The People Behind the Program
MEET THE
TEAM AT ALBA
FOUNDER
GORDON JIROUX
Dr. Gordon A. Jiroux. h.c. is widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable and skilled professionals in the flight training industry. His career began in 1981 when, at just 25 years old, he earned his Private, Commercial, and Certified Flight Instructor helicopter certificates in Long Beach, California.
Gordon quickly distinguished himself as a stand-out instructor at Pacific Wing & Rotor and developed a personal friendship with Robinson Helicopter Company founder Frank Robinson. Sensing a budding market for helicopter flight training, Mr. Robinson asked Gordon to open a school in the then-small desert town of Scottsdale, Arizona. Gordon purchased a Robinson R22 — Serial #4, the fourth ever produced — moved to Scottsdale, and his legacy began.
By 1983, at the age of 27, the FAA designated Gordon a Pilot Examiner for rotorcraft. That same year, his commitment to quality and safety made him the obvious choice when Robinson Helicopter Company issued him the Dealership and Service Center Designation for Arizona. By 1990, his company had grown into the largest helicopter flight school in the world, operating 18 Robinson R22s and three Bell 206 Jet Rangers flying eight or more hours a day.
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the aviation industry and created an unprecedented demand for airline pilots in its wake, Dr. Jiroux moved decisively to expand his fixed-wing training capacity. Under his direction, the company built out a full Tecnam airplane fleet and Level 5 flight training devices to meet the surge, positioning his school as a leading producer of career-ready airline pilots during one of the industry's most pivotal hiring periods.
Today, after more than four decades of flying and over 10,000 hours of flight instruction given, Gordon continues to define the standard for excellence in flight training. His passion for exemplary instruction, paired with an impeccable safety record and a sterling industry reputation, has made him one of the renowned names in the flight school industry. To date, Gordon's flight schools have produced more than 2,500 graduates currently employed across the nation, flying for airlines, air medical operators, law enforcement agencies, tour companies, and offshore operators.
In 2010, one of Gordon's became the first and only person ever contracted to provide flight training in support of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Helicopter Program, a partnership that continued for a decade. Building on that foundation, his schools serve as the contracted training partner for other distinguished universities nationwide.
On May 4, 2013, Gordon received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Aviation Science, with all rights, honors, privileges, and responsibilities, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the flight training industry, his extraordinary aviation knowledge, and his dedication to the global aviation community. The following year, Dr. Jiroux was named Helicopter Association International's (HAI) Flight Instructor of the Year.
After all these years, Gordon remains intimately involved in every aspect of operations at his schools, mentoring instructors and passing his knowledge and expertise to the next generation of aviators.
FAA DESIGNATED PILOT EXAMINER
FAA CERTIFIED SAFETY TEAM MEMBER
CFII
10,000+ FLIGHT HOURS
"Flight training isn't just what I do — it's what I've loved waking up to every single morning for more than forty years."
PRESIDENT
MATT HEWLETT
Matt "Hewy" Hewlett serves as Director of Operations at Alba's Provo training location and has been with the company since 2003. Matt's journey into aviation began at the Provo facility, where what started as a recreational interest in flight training quickly evolved into a deep and lasting passion. Recognizing where his future belonged, he restructured his life and career to pursue aviation full-time — a decision that has shaped every chapter of his professional life since. Along the way, he credits a number of accomplished and well-respected mentors with guiding his growth as a pilot, instructor, and examiner.
Today, Matt is an ATP-rated pilot and Certified Flight Instructor, an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner, and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Operations Management.
Outside of work, Matt has been happily married since 1998 and is the proud father of five children and grandfather to three. He's an avid outdoorsman who enjoys motorcycle riding, fishing, hunting, and working out alongside his wife. Together, they love road trips and making the most of quality time with their family.
FAA DESIGNATED PILOT EXAMINER
CFII
10,000+ FLIGHT HOURS
"I tell new students all the time: if you fall in love with this the way I did, you're not picking a profession — you're picking a way of life."
CHIEF FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR
DUSTIN SUCHOR
Dustin Suchor came to Alba with his Private Pilot Certificate for airplanes and completed our Career Program in July 2004. For nearly two decades since, he has been one of Alba's most respected instructors, and today he serves as Director of Operations at our Scottsdale training location.
Dustin is the Authorized Chief Instructor for Alba's FAA-approved Part 141 airplane courses and an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Global Business with an emphasis on Leadership and Management from Arizona State University, as well as an Associate's Degree in Business Administration from Scottsdale Community College.
Outside of work, Dustin is the proud father of two and spends much of his free time with his children and enjoying the outdoors.
