An engineer by training and a commercial pilot at heart, Kannan Balaji brings over a decade of aviation experience spanning commercial strategy, program leadership, and product development. A self-certified AvGeek, his passion for aviation fuels both his professional and personal pursuits. Kannan currently manages commercial operations for Eagle Copters across Africa, the Middle East, and India. Before joining Eagle, he served in key leadership roles at Airbus Helicopters in North America, including Head of Commercial Operations and Head of Programs & Completions. Earlier, he was involved in new product development & certification for Bombardier’s Global Express platform. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Psychology.