hours of flight instruction, Joel now leads the staff at Sweet Aviation and passionately assists the aviation enthusiasts of Fort Wayne with reaching their dreams of flight. He is type rated in Sweet Aviation’s Cirrus Vision Jet, certified to fly client’s T-28, as well as highly skilled in aerobatic maneuvers in the Super Decathlon.
Originally from Cloverdale, Indiana, Michael graduated from Manchester University, later working in Indianapolis in international logistics.
That all changed for Michael after a helicopter tour around the San Francisco Bay Area. After that, he felt destiny pull him in the direction of aviation which led him to training at Sweet Aviation. He has since obtained his fixed-wing private pilot certificate and helicopter CFI rating.
When Michael has his feet on the ground, he operates a non-profit sports foundation as well as several other community focused ventures in Fort Wayne.
Alan Callicoat flies the Citation Encore for Sweet Aviation charter customers, but he has experience flying many different types of planes. Alan spent eight years as a United States Marine Corps pilot, flying in the A-4, F-4, and FA-18. He then joined the Air Force at Grissom, where he flew the KC-135 for two years. Most recently, Alan flew the B-727, DC-10, and MD-11 both domestically and internationally for FedEx. He retired after a 26-year career in the field, now choosing to fly passengers, not just cargo, with Sweet Aviation at Goshen Municipal Airport.
Cathy Taylor knows how to book travel from airlines, cruise lines, hotels, rental cars, and more, but it was her love for the aviation side of things that won her over. After a 13-year career with United Airlines, the company shut down its satellite offices, forcing her to make a choice. Did she move back to the big city or put down roots with her growing family in northern Indiana? She chose the latter, which opened up to her the world of Part 135 charter. With Sweet Aviation, Cathy manages charter sales, flight planning, and flight following, which involves making sure each passenger’s plane arrives on time. Her love for aviation has also inspired her son, who is pursuing his own flight dreams in El Paso, Texas.
Jorge Valderrama has more than 28 years of experience in the aviation industry. Originally from Lima, Peru, he has trained and flown with pilots from all over the world. He started his career at Indiana State University, holding multiple degrees in aviation, aerospace administration, and a Master’s degree in occupational health and safety. His extensive industry experience includes multiple international flight schools, regional airlines, and charter companies. Jorge has almost 4,000 hours of flight time, including multiple jet aircraft type ratings. He prides himself on making safety his first priority, and in providing excellent customer service. Jorge resides in Bloomington with his wife Lindsay and stepson Riley. When not flying, he enjoys working on his car, going to the gym, and traveling with his wife to explore new places and foods.
Sherry Yun might not be the one in the cockpit, but she’s instrumental in organizing your perfect flight. She’ll help you find the best airport for your destination, assist with quoting, scheduling, catering, ground transportation, and more. Sherry first discovered her love for planes at Elkhart’s Salute to Veterans Airshow, but she didn’t consider getting involved in aviation professionally until a pilot she was babysitting for brought up the idea. After several years at a travel management company, she came back to the aviation industry with Aircraft Charter Services, which is now Sweet Aviation. When not at work, Sherry enjoys reading her bible, taking walks, and exercising at the gym.
