Page 9 - August 2015 Volume 9, Number 8

Carson, who runs the day-to-day operation for the King Air Academy, retired early after starting his own software company. He has been flying since he was 16, is King Air qualified, flies his own Beechcraft T-34 in airshows and has his A&P ratings.
Clements, author of “The King Air Book” and a writer for King Air magazine, oversees the academy’s curriculum and mentors its instructors.
“Nobody else has Tom Clements and nobody else has a Tom Clements curriculum that’s been edited and reviewed by the guy who is the highest time King Air pilot in the world,” McAlister said. “What I said that resonated with Tom was that we wanted to be the paramount school in this little niche, in the King Air. I wanted to develop the best curriculum and training style and Tom related with that because he’s a perfectionist. He’s got a brilliant mind and high energy, and he’s gotten very involved.”
The King Air B200
McAlister bought the 1984 King Air B200 in 2006 and has flown it 1,100 hours.
“I absolutely fell in love with the airplane,” he said. “It’s so reliable and it’s just so functional. It’s the best airplane for me and I don’t see ever flying another type.”
The McAlisters, married 43 years now, have four grown children, eight grandkids and three more on the way. They still live outside Chicago and use the airplane for a mix of business and recreation.
As one of the founding partners of First Trust Portfolios, McAlister is now responsible for the Canadian segment of the business. He flies the King Air to Toronto once or twice monthly.
“I live 10 minutes from DuPage Airport in West Chicago, so I can leave my house at 8:30 in the morning and I’m in the air before 9 o’clock,” McAlister said. “I’m at the Island Airport in downtown Toronto an hour and 45 minutes later. I clear customs and I’m in the office by 1:00 p.m. I work up there and once I’m done, I reverse it and fly home. It saves me time and it makes my job fun.”
He also takes several golf trips annually and spends time at homes in Colorado and Arizona.
“In March, I flew with my wife, our daughter and all her kids to
OCTOBER 2015
Tom Clements (in hat) oversees the academy’s curriculum and mentors its instructors.
Arizona. There were strollers, bicycles and tricycles. It takes three minivan trips to get it all up to the house and it all fits in the King Air, and we’re all together. It’s just spectacular,” he said.
“Other guys get jet-itis. That holds zero appeal to me,” McAlister said. “The King Air will be the only plane I’ll ever fly. As far as overall airplane, as far as how it’s built – the King Air is the King of its class.” KA
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