Longtime Twin Commander owners and operators probably recognize Aero Air General Manager Matt Isley. He served as President of Twin Commander Aircraft for 10 years before assuming his current position as head of day-to-day operations at Aero Air in April 2018.
Isley came to aviation through Firstmark Aerospace as an engineer and project manager. Firstmark later acquired Twin Commander Aircraft, which gave Isley the chance to oversee all factory operations including product support, engineering, marketing, and more. Today he uses that wide-ranging skillset to run Aero Air’s diverse business units.
A typical day may see Isley managing engineering projects, discussing parts sourcing, interfacing with government and business customers, or dealing with maintenance and other issues. “I like to take on a challenge and this is a good challenge,” he said.
Overseeing everything from a firefighting operation to air charter and an FBO takes a lot of knowledge, and a desire to address challenges. “It’s like drinking from a fire hose,” he said. “Fortunately, I have a big mouth.”
One thing Isley brought from Twin Commander Aircraft was his love of the airplane. He sees the support the company receives from the factory as among the best in aviation. “I almost take it for granted now as a user, but I have an appreciation for what it takes to reach that level.” He said working for a Factory Authorized Service Center gives him an even greater appreciation for the network and what it can provide.
