Chris Haskell’s career in aviation set sail when he joined the US Navy in 2001. Originally looking to be a cryptographer when enlisting, his aptitude tests showed his strengths lay elsewhere.
“When I first joined, I decided I wanted to choose cryptography as a job path, where I’d learn a different language or learn IT, but with my test scores they indicated I had a high aptitude for electronics,” explains Haskell. “I enjoyed listening to the older guys and learn from them what’s great to do and watch what’s best not to do. Additionally, a lot of self-reading: rules and regulations, maintenance and operation manuals, industry news so I can stay up to date on the latest developments.”
After his time in the Navy, Haskell worked in construction for a stint before realizing he should use the job skill he was taught and re-entered aviation in 2007 as an avionics installation technician. He worked as an avionics installation technician until King Avionics offered him the position of Facility Manager at Henderson, Nevada location – where Haskell says he met the person who would become his mentor, owner of King Avionics Steve Hayden.
“I had worked in general aviation for four years prior, and called him for an interview. My first interview included troubleshooting a push-to-talk issue on an L39 jet, a phone call for a maintenance request he received during our interview. He always prioritized the safety of the aircraft, but also customer needs, so it was natural for him to take a phone call during the interview to help a customer out. We couldn’t find the push-to-talk switch in the cockpit, which is generally on the stick or yoke of an aircraft. I found it on the throttle, and we found a broken wire at the switch right away. I was hired on the spot,” described Haskell.
“Quickly working with Steve, I found he leads by example, and has some very admirable qualities I could only hope to attain some day,” he continued. “He is knowledgeable, but only because he takes the time to be so. If he doesn’t know something he uses his resources to find the answer. He is calm when most would be flustered. He always has the most effective and simplest answer to a solution when all others are complicating the situation. And no matter how busy Steve is, he will always stop what he is doing, and take the time to listen to someone who needs help. Steve has opened parts of my mind I didn’t know existed as a manager, as a technician, as a person.”
When Haskell started as facility manager, he says he needed to become an expert on all of the departments to supervise them – quality, parts, shipping/receiving, maintenance, admin, facilities, FAA Part 145/Part 135 inspections and compliance,“this made me a better manager and technician,” elaborated Haskell.
When the company sold to Apex Aviation in 2015, he was offered the Avionics Manager position which he held until his leave.
Since 2014, Haskell has worked with Robotic Skies – a test bed for maintaining and inspecting small unmanned aircraft systems.
“From that experience, Brad Hayden offered me the position as technical account manager for Robotic Skies. Now as senior technical account manager, I visit sUAS manufacturers to assist them with developing their maintenance and training programs,” said Haskell.
And as he looks towards the future of his aviation career, Haskell knows one thing for sure: He’s not slowing down.
“I hope to keep on the cutting edge of this market. Unmanned systems are a new piece of the aviation market. Robotic Skies falls within my own philosophy that unmanned technology should be maintained with the skill, precision and reliability that manned aircraft maintainers already possess. I intend to keep learning until I’m gone, and hope my career will always keep me as excited as I am right now,” said Haskell.
