About Greg Madonna & The Learjet Diaries

Greg Madonna is an American aviator and author. He is known for his memoir of flying in South America The Learjet Diaries. Madonna was born in New Jersey to a middle class family. His father was a restaurant owner in Atlantic City. Greg rebelled against the small town life and began seeking adventure at a young age. As a young man he had little interest in school and performed poorly. Although, he did have a strong interest in aviation from a young age. This was originally sparked by an older cousin who was a pilot for Eastern Airlines and who gave him some airplane models when he was five years old. As a teenager, he joined the Civil Air Patrol where he excelled in an environment that offered both structure and adventure. His father died while he was a freshman in college and this led to his being on academic probation. After spending some time in Europe he returned to the United States, where despite his continued poor academic performance he did ultimately graduate in 1980 from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelors degree in Economics.He took flying lessons coincident with his university studies and he earned a commercial pilot's license with an instrument and instructor ratings about the same time he graduated from university. He contemplated going to graduate school to continue his study in economics but his faculty advisor recommended against it by saying “You know, Greg, your GPA is isn’t that good.” With that ringing endorsement he then pursued aviation as a full time career. His first job in aviation was sweeping hangar floors and doing odd jobs at the airport in Pompano Beach Airport. His first flying job was as a flight instructor for Cav-Air, a now defunct flight school at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, Hangar 15. While there he taught primary, advanced and instrument students as well as those seeking a multi engine rating.A chance encounter with an old flight school friend led him to a job as a LearJet copilot with Graf Jets based at the Fort Lauderdale International Airport flying the Lear 24 and 36. Graf Jets ultimately closed their flight department and he then went to work for Personal Jet Charter back at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport where he checked out as a captain on the Lear 24, 25 and 35. Some of his most harrowing experiences while flying the Learjet are recounted in his memoir The Learjet Diaries. He was hired by Florida Express Airlines as a BAC 1-11 copilot in 1985 and upgraded to captain there in less than one year. Florida Express was purchased by Braniff Airlines  in 1987 and then Braniff suspended operations in 1989. He then was hired by a major US airline where he flew the 737, 727, 757, 767 and 777 on routes around the world. While at the airlines he was also a simulator instructor and taught classes in Crew Resource Management. He is a long time resident of South Florida. And he currently lives in Fort Lauderdale with his wife Jennifer Thomas.

BUY YOUR COPY TODAY!