In the heart of Maine, Caleb Curtis owns and operates Curtis Air Inc. The family business is an aviation maintenance business, as well as the FBO at Pittsfield Municipal Airport. Curtis has been operating the business since 2003. His father (Ronald Curtis), an A&P mechanic, started the company in 1998. “I had worked with my father a lot growing up and knew aviation was what I wanted to do,” he said, adding that he started doing small jobs starting at the young age of 12.
At age 18, he found himself in charge of all aspects of the business. He had just finished his first year of college when his father died in a plane crash. While working full time, Curtis finished college and earned a business degree, obtained his A&P and IA licenses. He received his training from Bakers School of Aeronautics and American Bonanza Society.
Early on, his family and a board consisting of local business people guided him on how get through those challenging times. His mentors include his father, long-time friend and employee Fred Delano and close friends and advisers Mark Cochrane, Charlie Cianchette and Frank Woodworth. “There are too many to list,” he said, then added his mentors also include Keith Strange and Terry Beal, mechanics who do not work with him. “I am quick to call and ask advice, and I am blessed to have so many contacts who will field my calls.”
Klaus Thalinger, owner of Good Winds LLC in Maine, nominated Curtis for this year’s 40 Under 40 award. “Caleb (his mum, Faith, and wife, Laura) have since expanded the business and hired two full-time A&P mechanics, a paint technician and a general manager,” Thalinger said. Altogether, Curtis Air has seven full-time and three part-time employees.
In addition to serving the general aviation community, Curtis Air serves a niche market: seaplanes. “You can land your seaplane in the river and Curtis Air will meet you at water’s edge to pull out your seaplane for repairs or change the floats to wheels or skis,” Thalinger described. Whether it was late at night on an icy ramp or towing an aircraft from the hangar to the fuel farm, Thalinger said he cannot remember a time when Curtis would not fulfill a fuel request.
His industry association memberships include AEA American Bonanza Society – lifetime membership, Beech Heritage Museum – lifetime membership, EAA – lifetime membership, AOPA, Seaplane Pilots Association and the local EAA chapter. Participating in the EAA Young Eagles program, Curtis gives youth ages 8 to 17 their first airplane ride.
According to Thalinger, the Curtis family lives in a home next to the Pittsfield Airport – “This just shows how much passion the Curtis family has for aviation.”
