Tom Bouchard

Tom began flying commercially in 1962 in Ashland, Wisconsin, eventually flying for Midstate Airlines in 1966 until the airline ended operations in 1989. During his time with Midstate, Tom accumulated almost 5,000 hours in Beech 18s. He served as the airline’s check airman and check pilot, training many pilots for that company in Beech 99s, Fairchild Metroliners, and Fokker 27s. In 1995 Tom began flying Cessna Citations for C. G. Bretting Manufacturing Company in Ashland.

Tom was appointed to the Wisconsin Council of the Bureau of Aeronautics by Governor Lucey in 1976. He was awarded the FAA’s prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award in 2012, in honor of 50 years of safe flying. He logged a total of 28,000 flight hours in his 38-year career. Tom’s labors paved the way for the legacy of Bouchard family pilots. He is affectionately known as the Ambassador of Ashland’s John F Kennedy Memorial Airport (ASX).