Tom Arnold

Tom’s love of flying began more than 40 years ago with a flight to Catalina Island in a 1965 Piper Comanche. He earned his pilot’s license at 18, and soon afterward, Tom and his father purchased that very same airplane. He flew the Comanche throughout the country, but one flight remains particularly memorable: his first date with his future wife, Brenda—back to Catalina Island.

Tom stepped away from flying for a period while living on the East Coast, but after moving back to San Diego with his family, he quickly returned to aviation. He joined San Diego Flyers, one of the country’s oldest flying clubs, where he regularly flew a Bonanza and Cessna 210. He later became co-owner of a 2006 Cirrus SR22 before discovering turbine flying and purchasing his current aircraft, a 2012 Piper Meridian.

Tom was elected to the PMOPA Board of Directors in 2023 and later became Vice President. He also chairs PMOPA’s Events Team and enjoys helping support the organization and the broader PA46 community.

Tom and Brenda live in Coronado, California, and have been married for more than 35 years. They have two adult children and two grandsons. Their daughter and her family also live in Coronado, while their son pursued graduate studies in data science at Harvard University.

In 2009, Brenda and Tom founded a safety consulting and staffing company in Coronado focused primarily on utilities, construction, renewable energy, and other high-hazard industries. Today, their organization has grown to approximately 70 field professionals working across 17 states.

Tom flies his Meridian whenever he can—for business, adventure, PMOPA events, and occasionally in support of charitable flying. After more than four decades as a pilot, aviation remains one of his greatest passions.