Its namesake airport is long gone, but the business endures. National Flight Services, which began with humble roots at a small grass strip in Toledo, Ohio, is now one of the most successful engine shops in the country, with diverse capabilities and a lengthy list of repeat clients.
Started in 1960 as the FBO at the National Airport in Toledo, Ohio, the company expanded and moved to its current location at the Toledo Express Airport in 1969. By that time the engine work for which the shop would become widely known was already underway, and in 1973 the company became a Twin Commander Factory Authorized Service Center. A year earlier in 1972, National Flight Services was acquired by Tom Wiles, who owned it until 2018. But these days, National Flight Services is looking forward.
National Flight Service in 1979
Herb Harvey
Longtime helicopter technician, Navy veteran, and maintenance executive Herb Harvey is the current owner, and Mike Converse, the director of sales and marketing, says that Harvey has injected a lot of energy into the business. “The culture’s changed dramatically,” he said. “Herb is a vibrant person who tells it like it is and is always looking for new opportunities.” Converse continues, “Herb is a dedicated family man who treats the employees as family.” The proof is in the numbers. Last year the company’s business with Honeywell increased triple digits, and they were named the “Honeywell Business Aviation Channel Partner of the Year” and “Honeywell Service Center/MRO of the Year.” Converse said Honeywell picked them not because they’re the largest, “but we’re the best.”
National Flight Services is a one-stop shop for Honeywell needs, including inspections, minor and major repairs, and full overhauls. The engine shop has 12 workstations, and new engines are tested on a specialized indoor test cell.
The company also has a dedicated Honeywell authorized component facility off the airport that performs overhaul and repair work on almost every TPE331 accessory.
In all, they work on about 100 engines a year, and since starting the engine shop they’ve performed 6,500 repairs and inspections.
Despite National Flight Service’s prowess as an engine facility, it’s not all they do. There’s a full-service FBO, avionics repair, airframe inspection and repair, interior shop, and some paint capabilities.
Converse said their success over the years comes down to how well they serve their customers. They’ve been able to attract business from South America, the Philippines, and Thailand. Most of the work is engine overhauls, but some customers have even flown their airplanes to Toledo for inspections or upgrades. He remembers a Brazilian customer who flew his airplane up for a 150-hour inspection. Walking into the hangar the first morning the owner saw the inspection covers off and asked why the airplane was so opened up. Apparently, his experience at home hadn’t been as thorough. When the team was done with the work Converse estimates they replaced 20 of the pulleys. The customer told him it was the first time he had ever felt that his airplane had been properly maintained. Not surprisingly, that level of service travels by word-of-mouth quickly.
National maintains engines for many of the foreign military and other foreign governments. It’s further evidence that dealing with knowledgeable, experienced technicians and facilities make a difference.
Now, with such rapid growth over the past few years, National Flight Service is looking to once again branch out to other locations. And at this rate it won’t be long before the high level of service makes it way far beyond Toledo.
