Controller Spotlight Series, Owen Bliss | vZJX Event Coordinator

By Jonathan Galed | Marketing Director, AEC

The most outward facing part of the Jacksonville ARTCC is our events, and the man behind those is our Events Coordinator, Owen Bliss. He operates a staff that works with the overall purpose of making sure you have the best and most realistic experience when flying during events in our sector. Outside of VATSIM, Owen’s working towards earning his ATP license, and currently holds a Commercial Single Engine Pilot Certificate, Instrument Rating, and is a Senior Cadet for PSA Airlines.

“There was an RC flying club behind my elementary school, and I used to see the planes flying above the tree line at recess” he said. “My dad and I went over there one day after school and thought it would be a good hobby to get into.”

The love for aviation continued to grow, as Owen got a PC for Christmas, and started flight simulation.

“I was a member of Elite Prem-air Virtual, and someone there told me about VATSIM, and said he’d teach me how to control, so I joined Fort Worth and earned my S1.”

Owen’s VATSIM career expanded, as he was promoted to Events Coordinator of Ft Worth in 2018. During that time, Owen created events to help bring new and different experiences to the network.

“The main thing I learned was to host unique events, not the typical major airport with full staffing that you see a lot…”

He came up with events like “The Poker Run”, where pilots needed to fly to 5 fields to win “playing cards.” Whichever pilot had the best hand would win a prize.

“It was a really fun event, everyone seemed to enjoy it!” he remembers.

Owen also worked for Allegiant Airlines as a Ramp Operations Lead based at St Petersburg Clearwater International Airport and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, where he stayed there for 2 years.”

Owen joined Jacksonville last year and quickly elevated to the EC position here.

“I came here with the intention of becoming the EC” he said. “Jacksonville is just a very complex airspace with the opportunity for unique events. I really thought there was a lot of potential here.”

Owen found a new home in Jacksonville, and he attributes that to the core membership here.

“There’s a lot of people in Jacksonville that have real world experience, and those that don’t. There’s a strong uniqueness and a group of very smart individuals here.”

Owen has been the brainchild behind some of our most successful events, including “GTOUT of 2023” and our upcoming ZJX live “Orlando Overload” on April 27th, which will be the first live event since 2019. He manages a staff of 5 to create, run, and advertise all of our events.