Matt Ross was introduced to the aviation industry in high school. “My high school offered an introduction to aviation course, which I participated in and enjoyed, and the retired Air Force Base in Summerside was quickly developing into an aerospace hub. It was a good opportunity to have a rewarding career close to home,” Ross said.
In 2007, Ross began his career with Atlantic Turbines – now Standard Aero. “My first position within the company was preparing parts for the thermal spray process, as well as performing epoxy repairs on magnesium housings,” Ross said. From there, he transitioned to the refinishing shop where he prepared parts for coatings and helped develop masking procedures.
In 2012, he moved to mainline inspection and earned his Class 1 and Class 4 inspection stamps along with completing training on all sections of the PT6A, JT15D and PW100 engine lines. “Currently, my primary responsibility is determining which area of the inspection team needs support on a day to day basis and working with them to meet our TOT goals, as well as fielding questions from fellow inspectors and other departments,” Ross said.
Ross has received all of his training in-house. “Aside from the mandatory training to work in Canadian Aviation, I have received specific training on mentoring, mental health awareness, shop certification authority and continuous improvement,” Ross commented.
Ross has had a couple of mentors during his aviation career. When he moved into his current position in mainline inspection, he was mentored by Glen MacNevin. “He is a red seal automotive that moved to aerospace when Atlantic Turbines opened in Summerside. His deep mechanical knowledge and understanding combined with his easy going personality made him a great mentor and friend," Ross explained. He was also mentored by Chris Boyle. “He has a deep understanding of all the internal processes and how they affect what is done in inspection, as well as how what is done in inspection affects the downstream process,” Ross stated.
Ross has been selected as a winner for WINGS Magazine Top 20 under 40 and was featured in their July/August edition.
Customer satisfaction is extremely important to Ross. “I have a strong focus on safety, as well as value for the customer,” Ross said. “...it is ingrained in our shop culture and I feel like we are among the best in the world at what we do,” he continued.
In the future, Ross would like to continue to mentor new and current employees. He would also like to gain some experience in the assembly and test cell departments to help fully understand the engine lines in hopes of working in a technical services position.
