I began flying in 1975. With my heart in the air, I established Tom Dent Aviation in 1977 at Othello, Washington providing professional pilot service and flight instruction. The company moved to Moses Lake in 1984 and expanded to include Aerial Application, and still operates successfully there today.
Having accumulated over 20,000 hours in the air, I currently hold an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate multi-engine airplane with commercial privileges single engine airplane. I am also a certificated Flight Instructor for single & multi engine airplanes, and instrument airplane.
Drift management for the aerial application industry has been of keen interest to me and for that reason I have devoted my efforts to producing two videos on the subject. I am pleased that one of the videos has maintained worldwide exposure and used as a training model in several states. In addition to those endeavors, I enjoyed writing a monthly column for Ag Pilot Magazine.
The Moses Lake Municipal Airport is managed by a commission appointed by the Moses Lake City Council. That is where I am based, and serve as Commissioner. I have served since its beginning in 1994.
There are a number of professional organizations in which I am proud to be associated with, including The Association of Washington Business, in which I serve on the board of directors and chair the aviation committee. The Grant County Sheriff’s Posse, the Cattle producers of Washington, as charter member, the Association of Washington Aerial Applicators (instrumental in founding organization), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and a life member of the NRA.
The Flying T Ranch LLC is located Northeast of Moses Lake. As owner, and along with my wife Dayna, and son Monty we are happily raising Grass Fed Beef and Bison, the healthy red meat! The ranch also produces and sells hay.
The rest of our family is a bit spread out with daughter Aron living in Seattle, and daughter Teresa lives in Okanogan. We have three granddaughters and one great-grandson, and another great-grandson on the way.
On a personal and final note, when I am not in the air I am enjoying a wonderful life with plenty of hobbies to keep me busy including: hunting, horses, leather work and training in karate. Whether in the air or on the ground, I am living the dream.