Independent Group Formed To Serve Kodiak Owners and Pilots | Aviation International News

Training and Workforce

Group Formed To Serve Kodiak Owners and Pilots

KOPS will focus on adventure, safety, community, and advocacy

KOPS spot-landing contest — The Kodiak Owners and Pilots Society’s spot-landing contest challenged pilots to touch down as close to the line as possible without bouncing. © KOPS

By Matt Thurber • Editor-in-Chief

October 29, 2025

The owners of the nearly 400 Kodiak turboprop singles that have been produced now have an owners group to provide a community resource for safety, adventure flying, and advocacy. The Kodiak Owners and Pilots Society (KOPS) was created earlier this year and soft-launched at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in July and formally launched earlier this month. KOPS held its first member event, the inaugural 2025 Fly-Out and Convention, at JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa in Sonora, Texas, from October 3 to 5, which saw 11 Kodiaks flown in for the event.

KOPS was founded by Mark Brown, owner of aircraft management firm 11 Aviation and, with more than 8,000 hours in Kodiaks, the highest-time Kodiak pilot; John Hunt, former v-p of sales for Kodiak; and Kodiak owner Brett Ekblom. Quest Aircraft received FAA certification for the Kodiak 100 in 2007, with an aim to serving the missionary market. In 2019, Daher purchased the company and expanded the product lineup with the speedier Kodiak 900.

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The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

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