Jeffrey James Madison Bio

Jeffrey James Madison is a seasoned aviation professional, an airline pilot, an aviation safety expert, airline pilot, flight instructor and author. He currently serves as a mentor pilot with PSA Airlines, where he guides and develops cadet pilots. His deep commitment to aviation safety is reflected in his role as a Safety Management System (SMS) expert, contributing to Aviation Safety Action Programs (ASAP) and authoring critical analyses on human factors and safety.

In 2024, Madison authored the book Yikes! 100 Smart Pilots and the Dumb Things They Did Yet Lived to Tell About ‘Em, an engaging and insightful collection of true aviation stories that reveal the lessons learned from pilots’ near-misses and mistakes. This work further solidifies his standing as a thought leader in aviation safety.

Also in 2024, Madison co-founded the Victor Kilo Fund (victorkilofund.org), to support, educate and provide resources for under-resourced populations seeking careers in aviation as pilots, dispatchers, air traffic controllers, aviation mechanics and aerospace engineers.

In addition to his aviation credentials, Madison is an accomplished writer and journalist, with significant contributions to both the aviation and environmental sectors. He a pioneering aviation safety writer, becoming the first aviation safety expert to analyze the FAA’s Aviation Safety and Reporting System (aka NASA Reports) in a monthly column called, “Human Factors” for General Aviation News. He has penned over 250 aviation articles, columns, and profiles.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Madison has dedicated significant time to volunteerism. He has served as a Captain in the Civil Air Patrol, a member of the US Coast Guard’s “Flying Flotilla” Auxiliary, and a mentor to aspiring pilots.

Additionally, Madison has successfully raised about one-quarter of a million dollars for climate-related projects. These include two rounds of funding from the Ford Foundation to produce over 600 episodes of The Climate Daily podcast, which he produced and co-hosted. He also planned and executed three successful reforestation fundraising campaigns where a few hundred people donated enough money to his campaigns to plant ten thousand trees each in northern California, in British Columbia, Canada, and in two forests in the U.S. Midwest and Israel.

Madison is a a graduate of Harvard University, where his film short, “Tell Me Something Good” was awarded inclusion in the prestigious Harvard Film Archives. He holds a Professional Certificate in Aviation, Professional Pilot from Long Beach City College and an MFA in Creative Writing from Full Sail University.

Madison is actively involved in several professional organizations, including the National Press Club, the National Association of Black Journalists, the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, Women in Aviation, the National Association of Flight Instructors, Airplane Owners and Pilots Association, and the Airline Pilots Association.