The Arab American Aviation Professionals organization is working on uniting, inspiring, mentoring and providing aerospace opportunities.
Meet Yahay Obeid
President.
Yahay Obeid was born in Yemen and migrated to the United States at the age of eight. Currently, he works for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), starting his FAA career as an Air Traffic Controller at John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in 2008. He received his Bachelor of Science in airline management from the Vaughn College of Aeronautics in 2005, and his private pilot license in 2003. He was an adjunct professor at Vaughn College from 2009 to 2012. He previously worked for the Transportation Security Administration at LaGuardia Airport and Orlando International Airport from 2005 to 2008 and for Swissport International Ltd. at JFK from 2004 to 2006.
Meet Habib Ahary
Vice President.
Habib Ahary is a Yemeni-American and the co-founder of AAAP. Habib started his aviation career by attending and graduating from Vaughn college with a bachelor degree in aviation and a minor in ATC. He then instructed at Academy of Aviation in Long Island, from there he was hired by Republic Airways and upgraded to captain when he was eligible. He was recently hired by major airline and is loving it. We asked Habib why he founded AAAP, his answer was "to be able to give back and encourage our youth to follow their dreams."
Meet Akram Nassir
Treasurer.
Akram Nassir was born and raised in Brooklyn New York and is originally from Yemen. Akram went to St. John’s University and attended Academy of Aviation to fulfill his passion in becoming an airline pilot. He graduated with his degree and all pilot licenses. He then bought a plane and flew it all around the country conducting aerial surveys, private tours, city tours, and island hopping to get his 1500 to becoming an airline pilot. He then got hired by a regional company. A year and a half later got promoted to Captain and is based in John F Kennedy international airport.
Meet Yahya Alrobaie
Director of Memberships.
Yahya Alrobaie was born and raised in Yemen. In 2012, he moved to New York City to begin his education, starting with high school. Following his high school studies, he pursued his lifelong dream of becoming an airline pilot by enrolling in Vaughn College of Aeronautical Science in 2016. There, he worked diligently and successfully completed his Bachelor's degree in Flight Operations. After graduation, he gained valuable experience as a full-time Flight Instructor, focusing on building the flight hours required for his career. This dedication allowed him to join Republic Airways, where he piloted the Embraer 170/175 aircraft. Today, he continues to advance his career, now flying the Airbus A220 for JetBlue Airways.
Meet Bilal Alsayedi
Senior Director.
First Officer Bilal Alsayedi was born in Yemen and migrated to the United States at the age of 17 after graduating high school. Bilal graduated from Vaughn College Aeronautics and Technology in 2015 majoring in Aircraft operations, minoring in Air Traffic Control. After earning his private pilot license, instrument rating and commercial pilot license, Bilal worked as a full time flight instructor in Long Island New York from 2016-2018 and eventually landed a job with the Airlines.
Meet Rami Sabbah
Senior Director.
Originally from Jordan, Rami moved to the U.S. to pursue a passion for aviation, earning a bachelor’s degree in technology management. Rami began his career as a flight instructor, then gained experience as a pilot with a regional airline and a private jet company. Currently, Rami is a pilot with a major airline. In addition to his aviation career, Rami is a dedicated member and a volunteer with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), where they advocate for pilot rights, safety, and industry standards. With a unique combination of aviation expertise, technological insight, and leadership, Rami is well-equipped to contribute as a Senior Director at AAAP, advancing the organization's mission and driving innovation in the aviation industry.