Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association
The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association is a craft-oriented, independent aviation union. AMFA is committed to elevating the professional standing of technicians and to achieving progressive improvements in the wages, benefits, and working conditions of the skilled craftsmen and women it represents.
AMFA was created in 1962 by O.V. Delle-Femine and a few co-workers, but did not represent any carrier until 1964 at Ozark Airlines. It later represented Pacific Airlines, Airlift International, Hughes Airwest, and Southern Airways. AMFA’s craft union now represents aircraft maintenance technicians and related support personnel at Alaska Airlines, ATA, Horizon Air, Mesaba Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines.
Mission: To raise the standards of and increase recognition of the technician and related class or craft for the protection of the profession. To afford protection for AMFA members before government agencies and expand the education of members’ rights and privileges before Congress whenever it pertains to the craft.
Structure: All officers, from shop representative to the national director, are elected by secret ballot and can be recalled by the membership. Safety and standards is an integral part of its constitution, covering all members, and is not relegated to a “committee.” AMFA’s structure is illustrated by this inverse organizational pyramid that places members at the top. For more information visit www.amfanatl.org.
Banyan Air Service
“We are proud to be a corporate sponsor of the AMTSociety and recognize the importance of this rapidly growing organization for the maintenance community. In fact, all 39 of our maintenance technicians are currently AMTSociety members,” says Don Campion, president, Banyan Air Service, Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.
Banyan’s maintenance department offers comprehensive aircraft maintenance services, including turbine airframe and engine maintenance, major structural repairs and modifications, avionics installations and support, interior refurbishment, and parts sales and distribution. The maintenance department operates 10 hours a day, six days a week and specializes in King Air, Citation, Hawker, Learjet, and Pilatus inspections and modifications.
It is both an FAA and EASA approved repair station, and holds Venezuela, Argentina, and Brazilian government maintenance approvals. Banyan received the FAA Diamond Award of Excellence in 2005, 2006, and 2007. And, Dale Meiler, lead maintenance inspector for Banyan, received the 2007ATP/NATA General Aviation Service Technician’s Award.
Its avionics department offers comprehensive avionics installations, repairs, modifications, instrument aftermarket sales, structural engineering, sales, and warranty support services for communications systems (SATCOM, HF, VHR, UHF), navigational equipment (VOR, GPS, FMS, MFD), autopilot systems, hazard avoidance systems (TCAS, EGPWS), radars and instruments, RVSM systems, and advanced entertainment systems. Banyan’s avionics department is certified as a FAA repair station and is an authorized dealer for all major avionics manufacturers.
Banyan started in 1979 in a small 4,000-square-foot hangar as a maintenance facility for small charter operators. Today, Banyan is a 24-hour, full-service fixed base operation, with more than 150 teammates. Banyan caters to domestic and international aircraft owners, corporations, and governmental agencies. For more information, visit banyanair.com.
CHJ Aircraft Maintenance Inc.
CHJ Aircraft Maintenance Inc. was established in 2006 by its current owner, president, and director of maintenance, Douglas Truskowski. Douglas started his aircraft technician experience in his teenage years with the U.S. Marine Corps. and has more than 15 years of experience as a director of maintenance at DTW Metro Airport in Detroit, MI.
CHJ is a privately owned and family operated corporation. The letters CHJ represent Douglas and his wife Vicki’s three children: Chad, Heather, and Jason.
Douglas and his oldest son Chad as vice president, quality assurance manager, and office manager, are currently running the company. Vicki as secretary and Heather and Jason as directors also provide support in CHJ’s operations. Everyone that is a part of CHJ Aircraft Maintenance Inc. prides themselves on CHJ being an honest, ethical, caring, and quality company and employer that focuses on 100 percent customer satisfaction!
CHJ Aircraft Maintenance is the maintenance service provider for Lufthansa German Airlines, Continental Airlines, Continental Express Airlines, ExpressJet Airlines, Air France Airlines, Delta Airlines, Delta Connection Airlines, British Airways, Southwest Airlines, CommutAir Airlines, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Shuttle America Airlines, CSA Air, Mountain Air Cargo, and Champion Air at DTW Metro Airport.
CHJ is also established with Frontier Airlines and many of the other airlines at DTW as their secondary service provider.
Learn more about CHJ at www.chjaircraftmaintenance.com.
Cutter Aviation
Albuquerque is where it all began nearly 80 years ago. William P. Cutter established the company in 1928 to serve the fledgling aviation community. He offered flight instruction, charter, instrument training, and maintenance, as well as other services. The company survived the depression, and at the outbreak of World War II became a major pilot training facility. The Navy designated it as a Naval Aerobatics School. In addition to basic flight training, many pilots were trained for glider operations.
In 1947, the company began its affiliation with Beech Aircraft Corp. This move only seemed natural. A quality product was now represented by a quality organization. From the time its first Beechcraft was delivered, the company was and continues to be synonymous with Beechcraft.
Bill R. Cutter, who started in the business by sweeping out the hangar for his mom and dad, says a close friendship with an old barnstorming buddy, eventually led to Bill Cutter’s association with Phillips 66. Cutter is now the oldest Phillips 66 product dealer in the country.
Bill P. Cutter passed away in 1963. Virginia followed in 1985. But the William P. Memorial Building at the Albuquerque International Airport is a tribute to their pioneering efforts in the aviation industry.
Today, from its genesis in a dusty hangar, the Cutter operation has grown considerably. Cutter first opened its Phoenix doors in 1959, followed by the opening of its El Paso facility in 1982, Deer Valley and San Antonio facilities in 1998, the Dallas facility in 2002; and McKinney, TX, and Colorado Springs, CO, in 2006. Albuquerque, Dallas, Deer Valley, and Phoenix are full-service fixed base operations. El Paso, McKinney, and Colorado Springs provide line services to transient aircraft, and San Antonio provides parts, A/C maintenance, and avionics servicing. Together they make up the network that provides the Beechcraft sales and service expertise. The company represents New Piper Aircraft and EADS/Socata Aircraft as well.
Three generations of family and associates have been helping business aircraft owners and operators ever since. Most of the Cutter family is active in the business. Bill Cutter is chairman of the board and son William W. “Will” Cutter is president and CEO.
Will Cutter says Cutter’s success is due, in large part, to its ongoing emphasis on the core values of respect, trust, and integrity. “These are key ingredients to a formula that has kept us at the forefront of the industry,” Cutter notes. “They have helped us establish a reputation that we are all proud of. These values have served us well, and without them, Cutter would be just another run-of-the-mill service station for airplanes.”
Cutter Aviation currently has eight locations: Albuquerque, NM; Phoenix, AZ; El Paso, TX; San Antonio, TX; Deer Valley in Phoenix, AZ; Dallas, TX; McKinney, TX; and Colorado Springs, CO.
FlightSafety International
Founded in 1951, FlightSafety International is the world’s foremost aviation training organization. The company provides training services to more than 75,000 pilots and maintenance technicians each year for private, corporate, commercial, and military aviation. At 43 Learning Centers, more than 1,500 experienced instructors lead generic and type specific courses, supported by innovative classroom technology. The Learning Centers are located in the United States, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom. FlightSafety’s fleet of more than 230 simulators – built by its Simulation Systems Division – is the world’s largest. As an FAA- and JAA-approved training provider for the majority of business aircraft programs, FlightSafety is dedicated to furthering proficiency both in the air and on the ground. FlightSafety International offers more than 300 courses for the professional aviation technician.
Harrah’s Entertainment
Harrah’s Entertainment has been in aviation since Bill Harrah started the company in the early 1970s. The aviation flight department was based in Reno, NV, and over the years as other owners took control it moved to Memphis, TN. Then in the later part of 1999 it moved to Las Vegas and has been there ever since.
There are many different aircraft that the company has operated over the years. Some of the models are: Falcon 20, Hawker 800’s, Citation X’s, Gulfstream II, III, IV, V, and a Beechjet 400. It is currently operating three 2000EX, and one Gulfstream V.
Peter Zeeb has been the director of maintenance for the past seven years. Zeeb serves on the Honeywell Avionics committee and the Honeywell HTS10000 committee for engines. He is also chairman on the AMTSociety board of directors.
Kelowna Flightcraft
Since commencing operations in 1970, Kelowna Flightcraft has grown into Canada’s premier aviation organization under the direction of Barry Lapointe (president) and its senior management team. KF has experienced 37 straight years of profitability with annual revenues in excess of $150 million. It has more than 950 employees at 13 bases across Canada.
Kelowna Flightcraft’s head office is located in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, and consists of three primary maintenance facilities (Kelowna; Hamilton, Ontario; and Southport, Manitoba) and 10 line maintenance bases across the country. KFL has maintenance bases in Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna, Calgary, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Southport, Thunder Bay, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax and Saint John’s.
KF prides itself on two core competencies. The first is its ability to provide on-time reliable services. Its second core competency is its flexibility to meet its customers’ needs to “get the job done.” For more information visit www.flightcraft.ca.
PB Swiss Tools
Everything began in 1878 with a village smithy at the heart of the Swiss Emmental. Until far into the 20th century, this trade company made hardware for agriculture. Then Paul Baumann (PB) brought his son Max Sr. into the business. From the early 1940s, the production of hand tools was originally carried out for the Swiss army. The demand from trade and industry for the Swiss quality tools quickly and continuously rose. As early as 1960, PB Swiss Tools exported to all five continents. The production halls were expanded and the processes automated. Until today the innovative energy which is anchored in solid craftsmanship has remained typical for PB Swiss Tools.
Since 1981 PB Swiss Tools has been managed by the fourth generation. Today Eva Jaisli leads the company. She is responsible for marketing and the markets. Her husband Max Baumann Jr. leads development and quality assurance. 150 employees stand for the 100 percent vertical integration in Switzerland and guarantee quality, permanent innovation, and long-term customer relationships.
PB Swiss Tools offers a wide range of hand tools for industry professionals and DIY enthusiasts. These tools include: screwdrivers, hex keys, hammers, picks, punches, colored bits, and much more. PB’s Swiss-made hand tools have been recognized worldwide for their superior strength, high performance, long endurance, and unbeatable quality.
PB Swiss Tools’ commitment to customers is guided by five unique characteristics: 100 percent Swiss made, unlimited guarantee, custom service, sustainability, and innovation. Count On Tools is the exclusive North American distributor of PB Swiss Tools and has been since 1991. For more information visit www.pbtools.us.
Tronair
Since 1973, Tronair, based in Holland, OH, has seen many incarnations on its way to becoming a ground support equipment manufacturing company with service centers in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
What became known as Tronair began as Danair, founded from the Dana Corp. flight department, a manufacturer of towbars in 1973. Tronco bought Danair in 1980, moved the company from Maumee to Holland, OH, and changed the name to Tronair. In 2003 Tronair gained the assets of Arvico and formed Arvico, a Tronair company. Tronair expanded again in 2006 through acquisition of Jetporter and formed Jetporter, a Tronair company.
Tronair manufactures a broad line of more than 1,000 different products for business jets, turboprops, regional, and commercial aircraft. It also offers innovative designs, reliable products, and custom solutions for specific customer needs. Its product lines include towing and taxiing, lifting and shoring, hydraulic power, servicing equipment, electrical, starting, air conditioning, fuel, ice and rain protection, power plant, fuselage, landing gear, and parking and mooring equipment.
This company’s customer service team has more than 100 years of experience with Tronair products and their field applications, and can be reached at (800) 426-6301 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.
AMTSociety IA renewal dates
On Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008, an FAA IA renewal will be presented by AMTSociety in Houston, TX, at ExpressJet Inc.’s training facility at 17445 JFK Blvd. Rooms can be reserved at the Holiday Inn Intercontinental Airport, 15222 JFK Blvd., (281) 449-2311.
On Feb. 20, another IA renewal session is planned for Kansas City, MO. It will be held at the Holiday Inn Kansas City Airport & Expo Center, 11728 N.W. Ambassador Dr., (816) 801-8400.
Registration is at 7 with training beginning at 8. Breaks and lunch are provided at each location. Cost is $49 which also includes a one-year membership to the AMTSociety with all benefits and privileges. For preregistration information contact Eileen Stone, (800) 547-7377, Ext. 1799. For additional information contact Tom Hendershot, Executive Director, (800) 547-7377, Ext. 1565.
