When RJ Gomez began Legacy Aviation in 2005 he knew one thing had to happen for his business to be successful—Legacy had to become a Twin Commander Authorized Service Center. The company’s hard work was rewarded in 2007 and it’s been a story of success and growth ever since.
Since its founding in the lead-up to the Great Recession, Legacy Aviation has been on a tear. The company, which began from the ashes of another independent Twin Commander service provider, started with paint, interior, and maintenance. Since then they’ve added FBO services, major structural repair and component overhaul, aircraft sales, and a big parts-sales operation. Although they service many different makes and models, their connection to Twin Commanders is at the core of their capabilities and offerings.
“We want that legacy airplane flying,” said Gomez. “That airplane is in our blood.”
Gomez has been around Twin Commanders most of his life (see COMMANDING PRESENCE RJ Gomez). He and his team have decades of experience on the airplanes, which is part of what made them a great candidate to become a Twin Commander Authorized Service Center very early into Legacy’s journey. Almost immediately Gomez was petitioning then-president Jim Matheson to become a service center. Matheson knew and respected Gomez, but becoming a Twin Commander Service Center requires a higher level of expertise, support, and knowledge than most independent shops possess. In other words, Legacy Aviation had to prove itself, which it did very quickly. In the lead-up to the worst financial collapse in 80 years, Legacy Aviation became a Twin Commander Authorized Service Center, and they haven’t slowed down since.
“It was hard to survive during that time,” Gomez said. “But we never lost a penny in those years.” In fact, the company grew by 10 percent a year.
Since those early years Gomez and his team have tweaked the business. They mostly abandoned the paint shop and repurposed that space to provide additional maintenance and overhaul capability. In 2014 they acquired Mid-Continent Airmotive, the local FBO and a previous service center. They remodeled the FBO space, and did so in a way that will appeal to all pilots and passengers. Based at the Clarence E. Page Airport about 15 minutes from downtown Oklahoma City, Gomez thinks they are conveniently located for passengers, but far enough away to offer quick and easy in and outs for those just dropping in.
In 2015 Legacy acquired Higher Planes of Conroe, Texas which gave them unique capabilities in the Twin Commander world. Now they can overhaul, repair, and build landing gear and other hydraulic components. Gomez said they are the only company with the FAA-approved data to repair and overhaul Twin Commander landing gears.
Gomez is also especially proud of Legacy’s capabilities in complex repairs. Their structure and modification shop can make a host of intricate or unusual repairs. Gomez said insurance companies like to work with Legacy because they have confidence the repair will be done well and at a fair price. Owners often come to Legacy to seek their assistance in this area, even if the company isn’t the one doing the repair. Gomez mentioned a current customer who is having work done in Mexico. The owner chose a closer shop, but Legacy is advising the shop and will do an on-site inspection during the repair process to make sure things are done correctly.
Legacy also had a hand in developing the solution for FAA Airworthiness Directive 2013-09-05, addressing potential cracking in the aft pressure bulkhead. The engineering for the fix detailed in Service Bulletin 241 came after two weeks of intense work with Legacy, Twin Commander Aircraft, and a third-party engineering firm. In the first year the company completed 27 kit installations.
The company’s parts capability is also extensive. In addition to its being the biggest supplier of landing gear and hydraulic parts, Legacy tries to stock what they know owners will need in order the get them flying again fast. “Our parts guys have been in the business a long time,” Gomez said. “They have a sixth sense for what needs to be stocked.”
The repair and inspection capabilities, parts shop, and FBO services have led to a big draw from all over the continent. Gomez estimates that nearly 40 percent of Legacy’s business is international, with customers coming from Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, and Bolivia. Their central location, great service, and no doubt Gomez’s knowledge of Latin America helps.
Gomez continues to look for ways to help owners, service the fleet, and prepare the company for the future. Through a subdivision Legacy was recently approved to bid on government contracts, although working with the government is nothing new. Legacy has serviced many agency aircraft, such as the Texas Department of Transportation and its Twin Commander 1000, the state of Oklahoma and the FAA. “It’s where we’re going with the next generation,” Gomez said.
From a management standpoint the next generation seems to be in good hands. Gomez’s son, RG, is learning all aspects of the family business after earning his business degree from Florida International University. It’s one of the many ways Legacy Aviation is looking to the future while servicing a rich history.
RG Gomez, Parts/Components Manager, stands behind his father, RJ Gomez, President and CEO of Legacy Aviation Services.
