Team

Executive Team

Amit K. Patel

Chief Operating Officer/Pilot

Amit Patel, a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL has always known from his childhood that he wanted to become a pilot. Growing up in the hospitality industry and managing various hotels/properties from Virginia to Georgia, he brings years of business and entrepreneurial experience to Iron Eagle Aviation. Amit’s interest in aircraft management began over a decade ago when he realized he could combine the skills he has learned from the hospitality industry with his flying skills in the corporate flying world. As Chief Operating Officer, Amit is responsible for leading the company and overseeing all facets of Iron Eagle Aviation. Amit is a licensed Airline Transport Pilot, holding type ratings in the Phenom 300, Gulfstream 200, Hawker 800XP, Falcon 50/900, and King Air 350. He also holds commercial pilot privileges for single engine airplanes, and is a certified flight instructor.

Manoj K. Lamba

Chief Executive Officer/Pilot

Manoj Lamba a native of Dehli, India and had a dream to become a pilot at a young age. At age 16, he traveled to the United States to make that dream a reality.  Prior to serving as CEO at Iron Eagle Aviation, Lamba has spent the last 20 years flying based out of Atlanta, GA for some of Atlanta’s most successful business owners and their families. During this time, Lamba has cultivated his flying skills and built his reputation as one of the greatest pilots in the southeast. Lamba is a licensed Airline Transport Pilot, holding type ratings in the Phenom 300, Gulfstream G100/G200, IAI Astra, Cessna Citation Latitude, Cessna Citation Sovereign, Falcon 50/900 and the King Air 350.

Akshar V. Patel

Chief Financial Officer

Akshar Patel graduated summa cum laude from the Georgia Institute of Technology where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. He also studied at the University of Oxford in England.

As Iron Eagle Aviation’s Chief Financial Officer, Akshar is responsible for financial planning and execution of the company’s strategic initiatives and business growth.

Akshar Patel is a Managing Partner and Investment Professional at Flatiron Asset Management, a diversified investment and advisory firm that utilizes a multi-strategy platform across Funds, real estate, private equity, and venture capital.

Prior to Flatiron, Akshar was an Investment Banking Professional at J.P. Morgan focusing on M&A transactions. During his tenure at the bank, Akshar quickly rose to the top ranks and advised on numerous multi-billion dollar transactions for both public and private companies. His aviation deal experience included the American Airlines restructuring and merger with United Airlines, Air Lease Corporation’s debt financing, and Waha Capital’s strategy on its AerCap investment.

Operations Team

Chetna Yadav

Accounting Manager

Chetna Yadav is a graduate of Amity Business School in Haryana, India with a B.S. in Business Administration. Chetna worked for Sampark Search Pvt Ltd and Surya Pvt Ltd in both Accounting and Human Resources departments. In 2014 she joined Iron Eagle Aviation as the Accounting Manager and has been instrumental in our day to day financial record keeping.

K. Ciara Schaff

Flight Coordinator

Ciara worked at Snapper Pro Lawn since the age of 15 as a parts associate. She has studied at Georgia State in Dunwoody, GA. She has been coordinating flights since 2016 for various organizations. She joined Iron Eagle Aviation October of 2021. She is the first in her family to work in Aviation and has found a passion for coordination.

David C. Kleinhans

Aircraft Detailer/Logistical Support

David began his career in aviation in 2017 as a detailer, Eventually moving into the office environment and helping with logistical support. He now works to maintain the assets and keep the operation moving smoothly.

Allen Kurtovic

Operations Manager

Bachelor’s degree in computer information systems & minor in Accounting at Georgia State University class of 2019. Started flying in 2016. At IEA – Coordinates planned & unplanned maintenance, aircraft parts sourcing, in charge of aircraft logbooks and records, leads international flight operations and associated logistics. 

Majority of work experience lies in electronics and board/circuit repair, building custom PC’s for home and enterprise customers (from home gaming PC’s to extensive video editing rigs and file servers). Started & Owned Phone Doctor of Atlanta at age of 18 (from 2015 to 2019 before selling to new owners).

Pilot Staff

Cameron L. Gahafer

Pilot

Cameron Gahafer is a licensed commercial pilot with over 12 years of progressive flying experience for both multi-engine and single-engine aircraft. Growing up with a passion for flying, Cameron knew he wanted to be a professional pilot since he was 11 years old, and decidedly began his flying career at the age of 18. 

Cameron graduated magna cum laude with his Bachelors in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world’s largest and most respected university for aviation and aerospace. While studying at Embry-Riddle, he also worked in customer service and hospitality, and earned his instrument rating, commercial single and multi-engine ratings.

Cameron brings over 15 years of customer service, hospitality, entrepreneurial and management experience to Iron Eagle Aviation. He is committed to serving clients with integrity and professionalism, and providing them with a personable, enjoyable and safe flying experience every time.

Cameron is currently Captain of the Pilatus PC-12 and holds SIC ratings in both the Phenom 300 and King Air 350.

Felix Badell

Pilot

Felix Badell is a Commercial Aviation Pilot graduated from the Civil Aviation School “Miguel Rodriguez” in Caracas, Venezuela in 1977.

At the young age of 23 years old, Felix began his professional aviation career where he developed his flying skills and built a successful expertise with the largest petrol and oil corporation in the country (Petróleos de Venezuela), accumulating more that 14.000 flight hours of experience.

In 1995, he obtained the Airline Transport Pilot at American Flyers, Florida/USA. Felix holds a type rating in the Beech 1900, Hawker 700/800, Gulfstream GI, Captain; SIC G-100/150/200; EMB-505. 

Most recently, in 2016, he relocated to Florida, USA, obtaining his US Citizenship where he has continued his 40+ years of career consistently delivering a world-class international and domestic flying experience to his clients and is motivated to keep on accumulating an excellent flying record.


Colin Pace

Pilot

Colin Pace began flying at the age of 17 while attending Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, GA. After graduation, he attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL before returning to Atlanta to work for his family’s company. 

Aviation and customer care have always been passions for Colin, whose family who owned and maintained a fleet of aircraft for the HoneyBaked Ham Company. It was here he learned of the premiere quality of service offered in the field of general aviation and how each customer deserves the best possible experience. 

Colin spent three years flying patients for charitable fights around the southeast and holds both single and multi commercial ratings. He holds certification in both the Cirrus SR20 and SR22 aircraft.

Matthew D. Rountree

Pilot

Matthew Rountree is a 1st generation pioneer pilot. While attending the University of Georgia, he fell in love with aviation after a test flight. After graduating The University of Georgia with a degree in Communications, Matt quickly began flight school. Following his graduation from flight school he began working out on the line at Signature. Through months of fueling, towing and working on the line he learned what it takes to make private flying possible from the ground. Through this job he picked up connections and hospitality skills. Matt is now flying the PC-12 and SIC in the Phenom 300.

Carson D. Luke

Pilot

Carson Luke is a graduate of Liberty University School of Aeronautics. He has been engulfed in aviation since 2019 when he started his pilot training while attending high school. As the first aviator in his family, he is paving a way for future pilots. He has been flying with Iron Eagle Aviation for over a year as he continues to advance his skill sets in the world of aviation.

Lance Chapman Hill

Pilot

Lance Hill, a Blairsville, GA native began his flying career at 17 years old to continue the family tradition which dates back to his great grandfather, along with a family full of pilots – men and women. Shortly after he began flying, he earned his commercial license, instrument and multi-engine ratings, and is a certified flight instructor.  

Lance is SIC type rated in a Gulfstream G200 along with regularly flying the PC12 and various other aircrafts within the company.

Patrick Adkins 

Pilot

Patrick has flown over 5,000 hours and qualified and current in all certifications for Cessna, Piper Arrow, Beechcraft, and the Pilatus PC-12, the Legacy 45, 47, the 47E(PC-12 NG) and the PC-12 NGX with over 1000 hrs in type. It has been a dream of Patrick to fly and provide great service to his passengers.