Like the trailblazers who have taken to the skies before us, our hearts are set on changing the course of human history.
Our mission is simple, yet critical:
Open the world to the possibilities of flight.
Our sights are fixed on even broader horizons — a future where we go beyond personal aviation to serve the greater good. Whether our aircraft support a search and rescue mission or help manage forest fires, Pivotal technology holds untold potential.
Will you be next to join us in the skies?
Timeline
- January 2024
Pivotal launches sales of Helix, its first production aircraft
- October 2023
Opener introduces the Helix and becomes Pivotal.
- June 2023
Tim Lum receives first customer delivery of a BlackFly
- July 2022
BlackFly returns to EAA AirVenture 2022 with more human-operated flights
- July 2021
BlackFly makes its airshow human flight debut to over 600,000 people at EAA AirVenture
- October 2019
30,000 miles flown in BlackFly aircraft
- March 2018
BlackFly makes its first human-operated flight
- October 2017
BlackFly Generation 3 takes its first flight
- February 2016
BlackFly Generation 2 takes its first flight
- September 2014
Opener relocates to Palo Alto, California
- August 2014
BlackFly Generation 1 takes its first flight
- October 5, 2011
Marcus Leng takes first flight in a proof-of-concept vehicle in Ontario, Canada
Leadership Team
Ken Karklin
CEO
Ken brings decades of leadership experience in the engineering, aircraft, and robotic systems spaces to his role as Pivotal's CEO. He holds eight US patents for technology innovations, and earned an executive certificate from MIT Sloan School of Management.
Jon Campagna
CFO
Jon has over two decades of financial leadership in both public and private aerospace and space travel companies, including leading Virgin Galactic's successful transition from a private to a publicly-traded company. He also holds a CPA license in the state of California.
Board of Directors
Board Chair and Technical Advisor
An alum of Google from the early startup days, Alan has spent his career developing pocket computing, power and energy management solutions, and advancing internet performance. He's also held the world record for the highest-altitude free-fall jump since 2014.
Ken Karklin
CEO
Ken brings decades of leadership experience in the engineering, aircraft, and robotic systems spaces to his role as Pivotal's CEO. He holds eight US patents for technology innovations, and earned an executive certificate from MIT Sloan School of Management.
Cyrus Sigari
Board Member / Advisor
Sigari is a global leader in the business of private aviation. He is Co-founder and Managing Partner of venture capital firm UP.Partners, in addition to being a flight instructor rated on 13 types of jets, an Ironman triathlete, and a self-admitted adventure junkie.
Technical Advisors
Board Chair and Technical Advisor
An alum of Google from the early startup days, Alan has spent his career developing pocket computing, power and energy management solutions, and advancing internet performance. He's also held the world record for the highest-altitude free-fall jump since 2014.
Advisor
Ed has flown on two Space Shuttle flights, a Soyuz flight, and served aboard the International Space Station. He's currently the Executive Director of the B612 Foundation Asteroid Institute, a co-founder of LeoLabs, and a member of the SpaceX Safety Advisory Panel for crewed flights.
Founder
Marcus Leng
Founder
Marcus never stopped thinking about flight after earning his recreational pilot's license at 18, even as he built and sold his own successful manufacturing company. A post-retirement epiphany about the possibility of technology applied to air travel inspired the invention of award-winning aviation technologies, and eventually the BlackFly and the Helix.
