About Tradition

Tradition Aviation is an independent fixed base operation (FBO) doing business at the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (JCRA), located in Thermal, California.  JCRA is a general aviation airport servicing the rapidly growing Coachella Valley, an area that encompasses all desert resort cities.  Because of its ideal location, JCRA is projected to realize a dramatic increase in private and corporate aviation traffic.

With over 40 years of combined aeronautical experience under their wing, Penny Nelson and Ann Goodwyn have taken convenience to a country club level with Tradition Aviation. Providing the most economical refueling costs in the valley along with the elimination of noise restrictions, fees and minimums — Tradition is truly in a class of its own.

Tradition Aviation provides a full range of services from its comfortable Fixed Base Operation (FBO) facility at Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport in Thermal, California. Twenty-four hour line service, competitive fuel prices, and impeccable customer service elevates Tradition Aviation beyond the standards you’ve come to expect from an FBO.

Meet Penny & Ann

Penny Nelson and Ann Goodwyn share a forty + year reputation for excellence in General Aviation, perfecting their skills working for Combs-Gates/AMR Combs, under aviation legend Harry Combs.  Their knowledge and experience are widely known throughout the aviation community with names synonymous with service and continuity in the valley.

Penny has spent her career in Palm Springs working for two prominent FBO’s. This local dedication has allowed her to keep strong relationships with in the community.  Her titles ranged from Customer Service Specialist, Director of Operations and General Manager. Her amazing dedication to service details and long term customer relationships provides Tradition Aviation the foundation for their service style. 

After a number of years working in Palm Springs, Ann not only followed her heart to Dallas, she gained valuable experience working for the companies Headquarters and local facility at Love Field.  Dedicated to overseeing the network in Customer Service she was largely responsible for the design, development, distribution and training of the chains Customer Service Manual, Customer Service Training Program and POS Software. As the chain grew with a number of FBO acquisitions, so did Ann’s job responsibilities.

Following the sale of the AMR Combs network, their paths joined again when Ann returned to Palm Springs. Both were General Manager’s for a large FBO chain that had facilities at either end of the valley. After a short time the pair were offered positions to build, operate and manage a new FBO in Thermal. Their venture lead them to a group of local valley business developers that soon combined efforts with Nelson and Goodwyn to create the new First Class FBO Facility - Tradition Aviation.

 

The Tradition of Exceptional Service Continues….