CHAIRMAN & FOUNDING PARTNER
Captain & Engineer William Mermelstein has over 40 years aviation experience, including; maintenance, flight test, design, development and manufacturing.
He is a certificated A&P Mechanic with Inspection Authorization in the US as well as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He previously held OEM authorizations of ODAR and DMIR designations. William has over 20 years in manual development for Part 91, 135, 141/142, 145 & 147 operations, including GOM, GMM, SMS, QA, QC, Haz-Mat, and AAIP and course curriculum development, and has authored over 20 such manual systems.
Mr. Mermelstein has served in senior management positions in Part 91, 135, 141/142 and 145 operations over his career, as well as FBO and fueling operations. All were direct involvement or management of; Operations, Development, Implementation and Oversight. He is a graduate of the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City in Part 145 Certification & Surveillance.
William has significant history with Twin Commander Aircraft, Eclipse Aviation and Adam Aircraft Industries, which has provided for a wide level of experience in Design, Development, Manufacturing and Certification in the primary and advanced materials and processes. He was extended an invitation from the Federal Aviation Administration as a Designated Maintenance Examiner, and served over 15 years as a Designated as an Organizational Designated Airworthiness Representative, and a Designated Manufacturing Inspection Representative.
His career with NEXUS began in June 2011 where he joined as Director of Safety & Quality before being promoted to VP Safety & Quality and on to his current position as Vice President Commercial Operations. He is an accredited Aviation Lead Auditor, IBAC/IS-BAO auditor and recently had NEXUS accredited as an IS-BAO Audit Organization. Mr. Mermelstein holds an associate degree from the Spartan School of Aeronautics in 1981, as well as an extensive list of OEM’s, Flight Safety, and the FAA.
William served as Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of the Gulf Flight Safety Council.
PRESIDENT & FOUNDING PARTNER
William “Bill” Lau
Involved in Chinese civil aviation since 2010, William has a comprehensive background in regulations and support of flight operations, maintenance programs, and aviation training programs.
William has worked with many major international aviation manufacturers, suppliers, MRO’s, and service providers bringing them here to China as well as travels overseas to work with them relative to the Chinese aviation market.
He went to university in Chengdu and is a graduate of Southwestern University of Finance and Economics where he majored in English for Economics and Trade. He holds a Bachelors Degree in the following studies; Business English; International Payments and Settlements; International Trade Practice, Business; English Writing; Translation; Western Culture; Western Economics; and Economics Laws.
With 10 years of aviation experience William has extensive experience in organizing and participating in high level events and meetings in aviation as well as in the areas of; information technology, finance, media, fast moving consumer goods.
William has accomplished extensive research on many different industries and key companies covering their main products & services, industry roles and management structures where he has established a strong and credible working relationship with both Chinese and foreign associations and companies, as well as an excellent working relationship with major event companies and a strong network of media companies at the highest levels.
He has extensive international travel experience, and managing communications and coordination with GM’s and customers in negotiating service contracts in setting up General Aviation companies and airports for investors between the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) departments and individuals and executing the contracts.
FINANCIAL REVIEW ANALYST
Mr. Handelsman is an aviation industry professional with over 25 years of corporate and general aviation experience. After graduating Lafayette College with a BA in Government in 1996, he began working at Galaxy Aerospace in marketing and customer service capacities. Following its buyout by Gulfstream Aerospace in 2001, he returned to school where he earned an MBA in Aviation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Josh spent the next 20-years working principally in marketing and customer support capacities at start-up and smaller privately-owned companies, where he successfully married deep data-driven financial forecasting and analysis with the “human” side of aviation, allowing clients and end-users to make the most informed decisions as possible.
While with Signature Flight Support as an operational analyst, Josh participated in due diligence for base acquisition and development. At Adam Aircraft, he helped launch the company’s two aircraft entry-to-service delivery plan, as well as engaging in tactical marketing efforts as director of that department. As Director of Business Development at Corporate Flight Management (CFM), Josh was responsible for financial modeling and forecasting new programs, and for analysis of internal operations for continued improvement.
Josh is a licensed pilot with two children, and resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
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FLIGHT OPERATIONS LEAD AUDITOR & REPORT OVERSIGHT AND REVIEW
Carl is the AMS China Regional Manager of our office in the United Kingdom. He is an experienced aviator and senior flight department manager with over 40 years of knowledge in flight operations and aviation department management with a focus on safety & quality processes and procedures, manual development, and international flight operations.
He has significant experience as an aviation auditor for Corporate, Business, and Royal flight operations, in the areas of operations, and account reconciliations, safety, and quality.
With a long list of credentials in the area of Safety & Quality, Carl as the necessary knowledge, experience, and motivation to instruct, implement, and ensure a strong culture of safety in support of effective policies, processes, and procedures within flight and aviation departments. He is an accredited auditor by the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) with their International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO).
His ability to work from a position of strength in all areas of operations of domestic and worldwide operations makes him uniquely qualified to support both large and small flight departments with effective communication and motivational skills.
Carl has started ground-up flight departments in the UK, Middle East, and Malaysia for private, corporate and Royal operations, with command pilot positions including Boeing 727, BAC 1-11, and Rockwell Sabreliner 75A aircraft among others.
DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE - MAINTENANCE PLANNING & OVERSIGHT
Jim has a vast level of experience in aircraft maintenance, from 1930’s era biplanes in the airshow and crop dusting circuits,to one of the largest jet fleet of fractional aircraft, and to new aircraft manufacturing and new aircraft design flight test management.
Born into an aviation family Jim was destined to find his career in this field. His father had logged over 30,000 flying hours in his career as a flight instructor, corporate pilot and aerial applicator (Crop Duster). His father, also a flight instructor made it a family requirement to solo on your 16th birthday which Jim accomplished along with all of his brothers. His father was instrumental in Jim’s mechanical development, by helping with the maintenance on the family aircraft and restoration of Boeing Stearman’s (PT-17), Cubs, and the Grumman AgCat. After serving in the US Army Jim started his professional career by enrolling into A&P School in Fargo, ND. After completing this course Jim started working in the air show industry and found himself traveling all over the US and Canada keeping the air show aircraft in top performing condition.
After serving in the US Army Jim started his professional career by enrolling into A&P School in Fargo, ND. After completing this course Jim started working in the air show industry and found him traveling all over the US and Canada keeping the air show aircraft in top performing condition.
After acquiring his Inspection Authorization (IA) license he moved away from the airshow world and started working in general aviation and also along the way picking up his Private Pilot License. Throughout the years Jim has worked for on nearly every type of aircraft spanning 85 years.
Jim understands the criticality of customer service, and keeping his fleet safe, cost-effective, and on-time, and the scheduling of all aspects so your aircraft is available according to its schedule, and should an AOG situation arise, get it back in the air safely, and promptly, anywhere around the globe.
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FLIGHT TRAINING CAPTAIN - FLIGHT OPERATIONS LEAD AUDITOR
Stephane has a 20+ year career in aviation holding positions as a Part 135 Captain since the mid-90’s, up to the position of Vice President of Flight Operations in Saudi Arabia, responsible for fixed wing and rotary wing (helicopter) operations of over 120 aircraft ranging from small corporate jet aircraft, through wide-body private airliner operations, and including the helicopter operations for the King of Saudi Arabia.
Fourteen (14) years with the Wal-Mart Corporate Aviation department, Stephane was responsible for establishing their Central & South American flight operations, as well as flight training and mentoring new pilot hires in the Bentonville headquarters flight offices.
With extensive international operations in Costa Rica, Saudi Arabia, as well as the US and Europe, Capt. Cottrell is well rounded in all facets of a flight department operations, including liaison with maintenance and VIP/Management personnel, Flight Attendants, as well as pilots.
Among his major accomplishments, the creation of FAA & GACA Part 125 and FAA Part 135 ground-up operations, to include the developing and managing of all flight and operational manuals, and their approval with the civil aviation authorities.
Stephane is an accredited auditor by the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) with their International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO).
CABIN TRAINING MANAGER - CABIN OPERATIONS AUDITOR
Nicole has more than 15 years as a Flight Attendant & Cabin Manager for leading flag carrier airlines around the world, along with a degree in Hospitality Management.
Nicole’s extensive training and experience in in-flight emergency life support, catering & safe food handling, along with her 8 years of experience in serving Heads of State, Royalty, VIP & VVIP’s of nearly every cultural background and nationality has served her well and is a significant advantage to AMS and our clients.
Her central location in our Chandler, Arizona, USA office allows her to support, serve, and supplement our customer base quickly.
Nicole fully supports our audit programs around the world when cabin crew and cabin issues or interior designs are evaluated. She is responsible for our crew resources department, conducting evaluations, interviews, and recommendations for all Cabin Crew positions as well as resource matching for our clients to assure a proper “fit”, and to assure any recommendations are in line with our customers specifications.
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