The Vertical MRO Podcast

Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Plus.

The helicopter maintenance industry is facing a growing challenge: How do we attract, train, and retain the next generation of aircraft maintenance engineers (AMEs)?
Recorded live at the 2026 Vertical MRO Conference in Kelowna, British Columbia, this special panel discussion brings together an exceptional group of industry leaders representing helicopter operations, aviation education, industry advocacy, and Transport Canada to tackle the AME pipeline crisis.
Moderated by Vertical MRO Podcast host Jon Gray, the panel features Beth Christianos of Leading Edge Aerospace, Scott Hayward and Jeff Denomme of Alpine Helicopters and Alpine Aerotech, Gerry Egan of BCIT, Trevor Mitchell of the Helicopter Association of Canada, and Jamie Johnson of Transport Canada.
Together, they explore the challenges preventing the industry from developing enough qualified maintainers, from lengthy training waitlists and the financial burden facing students to apprenticeship opportunities, mentorship, and the need to modernize aviation maintenance education.
A particularly engaging part of the conversation examines whether Canada's Red Seal trades model offers a path forward for AMEs, alongside emerging earn-as-you-learn apprenticeship programs that could make aviation careers more accessible.
The discussion also extends into the audience, with students, educators, and industry professionals contributing their own experiences, asking challenging questions, and offering additional perspectives on what needs to change.

Special thanks to this episode's sponsors, Precision Aviation Group, Vertical Aviation International and Airbus.

Also, be sure to check out Vertical MRO's Instagram channel for even more awesome content highlighting the awesome work being done to keep the rotorcraft community flying!

Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Plus.

From aging helicopter fleets and parts shortages to emerging drone technology and maintenance safety, there's no shortage of challenges and opportunities facing the rotorcraft industry.

David Kreutzkamp welcomes fellow Vertical MRO Podcast hosts Howie Murray, Ronnie Ries, and Jon Gray for another informal roundtable, sharing perspectives from the hangar floor, the field, and a busy season of aviation conferences.

The conversation explores how drones are increasingly complementing traditional helicopter operations, why keeping hardworking Bell Mediums flying is becoming more challenging as parts and overhaul capabilities grow scarce, and how better sharing of operational data could help manufacturers anticipate demand.

The group also discusses concerns surrounding maintenance-related incidents, the effects of fatigue and operational pressure, and the importance of creating a workplace where maintainers are empowered to put safety first.

Rounding out the conversation, the hosts reflect on the growing participation of students and apprentices at industry events, along with new scholarships and training partnerships aimed at making aviation maintenance careers more accessible.

It's another opportunity to catch up with the MRO Podcast team and explore the issues, ideas, and experiences shaping the helicopter maintenance community.

Special thanks to this episode's sponsors, Rotorcraft Support Inc and Precision Aviation Group.

Also, be sure to check out Vertical MRO's Instagram channel for even more awesome content highlighting the awesome work being done to keep the rotorcraft community flying!

Other links:
Injured soldier drone airlift
Maintenance Scholarship 1
Maintenance Scholarship 2
Maintenance Scholarship 3
Rate of Maintenance-Related Accidents

Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Plus.
What happens when the helicopter maintenance community comes together? At the 2026 Vertical MRO Conference in Kelowna, British Columbia, the answer was plenty of honest conversations, shared experiences, new connections, and a collective commitment to keeping the industry moving forward.
In this special edition of the Vertical MRO Podcast, we're bringing you highlights from six conversations recorded during the conference, featuring operators, maintenance professionals, technical experts, educators, and students.
Hear from Mark Wiskemann and Michael Rodyniuk of Wisk Air about aircraft availability, rising costs, and the importance of valuing maintenance teams. Explore the role of the KF Centre for Excellence in bringing aviation professionals and future maintainers together, and learn why fatigue management deserves greater attention with Meredith Hedwall and Doug Downey of Pulsar Informatics.
Wilson Boynton of Advanced Composites Training shares what experienced technicians discovered during hands-on training, while Dana and Dell of Select Helicopters Services discuss the importance of customer relationships, company culture, and working constructively with regulators. Finally, BCIT instructor Dale Hambrook and his students offer an encouraging look at the next generation entering aircraft maintenance.
These are just a few of the conversations that made Kelowna memorable, and there's much more to come as we release the full interviews in future episodes.
Missed Kelowna? Join us in Irving, Texas, November 16–18, for the next Vertical MRO Conference. Registration is open, with more opportunities to learn, connect, and share ideas with the people who keep helicopters flying.

Special thanks to this episode's sponsors, Precision Aviation Group
and Metro Aviation.

Also, be sure to check out Vertical MRO's Instagram channel for even more awesome content highlighting the awesome work being done to keep the rotorcraft community flying!

Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Plus.
In Part Two of the Vertical MRO Podcast's conversation with Ryan Hader of iAERO, hosts David Kreutzkamp and Howie Murray dig into the realities behind supplemental type certificates and aircraft modifications.
Starting with something as seemingly simple as a cup holder, Ryan explains why permanently installing a new component in an aircraft can introduce questions around materials, flammability, structural loads, testing, documentation, and certification—and why the cost of proving a modification is safe and compliant can quickly exceed the cost of the component itself.
The conversation expands into increasingly complex modifications and what it actually takes to move an idea from an operator's requirement to an engineered, tested, approved, and supportable aircraft installation. Ryan also discusses the additional challenges of taking modifications across borders and navigating different regulatory authorities and approval requirements.
For maintainers and operators, the discussion provides a look behind the paperwork at the engineering intent behind an STC—and why understanding that intent matters when installing, maintaining, or modifying certified equipment in the field.
 
Special thanks to this episode's sponsors, Airbus and Vertical Aviation International.

Also, be sure to check out Vertical MRO's Instagram channel for even more awesome content highlighting the awesome work being done to keep the rotorcraft community flying!

Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Plus.

In Part One of this two-part conversation, Vertical MRO host David Kreutzkamp and co-host Howie Murray sit down with Ryan Hader, founder of iAERO, to talk about the experiences that shaped his approach to aircraft maintenance, engineering, and modification.
Ryan traces his path from a lifelong interest in building and tinkering through hands-on aircraft maintenance and increasingly complex modification work. Those experiences eventually exposed gaps between what operators needed from their aircraft and the solutions readily available to them, helping lead to the creation of iAERO.
The conversation also takes a detour into 3D printing and scanning, with Ryan and Howie exploring how increasingly accessible technology can help solve real-world problems in the hangar and support the development of new aircraft solutions.
Throughout the discussion, Ryan shares the value of combining hands-on maintenance experience with engineering and certification knowledge—and why understanding how an aircraft is actually operated matters when developing a modification.
Part Two takes that conversation deeper into the world of STCs, including why even seemingly simple aircraft modifications can become complex certification projects.

Special thanks to this episode's sponsors, Precision Aviation Group and Vertical Aviation International.

Also, be sure to check out Vertical MRO's Instagram channel for even more awesome content highlighting the awesome work being done to keep the rotorcraft community flying!