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His UM tenure has included ferrying chancellors, football coaches, Grammy-award winning musicians, presidential candidates and national news anchors to and from campus.

Noss' retirement marks the end of a partnership built on complete trust, Chancellor Glenn Boyce said.

"Scott is one of the most skilled pilots I've ever known, but what sets him apart is his character," Boyce said. "There is a quiet confidence about Scott that resonates with anyone who flies with him, and he treats every passenger with care and professionalism.

"His legacy of service, mentorship and steady leadership will inspire others who follow in his footsteps."

Noss's encouraging and calm ways were felt not only in the sky, but across campus.

"I learned how to handle chaos with grace from Scott," said Megan McCurdy, assistant to the head football coach. "In all of the times that I've called in a panic needing to change a trip or reroute a plane midflight during the height of recruiting season, he never panics.

"He remains calm and gets the job done, all while listening."

Noss was the only pilot for Ole Miss for several years. The loyalty and trust Noss has built over 25 years stands out most to Coleman Grimmett, senior director of business operations.

"Regardless of who he's flown, he never made himself be the most important person in that aircraft," Grimmett said. "He understood that his role was larger than flying aircraft; it was about getting people where they needed to be, getting there safely, efficiently, comfortably, and with confidence.

"And that takes a lot of skill, takes a lot of judgment, attention to detail, mechanical aptitude, preparation, discipline, patience and a commitment to lifelong learning, but it also takes something that can't be taught in flight school, and that's character."

Throughout his 25 years, Noss has served as an ambassador for Ole Miss.

"Many times, picking up and dropping off guests and VIPs of the university, the pilots can be the first and last impression that people have of the university, so I always tried to put my best foot forward when representing the university," Noss said.

Noss' own flight path began long before his time at Ole Miss. A professional pilot for 42 years, he said that aviation has always been in his blood.

"My father was a pilot in the Navy, and my mother's family was in the aviation business," he said. "I can't remember a time when I didn't want to be a pilot; I always knew I wanted to make that my career."

However, Noss did not immediately jump into flight lessons when he was of age. He worked his way up through the ranks, first as an aircraft mechanic. Soon, he was flying with the help of several mentors.

"That was my big break in aviation, and I am very grateful to those that helped me," Noss said. "As a result, I have tried to mentor up-and-coming pilots to get their start."

Chip Cooper, former director of flight operations at 's Commercial Aviation Program, considers himself a "student" of Noss. When Ole Miss purchased its first Cessna Citation, Cooper served as Noss' co-pilot.

"Scott was more than willing to help DSU students working for DSU as flight instructors in the aviation program, by allowing them to fly with him at Ole Miss as co-pilots," Cooper said. 

"As the years progressed, Scott has had an impact on many a DSU aviation graduate. In fact, many DSU Flight School graduates who are now airline captains or corporate pilots got their first jet experience with Scott."

Noss will be missed, Boyce said.

"For me personally, there's never going to be a moment that I won't miss Scott," he said.

During retirement, Noss expects to slow down and enjoy not being tied to his phone and "on call," but he plans to stay in aviation at some capacity.

But Noss has mixed feelings.

"I'm proud of my career accomplishments but will greatly miss the people who I think of as family."

Top: Scott Noss disembarks Wednesday (Oct. 28) after completing his final flight as chief pilot for the university. During his 25-year tenure, he chauffeured six chancellors, eight head football coaches and countless campus administrators, professors and VIPs through the skies. Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services