Shrike Commander flown by Erick Teeters and Brian Rikeman over Lake Powell, Arizona. Happy New Year!
The close of one year and opening of the next is always a great time to reflect on where you’ve been and where you want to go. It’s the time for resolutions, goals, and new beginnings. And I’m proud to say it’s a great time to begin a new era at Twin Commander Aircraft under new ownership.
Last fall we announced that Twin Commander Aircraft’s parent company, Firstmark Corp., had been acquired by Ontic, a BBA Aviation company. Ontic is the aerospace industry’s leading provider of “Extended Life Solutions” for original equipment manufacturer legacy products. The deal was finalized late last year, and as part of the acquisition I was selected to lead Twin Commander Aircraft.
I may be new in this role, but I have a long history in manufacturing and with Twin Commander Aircraft. For the last 10 years I’ve been a senior manager at Twin Commander. I played a key role in acquiring Twin Commander Aircraft’s sister company, Aircraft Belts, Inc., one of three such deals in my career. I also supported the relocating of Twin Commander from Arlington, Washington, to the current headquarters in Creedmoor, North Carolina. But primarily I concentrated on Twin Commander’s parts buying and sales, engineering, and service center support.
Having been through multiple acquisitions and ownership changes in my career I know what to look for when a new owner steps in. It’s clear very early in the process what the owner’s interests are in the business, and what their intentions are for its future. Let me be clear: Of the acquisitions I’ve seen or been a part of, Ontic is far and away the most interested in learning and understanding the Twin Commander platform and supporting the business.
Ontic’s focus, its core business, is supporting legacy aviation products. They know legacy products. They know what it takes to support owners, where the opportunities are, and how to create value for the community.
Yes, change can be scary, but it can also be invigorating. For business, change is essential. I’m proud to be at least a small part of Ontic’s future, and I’m very excited to be deeply involved in the change now taking place at Twin Commander Aircraft and playing a role in the future of these incredible aircraft. Twin Commander Aircraft has a strong record of owner and operator support, and I know that now we can do even more.
As a legacy aircraft company, we aren’t relying on new aircraft sales to support our business. We know our first and most important job is to support owners and provide a phenomenal ownership experience. I know what it takes to support aircraft in the field. I know the engineering, parts support, and owner assistance that’s required to ensure the fleet remains active, the airplanes keep flying, and owners have a great experience. The formula isn’t difficult or secret, although so many other legacy models struggle with it. It takes ongoing upgrade programs, superior parts support, a strong authorized service center network, and a factory that listens to owners. At Twin Commander Aircraft I’m proud to say that we excel in these areas, and I envision a future of even more active service center and owner engagement.
This month I will begin a tour of service centers to see old friends, meet new faces and, most importantly, learn what the factory can do to better support owners. While I know we have a strong record of service and support, there’s no question that the work is never done, and we can always improve. It is my goal to see that, with Ontic’s support, we do even more to make owning and flying a Twin Commander the best experience it can be.
It’s a great way to start what I am convinced will be a great year for all of us.
